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How to Find a Great Auto Repair Shop
I used to think that all auto repair shops were exactly the same. That’s what my dad told me. Being an at home master mechanic who saw cars as just another home repair, dad was sure that all those automotive car fix it folks were just guys with a wrench who had only one advantage over him – they already read the Chilton auto repair guide before him. He spent hours laboring over the guides learning how to fix various things on the car and once in a while he got it right. Ok, I’m picking on dad a bit. In reality before cars got really complicated with computer systems and all these new fangled sensors such as those notorious O2 Sensors that seem to fail with reckless abandon these days, he actually did a pretty good job of getting the old cars to work most of the time. But beyond dad, how do you find a truly great auto repair shop
The fact is there are a lot of things that you can look for when picking an automotive repair shop. First I think it’s important to consider the credentials. For example, ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certifications are a great place to start. Some shops have great mechanics who are not ASE certified, but the problem is without the certifications you don’t know which of those guys knows what they are doing and which ones don’t. The ASE certification is a great way to validate a mechanic’s skills. If the mechanic received an ASE certification in an area such as brakes, your chances of getting solid repair work are improved. Note that an ASE mechanic may be certified in brakes, but not in engine work, so it’s valid to ask the question of your service advisor as to whether the mechanic working on your car is ASE certified in the area you are going to have service.
Taking it five steps further, you can look for a shop with a Master ASE mechanic on board. A Master ASE certified mechanic is certified in every area of automotive repair – hence the Master part of the certification title. This mechanic is most likely a guru of automotive repair and could be your best solution to years of long and solid service. This person is also usually a person with years of experience as well and it’s hard for me to think of a better green beret qualification than this. If the team that is working on your car is lead by a Master ASE certified mechanic and all the rest of the mechanics are at ASE certified in at least one area, you’ve probably found a great shop that can really help you out from a technical perspective.
Quote:automotive service excellence, chilton auto repair, service excellence certificationsThe 3 Most Asked Automotive Shopping Questions of 2009
Every year, I (literally) speak with thousands of used car shoppers and compile the questions they ask me. This past year, I was asked the same 3 questions so often that I decided to share them. So here, in no particular order, are the questions and my answers.
Q Instead of wanting to Beat The Dealer this month, I would like you to help me beat high gas prices. Can you give me any Insider Secrets – J. Davis in Clemmons, NC
A I don’t know of any real gas saving secrets, but I do have some good ol’ fashioned practical advice. One of the best ways to improve your fuel cost problem is to change your motoring habits. Avoid the following reving the engine, starting and stopping engine needlessly, jack-rabbit starts and filling your gas tank to the top (overfilling results in sloshing over & out of tank). Some other good advice Keep car tuned up, maintain air filter, inflate tires to maximum limit, buy gas during the coolest part of the day & keep windows closed when traveling highway speeds (Open windows cause air drag, reducing your mileage by 10%). Some bad news for all you self proclaimed speed demons out there…you should NEVER exceed the legal speed limit. Primarily they are set for your traveling safety, however better gas efficiency also occurs. Traveling at 55 mph give you up to 21% better mileage when compared to former legal speed limits of 65 mph and 70 mph. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!
Quote:legal speed limit, magnuson moss, third party administratorFinding an Auto Repair Shop For Engine Repair
You may have a reputable automotive shop that you regularly use for your vehicle maintenance such as tire replacement, oil changes and other routine issues. If you don’t have a regular shop, you can ask your family, friends and coworkers whom they trust. Recommendations from these people should be held in high esteem, because a local auto shop that has earned the trust of your family and friends will work hard to make you a customer for life.
If you have significant engine problems with your car, you’ll first want to check your warranty and see if the manufacturer covers the issue. When you bring your car to the shop, you’ll need to ask if the automotive shop guarantees their work in case the issue is not fixed properly or if it comes back without warning. The automotive shop manager will be able to discuss the policies of the shop and offer you a guarantee on the work to be performed on your vehicle.
Be sure to inquire about the type of parts the automotive shop will use on your car. Are they brand name, quality products or cheap, generic products Make sure they are using only high quality parts. Either way, you will be charged labor fees, so be certain the parts they replace on your vehicle are brand name, quality products.
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