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Preparation is Gold When it Comes to Auto Maintenance

July 29, 2010

Better and more effective description of your car problems can save you time and money. What we normally expect is that, we take our car to the shop, tell the mechanic on what the problem is, go back to the agreed time and get the car out. That should be case shouldn’t it? Sometimes however, there could be delays. Might have been a misdiagnosis by the mechanic to begin with, which might have been caused by the way you described the problem in the first place. We go in on the agreed time expecting to take our car out and ending up being informed that they need more time and it’s not fixed yet. It can be very frustrating. To avoid this, here are simple to tips on how to describe car problems

A long standing auto dealer of repute pointed out that sure you can ask to speak directly to the mechanic - yet that costs the firm time and money of the mechanic being taken away from his repair stall and backs up the whole shop. A good auto service writer should be able to correspond , communicate and reassure the customer that all is well and as well act on their behalf. This auto dealer had worked up his service departments and writers to the point of professionalism that they often received gifts and Christmas cards from grateful clients and motorists? One experienced motorist - who was a professional medical doctor - noted that he would never deal with an auto repair shop or facility where he could not look the mechanic in the eyes and shake their hands. Sadly the local garage is not a fixture in our communities or motoring pastimes to the greatest degree now. We often have to deal with lackadaisical big box stores or higher quality auto dealership service departments - who for their expertise and overhead charge higher prices. Modern vehicles in 2010 are highly technical and electronic , gone are simple mechanical arrangements and simple points and spark plugs. Cars are a lot more difficult and expensive to fix , diagnose and repair. All and all this is why you should take the time ahead of the call and drop off at the service department to clearly plan and enunciate your auto’s symptoms,problems and difficulties. Its worth the effort and saves you time and expenses down the road . Of course often delays occur. These guide questions could lead to pinpoint the problem faster. The details that you could provide to the technician can lead to less time searching what the source of the problem is and more time in actually fixing it. We go in on the agreed time expecting to take our car out and ending up being informed that they need more time and it’s not fixed yet. It can be very frustrating. Owning a vehicle - be it new or pre-owned car, truck or SUV is a major responsibility and some say a hole in the water or roadway that you pour great amounts of cash into. Be prepared to max out your credit cards.

First of all it is important to have full and complete as well as concise descriptions Nothing could help the mechanic better than accurate and detailed descriptions of the problem. There is no substitute for experience , expertise and training when it comes to fixing your auto. You do not want a situation where you have aggravated the service manager to the point that either he overcharges you , to have you go away , or proudly assigns their newest recruit - “Junior” to your case. Before the work starts, check the work order. Make sure you understand what is being done. If you don’t, ask for clarification. The goal is to check if the services listed are what you asked for, or what’s necessary and not have any additional work that you didn’t approve of.

You could also help a lot in the process t by providing the following information: Understand that these are little pieces of the puzzle. Provide them to your mechanic and he will start putting the puzzle together to get a better picture of what’s happening:

1. Point out since when did it start to happen and for how long

2. Inform the mechanic of any changes made before the issue occurred

In describing the problem, you could use multiple senses. In describing the problem, you could use multiple senses. What did you see, hear, feel or smell when the problem is happening? Did you see some smoke? How did the engine sound? Did the steering wheel felt too loose? Did you smell any leaked gasoline or oil? Did you see some smoke? How did the engine sound? Hear any clunks on the front end. One auto driver coming home one night from a computer repair hit a large unmarked 36 inch, 6 inch deep hole in the pavement . This was in the middle of a construction area. Only , by the fact that he took the time and effort to take photos and snap shots of the construction area was he able to hold the construction company legally and financially responsible via their insurance policies? 1. Take down notes ‘ nothing could prepare you well enough. Write down all the things you’ve observed. Real-time if possible. The idea is not to miss any valuable detail when describing the problem to a car mechanic. This is the most efficient way?

Yet for most people they need simple and reliable transportation either to get to the job or job-site or to transport friends and family be it out to a movie , a summer roadside vacation or to the supermarket grocery store. You could help a lot by providing the following information: Describe what the problem is. 1. Point out since when did it start to happen and for how long 2. Inform the mechanic of any changes made before the issue occurred.

You would be amazed at how few drivers test drive the car and check the bill. 1. Be specific and complete ‘ when describing the problem get into the specific details. Here are some guide questions to help you. When did the problem started happening? How has this been happening? What has changed from the time it was working properly up to now? What did you see, hear, smell and feel when the issue was happening. Make sure the problem has been fixed. Also, know what you paid for, so go ahead and check the bill. 1. Ask questions, test-drive the car and check the bill ‘ if things are unclear to you, ask questions. Make sure to request for the mechanic to explain things in terms that you understand. They might have a tendency to use jargon assuming that you understand them.

by  Terry Vostor

Written by paydayla · Filed Under Auto Loans 

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