Master Tech Automotive was recently awarded by the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal “Ruthie” as the “Best Import Auto Repair” finalist for 2009.  Here is owner Michael Searcy and manager Jeff Ford smiling as they receive yet another Ruthie for outstanding customer service. After receiving the award Michael said, “After 14 years and numerous awards for customer service it still is humbling to receive this award. This is a testament to the people who work for me and our Christian principles that have guided us through the years. I must say, thank you to the people of Murfreesboro, my devoted employees, and God.”

Find us at:

1804 Memorial Blvd
Murfreesboro, TN 37129

Give us a call:

615-904-7700

Our operating hours are:

Monday-Friday 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Meet our owner and staff:

Michael
Jeff
Jon
Kevin
Johnny
Joe

See what our customers have to say about us.

Find out more about our warranty.

Find out our guiding principles.

Get coupons and internet-only specials!

Make an appointment online.

Our business profile at the Murfreesboro Post.

“Thank you so much for the two free oil change coupons! They went over very well at our silent auction! You should have some new customers coming your way! Plus me! Thank you again for everything you have done for me! It is very appreciated!”

~Amanda S.

“Just a short note to say thanks a million for the quality of work I’ve received thus far and thank you for being so kind and professional. This day and time it is hard to find affordable auto care. May God bless you all richly.”

~Miles C.

“Thanks for taking care of us! You do great work at Master Tech! Have a great day, you deserve it!”

~Tony & Martha H.

“Thank you so much for your generous donation to our silent auction at our annual Harvest Festival at Lascassas Baptist Church. Your donation of two oil changes helped us raise over $2,000 for our youth program. Thanks again and God bless!”

~Amy D.

“Jeff and Johnny are great. Very friendly and helpful!”

~William P.

“It’s great to have mechanics who are honest as well as knowledgable and competent!”

~Cynthia D.

“The service at this store is excellent. The manager is extremely kind and helpful.”

~Elizabeth R.

“Master Tech Owners: I would like to let you know how much I have appreciated the woderful person you have at your Murfreesboro store. Mr. Jeff Ford has been a pleasure to deal with on more than one occasion. The last visit I made to this business I observed him once again with the same great attitude to every person in the store (even children, that he gave candy to.)”

~Ann-Marie B.

Q: How often should you replace your battery? I’ve been left on the side of the road a few too many times with a dead battery, is there a certain amount of time that you should replace your battery?

A: I recommend being proactive instead of being reactive and replace your battery every 4 years. A battery may seem fine but could go out anytime due to things like the onboard computers which keep alive memory, phone chargers and or gps which might be charging all time and battery age.

Q: Do you have any tips for buying a battery?

A: When purchasing a battery always make sure it is the correct type of battery for your vehicle.Make sure the battery CCA- cold cranking amps- is enough for the vehicle. CCA is a measure of a battery’s ability to start a car in cold weather. In cold weather, fluids are thickened, and it makes the car harder to start. CCAs denote how much current the battery can deliver to the starter at 0° F.

Also, look at date code sticker on the side of a battery. The oval sticker will have a letter and number. Most codes start with the letter indicating the month: A for January, B for February, etc. The digit means what year it was made: 8 for 2008, for example. So B9 would be February, 2009. You don’t want to buy a battery that you are going to have to replace sooner since it has been sitting on a shelf for 1 year.

Q: Do batteries need any sort of maintenance?

A: You may notice heavy white or green buildup on battery terminals where battery cables mount.The corrosion can eat into battery cables causing your vehicle not to start and the corrosion can actually put a drain on the battery causing premature failure.If you see this on your car’s battery, I recommend you come see us. We can remove battery terminals, clean off the corrosion and spray on a wax-type protectant. It’s very inexpensive to have this done, only $12.90.
Q: How do I know if I have a bad battery?

A: There are several indicators that your battery is bad or might be going bad: The vehicle is slow to crank before it starts, the battery/charging system light might come on, when you try to start the car and lights are dim or not on, if your radio has reset to an AM station or clock has reset to 12:00, or if you try to start vehicle and just hear a click or nothing at all.

Do you have battery issues? Come on down to the shop and we’ll get you fixed up.

We’re also running an internet-only special- tell them Ivy sent you and get $25 off ANY service over $250. Time to get the timing belt changed? Do you need some major AC work? Save a cool $25 bucks just for telling them Ivy sent you.

Additionally, did you know we have free wifi at the shop for any customer? Whether you only have to wait a few minutes for an oil change or if you’re there for hours waiting on something more major, let the desk person know you need into the wifi conection and we’ll get you set up.

Or, you can come up to the shop and see it in person. It’s really beautiful, you should see the insides.

Pretty sweet, huh? In honor of the new car, here’s a video timeline of El Caminos from 1959 to 1987.

