Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Preparing for the Auto Repair Visit

We believe in customer directed auto repair. The process starts with reading your owner's manual and adhering to the suggested maintenance items at each service interval as your vehicle ages. The advantage of this approach is that you free yourself of the need to depend on the service facility's evaluation of your vehicle. This gets us to our motto - "Joe & Tony's, Where Your Car's Care Becomes a Partnership." Here are preparation steps for bringing your car to any shop.

Read the bible- In this case we are referring to the owner's manual. It is all there. Our experience is that the most successful car owners are those that are familiar with the needs of their vehicle as described by the manufacturer and published in manual.

Make a list- Present your auto repair facility with a written list of your concerns and make sure your contact information is on the list as well. Make sure you are available to answer the shop's questions and respond promptly to their queries.

Disclose peculiar traits- If your vehicle has quirks that you workaround you should disclose those to the shop. If a power window doesn't work or the key needs to be jiggled before it will turn in the ignition switch, please tell them when you drop off the vehicle. Oh yes, locate the tool for your locking wheels and inform the the service writer of where it can be found.

Have access to your records- It is important for you to be able to communicate your vehicle's past history to whoever is working on your car. This is especially important if you have changed repair facilities, because some of the parts they may be condemning today may still be under warranty. This information must however be at your fingertips while the vehicle is in for repairs.

Make notes- When the shop contacts you with prices or completion times, it is important to write things down. Communication in an auto repair environment is a minefield, so be sure to ask questions and clarify anything you don't understand.
New Brake Rotor
Copyright 2013 Joe & Tony's Service Inc.
      

Friday, November 8, 2013

Is the Cheapest Price Always a Bargain? | Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

A customer who owns a picture frame shop once said to me, "The consumer who solely shops for price, in the end, doesn't get a bargain." It took a while before his words made sense to me, but now I think I understand what he meant, which is the genesis for this post.

Issue - There are three major consumer concerns in auto repair - integrity, competence and price. The first two will have to wait for another time - price is the topic at hand. It's not unusual for consumers to call multiple facilities for prices on everything from tires to water pumps, which is totally understandable in today's environment and is what I do when I'm considering home improvements. However, should price trump all other considerations when it comes to your car?

Relationships - You should strive to make your service facility aware that your are committed to their business and in return you should expect that they would reciprocate by paying extra special attention to your needs. What does that mean? Some examples would be:
  1. The offer of advice free of charge
  2. Tending to your needs without an appointment whenever physically possible
  3. Minor fixes (Light Bulbs, Tire Repairs etc.) without an appointment
  4. Being the steward of your vehicle information and not selling or divulging it to others
  5. Transparency in all matters pertaining to your vehicle
Conclusions - The need to find the lowest price usually precludes the ability to nurture a arrangement that rises above that of service provider and client. Beyond the benefits listed above it would not be out of the question that a shop would, for example, take a ride with you to isolate a troublesome noise prior to a trip or maybe even scan for a Diagnostic Trouble Code free of charge. That is, of course, if it perceives you as someone who is committed to patronizing their services.

       
Copyright 2013 Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

 

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Recall - 2007-2008 Honda Odyssey Unexpected Brake Application

NHTSA announced a recall involving 2007-2008 Honda Odyssey's manufactured between August 8,2006 and September 8, 2008. The affected vehicles have a problem with the Vehicle Safety Assist System which causes the brakes to be applied unexpectedly sometimes without illuminating the brake lights.

Scope - As reported by Edmunds.com, Honda says that the recall involves nearly 350,000 mini-vans and is the result of a federal inquiry that dates back to June of this year. NHTSA received 22 complaints about the problem while the Honda dealer network reported 109 warranty claims and 205 field reports.

Problem - The affected vehicles could have a reduction in speed of as much as 30 mph since the condition occurs when the accelerator is being applied. Of course, without the benefit of brake lights fears of a rear end crash are heightened. Some dealers reported trouble codes involving the steering angle sensor which is a major component of the stability control system which is designed to prevent rollovers and uses an automated braking feature to keep vehicles upright.

Fix - NHTSA states that the parts needed to remedy the problem will not be available until the spring and owners of the affected vehicles can expect letters from Honda which will contain instructions on how to avoid unintended braking in the interim. Honda is available for questions at 1-800-999-1009. Their recall number is JC5.

Note - Your vehicle's production date can be found on the ID sticker on the driver's door pillar.

Anita Lienert, Edmunds.com
Copyright, 2013 Joe & Tony's Service Inc.