 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shopping For a Good Auto Repair Facility Tom T  |
| |
 People are constantly asking me what to look for when choosing an auto repair facility. This question even came from a woman in Singapore recently. It just goes to show you, car care problems are the same everywhere!
First of all, you should start shopping for a repair facility before you need one. Why? Because a more sound decision is made when you're not facing the dilemma of the need for transportation and a broken down car.
Call around to various repair shops and ask them if they are members of associations such as: "NAPA Autocare," "ASP," "Parts Plus," "AAA," or "TechNet." Membership is these associations means the shop has qualified in some way. For instance, to become a AAA Approved Auto Repair Facility, a shop must undergo a rigorous investigation. In addition to having state-of-the-art equipment, training, qualified technicians, and information systems in place, the shop must score high with its customers. AAA contacts about 100 of the shop's most recent customers and conducts a CSI (Consumer Satisfaction Index) study. They ask the customers such questions as:
* Was the estimate accurate?
* Was the job done on time?
* Did they fix it right the first time?
* What kind of warranty did they give you?
* Was the shop clean and presentable?
If the repair facility passes the test, it can hang the "AAA Approved" shingle. As you can see, membership in associations such as the ones outlined above is a significant qualifier.
Visit the shop. Is it clean and orderly? Ask customers, "Why do you do business with this shop?" Answers such as "they are the cheapest" or "they offer a lot of specials" or "because the owner is a friend of my father's" don't have much credibility. Look for such responses as: "They fix my car right the first time." "I can trust them to do the job at a fair price." "They welcome my questions and concerns and take the time to answer them." "They explain in plain English what the problem is and what my options are."
While at the facility, look for certifications displayed on the wall. You can find out:
* Do the technicians have certification from ASE, Delco, ASP, and/or manufacturers such as GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Nissan, etc.?
* Do they have after market training from such leaders as NAPA/Echlin, Moog, TRW, or Bendix?
* How about continued education from BOCES or a technical college?
These shingles indicate that the technicians have taken the initiative to go beyond the requirements to keep up with the changes in their field. This is an indication of pride in their work, in addition to the fact that they are trained in the latest technology. They know how to fix your car.
In addition, membership in such associations as the BBB (Better Business Bureau), ATEA (Automotive Technology and Energy Association), ASP (Automotive Service Professionals), ICAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair), and ASE (The Institute for Automotive Service Excellence) tells you that the owner of the shop cares about the quality of the workmanship and, most likely, operates by a code of ethics required by the association.
Another factor to consider when choosing a repair facility is the equipment. Is it equipped with state-of-the-art equipment such as hand held computer scanners and diagnosis software, digital volt-ohm meters, logic probes, lab scopes, and on-line computer systems like CAS, Alldata, or Mitchell-On-Demand? Don't be afraid to ask the shop if they have this equipment. These systems and tools are necessary to diagnose and repair your car accurately. Without them, fixing your complex automobile is a hit-and-miss proposition.
Sometimes it's best to take your car to a specialist. Specialists cost more money initially. However, because they are specialists, they often know how to pinpoint and repair certain types of problems more efficiently and effectively. Consequently, with less guesswork and fewer parts being replaced, they can actually save you money.
Common areas of automotive specialty:
* Transmission and Drivetrain
* Computer, Drivability, and Electrical
* Collision Repair
* Foreign Car Repair
Remember that we're looking at the long-term cost. Don't sell yourself short for a few bucks. Quality repair is not expensive... it's PRICELESS! Equipment, information systems, and technical training must be up to date!
Don't trust your $20,000 automobile, which carries your family through life's daily trips, to just anyone. Pick your repair facility like you would your family doctor. In the long run, this approach saves you not only money, but time and aggravation. Even more importantly, a well maintained vehicle is a safer one.
Now go out and find a good automotive repair facility!
'Til next time...Keep Rollin'
|
|
 With over 27 years in the automotive industry and nearly a decade in automotive talk radio, Tom Torbjornsen makes learning about cars easy with his personal manner, his expert advice, and his high energy and entertaining style. Tom has the unique gift of simplifying the complex and tearing down the technical, meeting you at your level of understanding. You will be encouraged as you gain the confidence to deal with problems related to the second most expensive purchase you will make in a lifetime your automobile.
Email Tom
Click here to visit the America's Car Show website
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|