12 Must-Read Car Repair Tips to Find a Trustworthy Mechanic

Car breakdowns are never a good thing. But breakdowns in freezing temperatures and on icy roads are just plain dangerous.

This winter, make sure you and your family are protected when you take to the roads. Get your car checked out by a trusted repair shop as soon as possible.

To help you find the mechanic that’s right for you, check out these 12 car repair shop tips from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE):

1. Don’t Wait ‘Til It’s Too Late: Start shopping for a repair shop before you need one. That means now!

Continue Reading: 12 Must-Read Car Repair Tips to Find a Trustworthy Mechanic

Spring Is the Season for Auto Care

<b>Spring Is the Season for Auto Care</b>“></td> <td> <p>(<a href=NewsUSA) – After a season of winter driving, a springtime check-up for your car might be in order. Most anyone can do routine automotive housekeeping chores: Remove unneeded winter gear from your trunk, clean out trash and clutter, and wash and wax your car to remove accumulated grime and salt deposits. The experts at the non-profit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) offer the following advice for more ambitious automotive projects:

• Read the owner’s manual and follow the recommended service schedules.

• If you are not a do-it-yourselfer, look for an orderly repair shop with modern equipment in the service bays and qualified automotive technicians as evidenced by trade school diplomas, certificates of advanced courses and ASE certifications.

• Have engine performance problems — hard starts, rough idling, stalling — corrected now, before summer’s demanding stop-and-go vacation traffic.

• For comfort in hot weather now’s the time, too, to have a marginally working air conditioning system serviced.

• Flush and refill the cooling system according to the service manual’s recommendations. The level, condition, and concentration of the coolant should be checked periodically. (Make sure the engine has cooled down before removing the radiator cap.)

• A qualified auto technician should check the tightness and condition of belts, clamps and hoses, but you can look for signs of wear, cracking, or fraying.

• Replace other filters (air, fuel, PCV, etc.) as recommended in the service manual.

• Check the condition of tires, including the spare. Let the tires “cool down” before checking their pressure. Uneven wear, “cupping,” vibrations, or “pulling” to one side indicates problems with your tires or suspension system. If applicable, have snow tires pulled and replaced with seasonal tires.

• Change the oil and oil filter as specified in owner’s manual. Often neglected, this simple service is one of the easiest ways to extend the life of your vehicle.

ASE was founded to improve the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive technicians. ASE-certified technicians wear blue and white shoulder insignia and carry credentials listing their exact area(s) of certification. Their employers often display the blue and white ASE sign. Visit www.ase.com for more car care tips.

Be Prepared When the Rubber Meets the Snow

<b>Be Prepared When the Rubber Meets the Snow</b>“></td> <td> <p>(<a href=NewsUSA) – Millions of motorists will be taking to the highways and byways for holiday travel, so the experts at the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) remind drivers to have their vehicle checked out before heading out. “Breakdowns in winter conditions can be especially dangerous,” notes Martin Lawson, ASE’s editorial director.

The following tips from ASE will help vehicle owners choose a good repair shop.

* Start shopping for a repair facility before you need one.

* Ask your friends and associates for their recommendations, and consult local consumer groups.

* Arrange for alternate transportation in advance so you will not feel forced to choose a shop based solely on location.

* Look for a neat, well-organized facility, with vehicles in the parking lot equal in value to your own and modern equipment in the service bays.

* Look for a courteous staff, with a service consultant or technicians willing to answer your questions.

* Look for policies regarding estimated repair costs, diagnostic fees, guarantees and acceptable methods of payment.

* Ask if the repair facility specializes or if it usually handles your type of repair work.

* Look for signs of professionalism in the customer service area such as civic, community, or customer service awards.

* Look for evidence of qualified technicians: trade school diplomas, certificates of advanced course work, and certification by ASE indicate the presence of professional, trained technicians.

* Look for the ASE sign. ASE was founded in 1972 to improve the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive professionals. ASE-certified technicians wear blue and white ASE shoulder insignia and carry credentials listing their exact area(s) of certification, while their employers display the blue and white ASE sign.

* Be ready to describe any changes in your vehicle’s handling or performance or other issues. Do not be embarrassed to ask for simple definitions for any technical terms you find unfamiliar.

* Reward good service with repeat business and customer loyalty.

Visit www.ase.com for more information, including seasonal car-care tips.

Auto Care Advice for College-Bound Students

<b>Auto Care Advice for College-Bound Students</b>“></td> <td> <p>(<a href=NewsUSA) – There’s one more item for college-bound students to add to their checklists before heading off to campus this fall: Make sure your vehicle is in good working condition and that routine services have been performed to minimize the chance of a breakdown during the school year, note the experts at the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

“Students who commute need reliable transportation day in and day out to make it to classes on time,” notes Martin Lawson, ASE’s editorial director, “while those who live on campus and use their cars less frequently could find themselves stranded in the satellite parking lot by a dead battery in cold weather.”

The following tips from ASE — the group that tests and certifies automotive technicians — should help students and their parents choose a repair facility.

- Start shopping for a repair facility before you need one.

- Arrange for transportation in advance so you will not feel forced to choose a shop based on its location.

- Look for a neat, well-organized facility, with vehicles in the parking lot equal in value to your own and modern equipment in the service bays.

- Look for a courteous staff, with a service consultant willing to answer all of your questions.

- Look for policies regarding estimated repair costs, diagnostic fees, guarantees, and acceptable methods of payment.

- Ask whether the repair facility specializes or usually handles your type of repair work.

- Look for signs of professionalism in the customer service area such as civic, community or customer service awards.

