Getting better service for your vehicle

After you have found a repair shop, there are ways to ease the repair & maintenance process for your vehicle. These tips are "Insider information" from a technician's viewpoint.

Communication
Being able to communicate your needs to the auto repair facility is one of the key steps in the repair process. You know your vehicle better than anyone, (unless your teenagers have their hooks into it) and being able to describe a problem can save the technician valuable time, thus saving you your valuable cash.

Be descriptive, be creative, and don't be afraid to try and make the same sound your car did. It can actually be fun as long as you aren't too shy. If it's possible, try and tape record the sound and bring it to the shop.

Confusion and terminology
"My car won't start...." This can mean a couple of things, and can lead a technician on a wild goose-chase. Starting and cranking are two separate items. A no-start generally means that the engine is cranking over, but never fires/runs on it's own. A no-start is often confused with a no-crank situation. This is either turning the key the start position and there is only a click or nothing at all. These terms often are confused, and technicians often do not know what to look for in diagnosing the problem.

A foreign language?
It may feel that way. The procedures and terminology involved with vehicle repair can leave you feeling lost as though you were in a different country. NEVER feel intimidated and ALWAYS ask questions. If you aren't sure what has been recommended or if it just doesn't make sense, ask for clarification...it's your car, your right and your money!

Here are a few more tips to ease the repair & maintenance process of your vehicle. These are aimed more towards the little things that throw a wrench into the wheels of progress at a shop.

Be reachable by phone
After you drop off your vehicle, make sure the shop has a way to contact you. Generally the service manager will need to contact you regarding what was found wrong with the vehicle, and it may need additional parts / labor to repair what ails it. If you can't be contacted, the vehicle may be put off until later in the day, and may be too late to get the needed parts, and you may have to bring the vehicle back another day or leave it for the next day...if they can get to it. Many shops need appointments ahead of time.

Alarms, wheel locks, anti-theft devices...
Imagine you went to friends' house to check on their pet while they are gone, and you open the door and an alarm goes off. After you catch your breath and make sure you didn't lose any bodily functions, you wish they had warned you and / or disabled it. This happens daily to the technicians!!! Please inform the shop if you have an alarm, disable it or show them how to disable it! If there are locking wheel covers or lugnuts (not me), let the shop know where the key is. Again it speeds up the process in the shop as the technician won't have to waste time playing the "In search-of game".

Category:

• FAQ: Auto Safety

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