Improve Your Auto Repair Experience with Better Communication Says AAA

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Oct 18, 2012, 09:15 ET

As part of AAA Car Care Month, motor club offers tips for a better experience with your repair shop

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A trip to the auto repair shop can be intimidating if you don't know much about your vehicle or have had a negative experience in the past. However, AAA says a trip to the repair shop can be much easier—and less stressful—if you select a quality facility and do a little preparation before going in for a visit.

When taking a car to a shop for maintenance or repair, AAA recommends motorists do the following:

Write down notes on the vehicle's symptoms and performance beforehand so important information is not overlooked or forgotten. Include all of your observations, even if they seem silly or irrelevant.
Describe the symptoms to the technician rather than suggesting solutions. Explain what has been seen, smelled, heard and felt while driving the vehicle. For example, does it vibrate or pull to the left? Explain under what type of driving conditions the problem takes place and how long ago it started.
Try to be precise. For example, "a rattle under the hood starts at 40 mph" or "the smell occurs only on cold days after the engine has been running for 10 minutes."
When describing symptoms, refer to the driver or passenger side of the vehicle rather than the right or left side.
Resist the temptation to use technical jargon unless you are absolutely sure what it means. Explain what is being experienced in terms that minimize the possibility of misinterpretation or misdiagnosis.
If the vehicle has been serviced recently, bring copies of the previous repair orders rather than trying to explain what work was done.

There also are some things motorists can do to help protect themselves from unexpected charges or unneeded repairs. AAA recommends that motorists:

Read the repair order before authorizing any work. Look for specific instructions outlining what the technician is supposed to do. If there is vague language, such as 'fix engine noise,' ask that the repair order be rewritten. If you want to see the parts that will be replaced, be sure to let the shop know before work begins so they can set them aside for you.
Ask questions if terms used are not easily understood or something is not clearly explained. A quality repair shop should be willing to take the time necessary to clearly explain the work to be done in advance of the repair. If the service advisor is unable to satisfactorily explain a job, or suggests the repair is too complicated to explain, get a second opinion from another shop.
When picking up the car, read over the bill and question any charges that are not clear. Insist on descriptions of parts, not just the part numbers, on the final invoice.

Finding a quality auto repair shop that can be trusted is key to a good auto repair experience. To assist motorists in their quest, AAA offers a free public service where it inspects and certifies auto repair facilities. AAA Approved Auto Repair shops must meet and maintain stringent quality standards for customer service, training, equipment and cleanliness. There are nearly 8,000 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities across North America. They can be located online at AAA.com/repair.

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 53 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

AAA news releases, high-resolution images, broadcast-quality video, fact sheets and podcasts are available on the AAA NewsRoom at NewsRoom.AAA.com.

Stay connected with AAA on the web via:
Twitter.com/AAAauto
Twitter.com/AAAnews
YouTube.com/AAA
Facebook.com/AAAfanpage
Facebook.com/AutoSkills

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SOURCE AAA