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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (July 20, 2016)
AUTOMOTIVE Consumer How to Things You Should Know 1. Look for an auto body shop with a good “track record” 2. Ask the manage- ment about the repair equipment they have to repair your vehicle 3. Customer service is as important as the quality of service 4. Large selection of vehicles 5. Factory Trained Technicians 6. Knowledgeable staff in every department 7. Involved in the community 8. How to choose a technician 9. What you should know about the parts to be repaired or replaced 10. After the work is done 11. Preventative main- tenance 12. Maintenance guide- lines to prevent costly repairs 13. Warranties 14. Service Contracts 18 HOW TO GUIDE CHOOSE AN AUTO DEALERSHIP Oh no! That fender-bender could not have happened at a worse time. Now you need your vehicle repaired. What should you look for in a quality auto body shop? Do they offer a strong guarantee on their work? Does your insurance company recognize them as an approved collision repair center? How long have they been in busi- ness? FIRST; Look for an auto body repair shop that has longevity in the community and has a good “track record.” You want to choose a body shop that has trained certified and/or licensed technicians who are experienced professionals. SECOND, ask to inspect the repair shop. Look for a clean, pro- fessionally run facility. Check the paint area. Is it clean? Is it well maintained and closed to the other body shop operations? The management should have no problem showing you the facility and any special features or equip- ment they have available to repair your vehicle. THIRD, ask the management about the repair equipment they have to repair your vehicle. • Is it up-to-date equipment? • Do they have specialized equip- ment and tools to do frame repairs? •Do they use factory replace- ment parts? The quality of repair tools, equipment and replacement parts and materials the repair tech- nicians used will make a difference, not only when you pick up your vehicle, but for the rest of the time you drive that vehicle. FINALLY, customer service is as important as the quality of repair. Most auto body shops will pick up and deliver vehicle owners while repairs are being made. They also act as your consultant and advocate with your insurance company. These efforts are intended to ensure you get the best possible repair work, parts and service, whether insurance covers the entire repairs or not. How to Choose a Technician Is one technician better than another? Look for shops that dis- play various certifications, like an Automotive Service Excellence seal. Certification indicates that some or all of the technicians meet basic standards of knowledge and compe- tence in specific technical areas. Make sure the certifications are cur- rent, but remember that certifica- tion alone is no guarantee of good or honest work. Ask if the techni- cian or shop has experience work- ing on the same make or model vehicle as yours. What Should I know About the Parts to be Repaired or Replaced? Parts are classified as: New - Those parts are generally made to original manufacturer’s specifica- tions, either by the vehicle manu- facturer or an independent compa- ny Your state may require shops to tell you if non-original equipment will be used in the repair. Prices and quality of these parts vary. Remanufactured, rebuilt and recon- ditioned - These terms generally mean the same thing: parts have been restored to a sound working condition. Many manufacturers offer a warranty covering replace- ment parts, but not the labor to install them. Salvage - These are used parts taken from another vehi- cle without alteration. Salvage parts may be the only source for certain items, though their reliability is sel- dom guaranteed. What do I do After the Work is Done? Get a completed repair order describing the work done. It should list each repair, parts supplied, the cost of each part, labor charges, and the vehicle’s odometer reading when you brought the vehicle in as well as when the repair order was completed. Ask for all replaced parts. State law may require this. Preventative Maintenance What are the consequences of postponing maintenance? Many parts on your vehicle are interrelat- ed. Ignoring maintenance can lead to trouble: specific parts - or an entire system - can fail. Neglecting even simple routine maintenance, such as changing the oil or check- ing the coolant, can lead to poor fuel economy, unreliability or costly breakdowns. I also may invalidate your warranty. What Maintenance Guidelines Should I Follow to Avoid Costly Repairs Follow the manufacturer’s main- tenance schedule in your owner’s manual for your type of driving. Some repair shops create their own maintenance schedules, which call for more frequent servicing than the manufacturer’s recommendations. Compare shop maintenance sched- ules with those recommended in your owner’s manual. Ask the repair shop to explain and make sure you understand - why it rec- ommends service beyond the rec- ommended schedule. Service Contracts Many vehicle dealers and others sell optional contracts - service con- tracts issued by vehicle manufactur- ers or independent companies. Not all service contracts are the same; prices vary and are usually nego- tiable. To help decide whether to purchase a service contract, consid- er: Its cost, the repairs to be cov- ered, whether coverage overlaps coverage provided by any other warranty, the deductible, where the repairs are to be performed, proce- dures required to file a claim such as prior authorization for specific repairs or meeting required vehicle maintenance schedules, whether repair costs are paid directly by the company to the repair shop or whether you will have to pay first and get reimbursed. The reputation of the service contract company. Check it out with your state Attorney General’s office or local consumer protection agency.
