Information to Provide

So far we have been talking about the components that make up a well run automotive repair facility. We have also talked about what signs you should be looking for when you are a new customer. From what kind of questions you should be asking the service writer, to what you should be looking for in the automotive technicians. The one thing that we have not been talking about is the what kind of information that you should be walking into the shop with. The more information that you give the service writer the better the chances are that the technician will be able to find your problem faster. The sooner the problem is found the less money will be tied up in diagnostic testing and that means more money in your pocket. So here is some information that you can go into the shop with that can help everyone involved. Here are only a few of the bits of information that a technician finds to be very helpful.

1. How long has the problem been occurring?

• Days?
• Weeks?
• Months?

2. What are the conditions when the problem occurs?

• Is speed a factor?
• When turning?
• Going over bumps?
• When the brakes are applied?

3. How often does the problem occur?

• Every morning?
• After the car has time to warm up?
• After the car has time to sit and cool down?
• All the time?

This is a very short list of some of the things that an automotive technician would find helpful when trying to diagnose the problem that your car is having. When you first start to notice the problem with the car, pay very close attention to what is happening when the car is acting up. And when you go into the repair facility, be as specific as possible. The more accurate information that you give the service writer, the better the chances that the technician can duplicate the problem in a timely manner. One of my other favorite things to do when the customer has a problem that I think would be a little tougher to find is to send one of my technicians for a ride with the customer. This helps to insure that we are all looking for the same problem. So if you think that your problem might be a little harder to find, offer to go for a ride.