Automotive Service Facility Secrets That Will Save You Money

I want to talk a little about automotive diagnostic costs and how they get passed on to the average consumer along with the reasons behind this. The inner workings of Automotive service centers are very similar in some aspects and very different in others. Some service centers really try to give the best customer service available while others will charge you for every bit of time that they can scrape up and not even look back. Not all Automotive diagnostic strategies are equal. The truth about diagnostics is that technicians will not always treat them the same way. There are always different points of view and unfortunately just because you retrieve a certain fault code, the part it points to may not in fact be the failed part. The technician will use his own experiences to diagnose the problem and not necessarily the "text- book" method depending upon the skill set of the tech. Technicians need to feed their families. The technician, like anyone else, needs to feed his family and in the automotive service profession the techs are paid by the book hour. This means that they receive a small amount of time to diagnose the problem and the standard "book" time to replace the part. This is where things tend to go wrong as the technician is forced to "beat the clock" to diagnose and repair your vehicle. Parts Swapping When the technician is faced with a fault that is unusual and has to spend a fair amount of time on it, this is where you start to pay. It is not that the technician is untrained or inexperienced, but rather that he or she may have to ask for extra time or start swapping parts which you may end up paying for. Paying for more than you needed Nobody usually minds paying a little extra if the technician has run into a problem and needs more time, but it is when the fifth part that was replaced has fixed the problem and you are faced paying for the other 4 possibly unnecessary parts. This happens because the technician must fix the vehicle as promptly as possible to get paid and move on to the next job. Be smart about your repairs When you bring your vehicle in for diagnostic work such as a check engine light, air conditioning, abs light, air bag light, etc. always and I repeat "ALWAYS" tell the service center to call you after they have put an hours worth of time in and convey to you where they are at with the vehicle at that time. At that point you can make a determination where the technician is at in diagnosing your vehicle and you can then decide how much more time you are willing to let him spend on it. Don't be afraid to push the service adviser into telling you whether he is close or not. Paying for parts you did NOT need There are many instances where the technician will put 2, 3, or 4 parts on the vehicle and say that they were all contributors of the problem and it seemed to get a little better as each one was replaced. From my experience this is possible only when the vehicle is just so old and neglected or there was consequential damage as something took out a multitude of parts and it usually wasn't any of the parts but some other underlying problem. Again you should instruct the service adviser to call you as soon as they suspect a part and want to replace it and if it is not the problem will you be charged for that part. Generally dealerships will treat you better Automotive service dealerships normally will be more expensive, but are large enough to usually work with you on possibly splitting the time of the diagnosis. If it was an extensive diagnosis they may consider "eating" some of the time and NOT charge you for any parts that did not fix the vehicle. There are many independent service shops that will grant this negotiation to you, but in my experience there were not as many. Everyone needs to get their vehicle serviced at some point or another and being aware of the situation will greatly help you in the long run. If you experience a situation that you are not so sure of and need a little advice, be sure to drop us a line at the company website. John Plocar has been in the Automotive Service Industry for over 25 years as a certified technician, foreman, service manager, and shop owner. I am master ASE certified and have various dealership (manufacturer) certifications along with an electronics degree. I am currently an automotive service consultant and an automotive mechanical claims adjuster. I can be found at http://cashkats.com/category/automotive-repair-help so come and visit and drop me a line if you need any help. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6695400

Automotive Painting and Body Technician Courses Increasingly in Demand

Automotive Painting and Body Technician courses provide students with hands-on-training and experience for work as an Auto Body Technician and Automotive Refinishing Prep Technician, two fields that are in constant demand. Automotive Painting and Body Technician courses focus on developing the skills required to ensure successful entry into an automotive painting and bodywork profession. The automotive Industry remains one of the most important in North America, despite the restructuring that has captured so much attention. There continues to be mass competition, significant advances in technology, including many "green initiatives", and ongoing demand to repair and service the some 500 million cars that are already on the road. Automotive Painting and Body Technician courses will often cover the following topics : Introduction to the Automotive Industry and shop safety Automotive detailing Automotive refinishing prep tools and shop procedures Materials Surface preparation Small dent repair Priming Plastic parts refinishing Masking procedures Introduction to refinishing procedures Tools and equipment Welding technology Sheet metal repair Vehicle construction technology Plastic repair technology The pay structure for a Refinishing Prep and Auto Body Technician leaves plenty of room for earning growth. On average, Collision Repair Technicians make between $40,000 and $56,000 per year. Pursuing a career in auto body repair painting means you can pursue entry-level positions with a long list of potential employers, including: New car dealers Retail collision repair facilities Custom specialty shops Heavy duty truck repair facilities Becoming an entrepreneur and owning your own body shop Positions for graduates of auto body repair painting courses include: Automotive Detailer Apprentice Refinishing Prep Technician Apprentice Motor Vehicle Body Repairer Automotive Metal Fabricator/Welder Plastic Repair Technician Dent Doctor Aftermarket Installer Automotive Refinishing Technician Automotive Painter And More Typical duties for Refinishing Prep or Auto Body Repair Technicians include: Remove wax, grease and dust from the vehicle Remove rough spots on vehicle panels and sand surfaces by hand or with air sanders Minor damage repairs Restoration of anti-corrosion treatments and substrate preparation Undercoat product mixing and application ensuring chemical compatibility, adhesion and durability Application of anti-corrosion compounds Prep vehicle for paint; masking and priming Apply primer to repair areas Paint parts inners Sand the vehicle several times during the painting process Possible collision or restorative work, or they may design and create custom paint jobs Set the booth to dry the paint Remove masking papers and touch up paintwork Remove parts, damaged fenders, doors, panels, and grills Repair structure of vehicles Remove dents, buckles, and other defects Repair and replace doors, front-end body, and underbody components And more Contact the Automotive Training Centre for more Automotive Painting & Body Technician courses. Philippe Taza is the founder and CEO of Higher Education Marketing, a leading Web marketing firm. Taza has worked in the Canadian Education market for nearly a decade, specializing in Google Analytics, Education Lead Generation, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Mobile SMS Alerts, Social Media Marketing and Pay Per Click Marketing, among other Web marketing services and tools. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6427433