Learning some basic automotive skills will make you feel more confident about going in for auto service. The service writer or service manager will instantly recognize this confidence.
A consumer that understands the vehicle and how the auto service business works is usually passed over when it comes time to apply the rip offs and scams.
Just like a lion out hunting the shop goes after the weak for an easy kill. But also like the lion when the shop gets hungry enough it may attack even the strong.
This is when we will break out everything we have learned and make the shop sorry they came after us.
In this chapter my goal is to teach you about the technical aspects of the automobile.
In my research about the subject and how to deliver the information I found two FREE premium websites that let you learn as much or as little as you want.
You can learn at your own pace as in the material is in bite size sections. The links to these sites are to follow in this chapter.
When I went through the material I noticed two key factors were missing.
So before I provide the links to these web sites I want to hit the basic principal of opening your hood and what you will see when the hood is open.
It very important to demonstrate this ability to you repair shop to change the way the shop thinks of you during the service procedure
The number 1 essential skill is to learn how to open your hood. Your owner’s manual explains how to do this in detail. But the basics are that there is a primary and secondary latching system.
This is to prevent the hood from flying up into the windshield while driving.
If the primary release is triggered or fails the secondary latch will catch the hood striker and hold it down.
To open the hood both the primary and secondary latches must be released.
The primary release is inside the vehicle usually to the left of the driver and down toward the foot well.
The secondary release is harder to find. In most cases the hood will have to be lifted up slightly to see the secondary release and is usually located towards the center of the hood.
Again your owner’s manual will give exact details to the location and operation of the latches.
You could also roll in to your local brand dealership and ask a sales person to show you how to open the hood (even if you didn’t buy the car there).
When you get the hood open take your time and look around and get familiar with the easy stuff first.
Things like fluid reservoirs are clearly labeled and marked. Your owner’s manual has a detailed break down of the location of these critical fluid locations and instructions on how to confirm proper levels.
Find your washer fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid; coolant reservoirs engine oil dipstick and transmission fluid dipstick.
On the next page is a picture of a modern engine out of the vehicle so things are easier to see. This is an example of what engines look like these days.
Inside the vehicle things can get hard to see because they really pack the engine in on the latest models.
You may be able to find pictures of your exact engine in your vehicle by going to google and searching for your model vehicle plus the key words engine picture.
Come see my new Automotive and car repair web site
Showing posts with label Automotive. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Automotive. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Friday, December 8, 2006
Auto service story
I want to start this chapter out with a recent personal story. I moved across the country to secure my new government job. This was actually about two years ago.
I got to town before my tools arrived and the long trip put me past due for my recommended maintenance on my newer truck that now had about 6,000 miles on it.
My owner’s manual states to change the engine oil every 3,000 miles or three months.
My manual states failure to comply with this could void my warranty and I know this is not true and I will explain why in this chapter.
I decided to go to the local dealer and explain to them I was a certified master technician without my tools and needed an oil change.
The dealer service advisor wrote me up and I waited for the vehicle in their state of the art customer conference room.
While I was in the waiting area I read the sales flier of what was to be included in my $34.95 oil change.
Boy all kinds of good stuff. I was tempted to go outside and watch the mechanic perform the service.
But I was comfortable and decided to relax, have some coffee and watch TV.
This was a mistake and against my better judgment.
I do strongly recommend that you watch the mechanic perform the service when waiting for your vehicle.
Even if you don’t know what your watching. The mechanic may not like it but that’s to bad it is your right to watch.
This usually keeps the mechanic honest. As in he is less likely to skip things like checking tire pressure and filling fluids.
Well I received a page that my vehicle was done and to proceed to the cashier.
I paid my bill and my truck was pulled up to the drive through. I decided to check the service right there.
Oh my god the horror. Nothing in the flier was done except just the oil change and they screwed that up also.
They overfilled the engine oil by more than a quart, which is bad for the engine.
They did not lube the front end; they did not top off the fluids, check the tire pressure or even fill my washer fluid.
They even crossed threaded the oil fill cap and broke it.
My blood pressure went through the roof. I went to the service advisor and asked to see the service manager.
To my surprise he pointed to the service managers office, instead of trying to handle the complaint, as a good service advisor should do.
I knocked on the service manager’s door and he yelled what in a very aggressive manner.
I entered and introduced myself and said I just moved to town and was looking for a reliable dealer and was interested in being a long-term customer of this establishment.
I explained to the service manager my disappointment on how my simple oil change was completely botched. He said why and I went down the long list.
He got defensive and put on his angry face and said what makes you so smart.
I explained my expertise in the field and why I didn’t do the service myself.
He went out to my near new vehicle and I showed him every last detail that went wrong on the simple service.
After a few more attempts to get tough on me which I immediately used against him he surrendered and agreed the service was done horribly.
There was no defending anything because the poor service was so obvious.
He stated his lube guy was a trainee and he would have the service straightened out by his best master tech and refund my money.
He lived up to his promise but I was there for about 5 hours total.
I know this was a long story but I wanted you to understand I know what you face as a customer and as a mechanic.
More Auto repair info at www.certifiedmastertech.com
automotive
I got to town before my tools arrived and the long trip put me past due for my recommended maintenance on my newer truck that now had about 6,000 miles on it.
My owner’s manual states to change the engine oil every 3,000 miles or three months.
My manual states failure to comply with this could void my warranty and I know this is not true and I will explain why in this chapter.
I decided to go to the local dealer and explain to them I was a certified master technician without my tools and needed an oil change.
The dealer service advisor wrote me up and I waited for the vehicle in their state of the art customer conference room.
While I was in the waiting area I read the sales flier of what was to be included in my $34.95 oil change.
Boy all kinds of good stuff. I was tempted to go outside and watch the mechanic perform the service.
But I was comfortable and decided to relax, have some coffee and watch TV.
This was a mistake and against my better judgment.
I do strongly recommend that you watch the mechanic perform the service when waiting for your vehicle.
Even if you don’t know what your watching. The mechanic may not like it but that’s to bad it is your right to watch.
This usually keeps the mechanic honest. As in he is less likely to skip things like checking tire pressure and filling fluids.
Well I received a page that my vehicle was done and to proceed to the cashier.
I paid my bill and my truck was pulled up to the drive through. I decided to check the service right there.
Oh my god the horror. Nothing in the flier was done except just the oil change and they screwed that up also.
They overfilled the engine oil by more than a quart, which is bad for the engine.
They did not lube the front end; they did not top off the fluids, check the tire pressure or even fill my washer fluid.
They even crossed threaded the oil fill cap and broke it.
My blood pressure went through the roof. I went to the service advisor and asked to see the service manager.
To my surprise he pointed to the service managers office, instead of trying to handle the complaint, as a good service advisor should do.
I knocked on the service manager’s door and he yelled what in a very aggressive manner.
I entered and introduced myself and said I just moved to town and was looking for a reliable dealer and was interested in being a long-term customer of this establishment.
I explained to the service manager my disappointment on how my simple oil change was completely botched. He said why and I went down the long list.
He got defensive and put on his angry face and said what makes you so smart.
I explained my expertise in the field and why I didn’t do the service myself.
He went out to my near new vehicle and I showed him every last detail that went wrong on the simple service.
After a few more attempts to get tough on me which I immediately used against him he surrendered and agreed the service was done horribly.
There was no defending anything because the poor service was so obvious.
He stated his lube guy was a trainee and he would have the service straightened out by his best master tech and refund my money.
He lived up to his promise but I was there for about 5 hours total.
I know this was a long story but I wanted you to understand I know what you face as a customer and as a mechanic.
More Auto repair info at www.certifiedmastertech.com
automotive
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