Page 20 - AAA Central Penn – AAA Now! – May/June 2019

AAA
TM
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES
QUESTION:
ASK THE TECH
By Bruce Phillips
AAA Central Penn’s Approved Auto Repair Manager
Can you replace a battery in today’s vehicles like you could in the old days?
ANSWER:
The answer to
that question is
complicated because of new technologies. The physical replacement of the battery is very similar to years past, with unbolting the cables and battery hold-downs and removing and replacing the battery, but it is what may come next that makes it different from the old days.
Many of today’s vehicles come with a “Battery Monitoring System” (BMS) software, which is designed to monitor the alternator’s rate of charging the battery. As the battery gets older and weaker, the BMS will adjust the rate of charging higher to make sure the battery stays properly charged; it also will adjust the charging for different loads on the battery to keep it at its correct charged state.
When you replace the battery on a vehicle with a BMS, the new battery will have to go through a battery-registering procedure to make sure the alternator is charging at the proper rate. If this procedure is not followed, the alternator may overcharge the new battery and cause a premature failure.
So, when you need a battery replaced what can you do? Well, obviously, you can take it back to your brand dealer to have the battery installed and registered, or you can call your independent AAA Approved Auto Repair facility or other independent repair facility and see if they can replace the battery and register it.
Bruce Phillips is a 40-year veteran of auto repair and is an ASE Master Technician. He has worked for dealers, independents, and franchise auto repair facilities. He is currently the manager of the AAA Approved Auto Repair program for AAA Central Penn Motor Club. To contact him for any type of automotive repair, state inspection, emissions inspection questions, or if you know of a repair facility you feel might be a good addition to our AAR program, email them to bphillips@aaacp.com or call 717-657-2244 x 1004.
What to Look for When Choosing a Repair Facility
By Bruce Phillips, AAA Central Penn’s Approved Auto Repair Manager
In my many years as a service advisor and manager I’ve been asked by many friends how to choose a good automotive repair center to do their service work. Due to the increased complexity of today’s vehicles, it is even more important to know how to find a mechanic you can trust.
What should you look for in a good repair facility? The first thing I look for when visiting a shop is how clean, neat and well-maintained it is. The physical facility should reflect an environment where a customer in business attire would not be afraid
to walk into without fear of getting dirty. Next, is the shop sending their technicians to classes and making sure they are maintaining their training certifications? On the walls of the waiting areas has the shop posted the training certifications their technicians have received from programs such as ASE, a national technician certification program?
Is the person at the service desk friendly,
and do they greet you with a smile? Are they knowledgeable, and do they ask questions about your vehicle issues so they can fully understand your repair and maintenance needs? Are they dressed in a professional manner and do they talk to you in the same professional, caring manner?
Women now make up 65 to 80 percent of automotive repair decisions today, so repair facility waiting areas need to be women and children friendly. The service counter should be neat and clean, with no grease or old parts that could leave grease on a customer’s clothing. The bathroom should be clean and tidy, with a hook hanging on the door for woman to hang their purses. Preferably, the facility has a children’s play area with assorted toys and books to keep them occupied while waiting.
When talking to you about your vehicle’s repair and maintenance needs after looking over the vehicle, the repair shop should break the estimate down to parts and labor and explain in lay person’s terms why the repairs are being recommended. The benefits of preventative maintenance should be explained, as well as the mileage intervals for future service.
Here are some tips on how to protect yourself when getting your vehicle serviced:
1. Demand to see the broken or failing part.
2. Get the entire estimate, including diagnosis, in
writing before approving the work. If you are not present, ask that the estimate be faxed or e-mailed to you for approval.
3. Ask to have all removed/replaced parts kept for
you to view; make sure the parts are listed with part numbers in case of a warranty claim in the future.
4. If the repair facility deems the car unsafe to drive, get it in writing on the estimate.
5. Ask if you can have a second opinion done while the car is on the rack; if not, have the vehicle taken down to get a second opinion – especially if it is an expensive repair.
6. If the car is safe to drive, take it to a dealership
or AAA Approved Auto Repair facility for a second opinion.
7. After the work is completed and before you pay: look over the area where the work was done. Make sure no tools, rags, or spare parts are lying around.
8. Drive the vehicle with the mechanic or service advisor before paying to be sure the problem is resolved to your satisfaction; particularly if the issue is when the problem happens only while you are driving.
9. Get the warranty for parts and labor on the work performed in writing on your dated receipt.
10. Pay by credit card, so if there is an issue you can put a stop on the payment until the issue is resolved.
The best way to be safe is to take your vehicle
to a AAA Approved Auto Repair facility which is inspected and certified annually by AAA, offers a 24 month/24,000-mile warranty on parts and labor, and a written estimate that cannot be exceeded
by 10 percent without prior authorization by the member, arbitration if an issue does occur, and a free vehicle maintenance inspection with paying work. For more information on AAA’s Approved
Auto Repair program go to AAA.com/aar, call
(717) 657-2244 x 1004 or e-mail bphillips@aaacp.com.
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MAY/JUNE 2019
Now!