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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 17, 1993)
r v W . . > i , . , 7 . < * • •'«A» *♦ « • A Vi. * • * * # • • •'• '» * * * * * r H v > - •yV V ^ V"**t •» ’'»■’**''*■**■* V -r •/♦ ♦ w > * w > t t t * 5* » * -w V>5 P age 3 T he P ortland O bserver • N ovember 17, 1993 National Group Helps Take Guesswork Out Of Car Repairs According to the Car Care Coun cil, October is National Car Care Month, a lime when vehicle owners should be preparing for cold weather driving and undoing the damage caused by summer’s tough conditions. But for countless motorists, any thought o f car care presents a chal lenge: how to find competent auto motive repair and service. Maybe years ago, a shade-tree mechanic would do; after all, cars were simpler, less complex. But with today’s high- tech vehicles, the margin for error is less.M istakescanbecostly. Whether it’s the family sedan, a sports car, mini-van, pick-up truck, or sports utility vehicle, today’s cars and light trucks represent a sizeable invest ment. An increasingly popular way of finding qualified m echanics-one that avoids much trial and error-is to look for automobile technicians who have earned national credentials from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), an inde pendent, non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the qual ity of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive techni cians. H ere’s how the ASE program works. Twice a year thousands of mechanics sit for ASE certification exams at some 500 locations across the country. Designed by representatives from the automotive service and repair in dustry, vocational educators, and A SE’s own technical specialists, the exams stress real-world diagnostic and repair problems, not theory. The exams are no cinch to pass; about one out o f three test takers fails. The exams areadministered in the field by The American College Testing Pro gram (ACT), the same organization that offers college entrance and other professional exams. Mechanics who pass one or more automobile exam and fulfill the work experience requirement cam the title of ASE-certified Automobile Techni cian, while those who pass all eight autoexam seam Master AutoTechni- cian status. Technicians m ust recer tify every five years in order to keep current with changing technology and to remain in the ASE program. Certified auto technicians are issued personalized credentials list ing their exact area(s) o f certification and blue and white ASE shoulder insignia. Repair facilities employ ing ASE- certified technicians usually display the ASE sign on the premises and post their technicians’ credentials in the customer service area. Because ASE offers certification in all major areas o f automotive re pair and service, it is wise to ask the shop owner or service manager spe cifically for a technician who is certi fied in the appropriate area, say, brakes, engine repair, or air condi tioning. Consum ers benefit from ASE’s national certification program since it takes much of the guesswork out o f finding a competent technician. ASE-certified auto technicians have proven theircompetcncy to their customers, their employers, and them - selves and have the blue and white ASE credentials to prove it. Because certification is volun tary, mechanics who have taken the time and expense to cam their cre dentials can be counted on to have a strong sense o f pride in accomplish ment, which should be good news for consumers. Moreover, before taking ASE exams, many mechanics attend train ing classes or study on their own after work. The time they spend sharpen ing their skills should also be advan tageous to consumers. AAA Oregon Joins National Auto Repair Education Program AAA Oregon has joined a na tional consumer education campaign aimed at preventing auto repair fraud. The campaign, led by the Ameri can Automobile Association, the Fed eral Trade Commission and the Na tional Association of Attorneys G en eral, offers a free brochure to motor ists explaining how to increase the odds of having needed maintenance and repairs performed correctly at a reasonable cost. AAA Oregon is making copies of the brochure available free to mem bers and the public. Stop in at your local AAA office or call 1-800-452- 1643. Titled “Taking the Scare Out of Auto Repair”, the 14-page brochure provides tips on preventing car trouble before it happens and finding a quali fied technician at a reasonable price. It also details steps consumers can take to protect themselves and where to turn for help should something go wrong. A recent survey of state con sumer protection agencies found prob lems associated with auto repair are the leading consumer complaint. “Auto repair fraud takes many forms,” said Anne O ’Ryan. “Repairs that are unnecessary, overly expen sive or improperly performed can leave consumers with a sense of betrayal and frustration.” “There are steps consumers can take to protect themselves, however, including learning more about the car they drive and the auto repair indus try itself,” O ’Ryan said. “ Knowing about federal warranty rights also gives consumers extra leverage in dealing with auto repair problems.” By understanding what protec tion is available at the state and local registration of service facilities, con sumers can further protect their auto repair investment. The free booklet explains the importance of preventative mainte nance, how repair charges arc calcu lated and ways to sclf-diagnosc com mon car problems. Also included is information warranties and service contracts, and tips on how to resolve a dispute regarding billing, quality of repairs and warranties. Other elements of the consumer information campaign include a three- part feature for television news and radio public service announcements from AAA, the FTC and the National Association of Attorneys General. A Brand New Store With Over l ’/i Acres o f Fabrics (73,000 Square Feet) And while The National Insti tute for Automotive Sérvice Excel lence does not certify places of busi ness, only the individual technicians, it stands to reason that employers who encourage their technicians to earn ASEcertification will be equally dedi cated to the other aspects of their businesses. A S E -c e rtifie d au to te c h n i cian s can be found at every type of re p a ir fa c ility : n ew car d ealerships, independent g arages, service statio n s, tire d ealers, sp e c ia lty sh o p s, and m ajor f r a n ch ises. T here are over 300,000 A S E -certified technicians at work n a tio n a lly . F or m ore inform ation about A S E -certified technicians, send a busin ess-sized , self-ad d ressed , stam ped envelope to: ASE C o n sum er B ro ch u re, D ept. C C C R , P .O . Box 3 4 7 , H e rn d o n , VA 22070. ‘‘Specializing in Home Style Cooking" 7332 NE M.L.K. 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