personal finances, car
I know your pain.
I didn't know the guy except from the KLBJ-FM message boards. He was nice to offer and I stuck with him for a long time until he quit drinking.
He stopped being a good mechanic after he stopped drinking.
Sometimes local message boards can be wonderful for finding help... also, might consider the local community college [assuming city life] if they have an auto program because they usually only charge for parts [no labor costs].