- Look for evidence of qualified technicians: trade school diplomas, certificates of advanced course work, and certification by ASE.

- Look for the ASE sign. It means that one or more of the technicians have earned nationally recognized certifications.

For more information, visit www.ase.com.

Summer Conditions Stress Out Autos

<b>Summer Conditions Stress Out Autos</b>“></td> <td> <p>(<a href=NewsUSA) – Whoever said, “It’s summertime, and the living is easy,” hasn’t looked under the hood of an automobile. Stop-and-go traffic, dusty roads and air conditioners running full blast put extra stress on automotive systems.

“In today’s tough economy, motorists may be tempted to put off automotive maintenance, but neglect will cause your vehicle to wear out sooner, burn more gasoline and pollute more than a regularly serviced car,” notes Martin Lawson, editorial director of National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), an independent nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive technicians. “What’s worse, a minor problem can become an expensive headache if neglected.”

ASE offers the following tips to help you choose an automotive repair facility:

- Start shopping for a repair facility before you need one.

- Arrange for alternate transportation in advance so you will not feel forced to choose a shop based solely on location.

- Look for a neat, well-organized facility, with vehicles in the parking lot equal in value to your own and modern equipment in the service bays.

- Look for a courteous staff, with a service consultant or technicians willing to answer your questions.

- Look for policies regarding estimated repair costs, diagnostic fees, guarantees, and acceptable methods of payment.

- Ask whether the repair facility specializes or whether it usually handles your type of repair work.

- Look for signs of professionalism in the customer service area such as civic, community, or customer service awards.

- Look for evidence of qualified technicians: Trade school diplomas, certificates of advanced course work, and certification by ASE indicate the presence of professional, trained technicians. ASE-certified technicians wear blue and white ASE shoulder insignia and carry credentials listing their exact areas of certification.

- Look for the ASE sign. Employers of ASE-certified technicians often display the blue and white ASE sign. Facilities with a high percentage of ASE-certified professionals may also be members of the Blue Seal of Excellence Recognition Program.

- Reward good service with repeat business and customer loyalty.

For more information, including seasonal car care tips, visit www.ase.com.

Neglected Car Service Costing Motorists

<b>Neglected Car Service Costing Motorists</b>“></td> <td> <p>(<a href=NewsUSA) – In difficult economic times, it’s natural to cut back on spending, but the experts at the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) advise that putting off automotive maintenance and service can cost you more in the long run, with small problems growing into more expensive repairs. For example, failure to replace worn brake pads or a faulty oxygen sensor — both relatively easy services for qualified auto technicians — can result in expensive brake rotor service or costly replacement of the vehicle’s catalytic converter, respectively.

A survey of ASE-certified master automotive technicians indicated that motorists should expect a well-maintained vehicle to last up to twice as long as one that’s been neglected. Among the more frequently neglected items, according to these certified pros, are oil changes, tire and brake service, wheel alignment, air and fuel filters and transmission service. In addition, a well-maintained vehicle gets better gasoline mileage, pollutes less, is safer to operate and commands a better resale value, notes ASE.

To help consumers choose a repair shop that fits their needs, ASE offers the following checklist advice:

- Look for a neat, well-organized facility, with vehicles in the parking lot equal in value to your own and modern equipment in the service bays.

- Look for a courteous staff, with a service consultant willing to answer all of your questions.

- Look for policies regarding estimated repair costs, diagnostic fees, guarantees and acceptable methods of payment.

- Ask if the repair facility specializes or if it usually handles your type of repair work.

- Look for signs of professionalism in the customer service area such as civic, community or customer service awards.

- Look for evidence of qualified technicians: trade school diplomas, certificates of advanced course work and certification by ASE.

- Look for the ASE sign or logo; it means the shop employs nationally certified technicians.

For more information and seasonal car care advice, visit www.ase.com.

Avoid Breakdowns During Holiday Travel

<b>Avoid Breakdowns During Holiday Travel </b>“></td> <td> <p>(<a href=NewsUSA) – Winter driving creates special challenges, which can only be amplified by the long trips many Americans will take over the holidays. To avoid unexpected problems, Mom and Dad should take their vehicle to a shop before they herd the kids into the car and head off to grandma’s.

The professionals at the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) offer the following advice for motorists looking to pick the right repair shop.

- Start shopping for a repair facility before you need one. You can make better decisions when you are not rushed or in a panic.

- Ask friends and associates for their recommendations. You may be amazed at how much another person’s experience can help.

- Consult your local consumer organization(s) regarding the reputation of the business. Inquire about complaints and the rate of resolution of complaints.

- Look for a neat, well organized facility, with vehicles in the parking lot equal in value to your own and modern equipment in the service bays.

- Look for a courteous staff, with a service writer willing to answer your questions. Be prepared to describe any symptoms, like noises, unusual leaks or odors, smoke or handling problems, or carry a written list to give to the service consultant.

- Ask if the repair facility specializes in certain types of repair work.

- Look for signs of business professionalism in the customer service area such as civic, community, or customer service awards.

- Look for qualified technicians as evidenced by trade-school diplomas, certificates of advanced course work or on-going training, and individual technician certification by ASE.

- Look for policies regarding labor rates, diagnostic fees, guarantees and acceptable methods of payment.

- Keep all of your paperwork. Good records will help clear up problems that may occur later on in the vehicle’s life.

For more information, including seasonal car care tips, visit www.ase.com. ASE was founded in 1972 to improve the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive technicians. ASE-certified technicians wear blue and white ASE shoulder insignia and carry credentials listing their exact areas of certification. Their employers often display the blue and white ASE sign.