Finding an auto repair facility that you can trust to do the job right the first time can be tricky and overwhelming. The complexities of vehicles are ever changing and require the best technicians & tools to conquer the problems at hand. When addressing vehicle problems, knowledge is power. 

To provide the best service, we want to tackle the concern our customer is having right away. For us to do that we need to give our technicians as much information as we can, so they know what to look for and how to approach the issue. Any information we can get from the customer is critical to help us identify (and possibly recreate) the problem our guest is experiencing and ensure we address the service or repair accurately and timely without the risk of miscommunication. 

Whether it’s over the phone or talking face to face at our service counter we strive to ask the right questions and get down to the core details. Any one of our highly skilled ASE Certified Technicians will stand by the fact that there is no such thing as a silly question because even the smallest details can make all the difference in a world of drivability issues. 

To provide a little insight to how we address and narrow down the customer’s vehicle issues, here are some of the most common problems customers have. And here are the things we might ask to gain a better understanding of your situation. 

• Check engine lights – “Has the light been flashing or solid?” & “How you noticed it driving differently? If so, how?” “Are you sensing anything different in how the car drives?” 

• Car is running poorly or getting bad gas mileage– “When did you first notice the issue?” “When do you feel the vehicle running poorly—at idle or while driving?” “Is it acting up when accelerating or when slowing down?” “How bad has the mileage gotten?” 

• Brake inspections – “What makes you think you need a brake inspection?” or “Are you experiencing any noises, dust, or vibrations?” “Does the pedal feel different or has your perceived braking distance increased?” 

• Noises – “Can you describe the noise (clicking, grinding, squealing, etc)? When does it happen—at idle, while accelerating or slowing, while braking, etc?” “When driving the vehicle, how can we duplicate the noise?” or “Would it be possible to go on a test drive together and try to hear the noise together?” 

We try not to bombard you with too much, but please bear with us as we ask you numerous questions. We know some questions might “seem” silly or redundant but by now we hope you understand that we do it for you and your vehicles benefit; in this case, there is no such thing as a bad question . 

Stay safe & healthy out there. 

Caitlyn Pridemore – Marketing Director

filed under: Auto News