Even though I’ve been driving now for more years than I was a non-driver, I still experience a thrill when I’m driving quite often. My favorite thing is driving fast on a cool summer night, windows down, wind blowing through my hair. The sound of the car changes through they years- from my current nearly-silent, wraith-like Honda to the roar of the 289 engine I had in my ‘66 Mustang. But I love it no matter what I’m driving.

I love the freedom that comes from having a car. I like knowing I can pick up and go somewhere on a moment’s notice, money and time constraints notwithstanding. You’ll find the guys at the shop love cars as well. Ask them about their favorite car they ever owned, and every one of them will regale you with tales of cars they’ve had, cars they’ve known.

Tell me, what do you love about cars?

Here’s a fireworks display on Youtube that I really enjoyed. It’s Japanese, but wow- it’s beautiful! Enjoy the show!

What is your basic business philosophy? My auto repair business will be known as “Your Neighborhood Garage” by being centered in God, assured by faith and prospered by divine love.

Give us a sales pitch in 25 words or less: We are a locally family owned and operated auto repair facility since 1996. We are God centered. We offer customers the most cost effective auto repair service based on the principles of faith, honesty, integrity, and quality.

What is your proudest business achievement? For three years in a row we were recognized by the Better Business Bureau for “Market Place Ethics.” We were a founding member of the BBB and a member of the Rutherford Chamber of Commerce since opening in 1996. The Murfreesboro Magazine and Murfreesboro Sun publications named us “Best Auto Repair” and “Best Oil Change.”

What led you to Murfreesboro? I retired from the nuclear business in 1995 and began a search for a job that would be in alignment with God’s will for me. Helping people by fixing their car with trust and integrity was a perfect fit.

What is your educational background? I attended Seminole Junior College, University of Tennessee and Louisiana State University. I was a certified senior quality engineer and completed the Senior Reactor Operator Program at Gulf States Utilities. I am a certified auto technician and have completed several auto management courses.

Where are you originally from? I came from Sanford, Fla. in 1970 to work for the Tennessee Valley Authority as a quality engineer in their nuclear program. So I call Tennessee home. I have lived in Murfreesboro longer than anywhere in my life.

What do you do for fun? I love to scuba dive and ride my Harley. This year my wife and I rode our Harley into Canada and made the complete circle around Lake Superior. The total distance was about 1,500 miles. I usually scuba dive four or five times a year in the Florida Keys, Panama City or the Caribbean.

Tell us about your family: My wife, Felicia, was a teacher for 20 years prior to becoming the minister of Unity Church of Life eight years ago. I have two daughters, Michelle Searcy and Mellissa Boles. Both are graduates of Tennessee Technology. Michelle is an information technology manager for Accenture in Fairfax, Va. Mellissa is a third-grade teacher at Capshaw School in Cookeville. She is the mother of our two wonderful grandchildren, Hayden, a 7-year-old, second-grader and Allie a 5-year-old, kindergartener both at Capshaw Elementary School in Cookeville.

Who was your mentor? I have three: Ed Monroe, my first supervisor at TVA, who taught me to do the job right the first time because that’s what people remember the most; Henry “Tap” Richardson, engineering supervisor at TVA, who taught me to look at all possibilities and be prepared for the unexpected; President Jimmy Carter, who taught me that being a good person was more important than being right.

What is the most important thing going on now at your operation? We have changed from a maintenance service facility to a true overall auto repair facility. We do everything from oil changes to engine and transmission replacement. We also do exhaust and welding. To sum it up, if it is broke we fix it.

Here’s Michael’s profile:

Are you married/how long have you been married?

20 years

Do you have any kids? How old are they? Boys or girls?

2 girls- Michelle Searcy age 38 and Mellissa Boles age 35.

Do you have any pets? What kind? What are their names?

2 dogs and one cat. Dogs: Gus-golden retriever 7 years old, Gabby-boxer 4 years old. Cat: Meriwether Lewis Clark (Louie)

What are your hobbies?

Scuba diving, especially as deep and with as many sharks as possible. Gardening, and finally work- I love my job.

How long have you been working on cars?

I helped my next door neighbor change his oil in 1962 that would be 47 years

Why did you get into the auto repair business?

I always worked on cars and motorcycles to see how fast I could make them go. I continued this as a hobby until I opened Master Tech Automotive in 1996.

What’s your dream car?

1969 Camaro Indy Pace Car

What’s your favorite car to work on?

Any car prior to 1973.

What’s your least favorite car to work on and why?

Toyota Previa. It is next toimpossible to get to the engine since it’s under the front seat and there is no room to work on them.

Tomorrow, I’ll post an interview Mike did awhile back about the business- it’s pretty fascinating. Stay tuned!