Do you know why it is important to find a good mechanic or a good repair shop to fix your car? The reason: it could save you hundreds of dollars in parts and labor! When we say a “good mechanic” or a “good shop”, we mean mechanics that are equipped with the latest technology. You don’t want to entrust your car to a shop with outdated machinery and equipment because it will take longer to get to a diagnosis. And the longer a mechanic takes to make a diagnosis, the higher his labor bill will be!
Remember that auto mechanics charge by the hour.
Auto repairs may cover any or a combination of the following (please note that this is not a complete list of repairs).
• Air conditioning reviews
• Check airbags
• Electrical wiring
• Cables
• Service and repair of clutches
• Transmission repair
• Wheel alignment
• Pendant
• Brakes
• Heating system
• Oil and lubrication
• Battery
• Electric windows
Much of the troubleshooting that mechanics use to diagnose a problem is facilitated by auto repair technology.
Have you ever noticed how some lights on your panel come on when something is wrong? In most cases, an experienced mechanic will immediately know what the problem is, but there are cases where sophisticated technology will be needed to make an accurate diagnosis.
Fancy technology comes in many forms, and a popular one is troubleshooting software. Companies like Auto Tech have a software program that car owners can use to find out what is wrong with their vehicle.
Most car owners who were previously cynical about software programs should seriously consider purchasing a reliable car troubleshooting software program. For example, some programs begin by asking you to enter the make and model number of your car, the year of the car, and what type of equipment it has. The software presents a huge database of information about all the cars on the market and the car owner simply follows the steps when prompted. It employs what the industry calls a “diagnostic tree” where logical steps take you through the entire diagnostic process.
Once you have entered your car profile, use the dropdown menu to choose the symptoms your car exhibits. For example, if you choose “squealing brakes”, the program imitates the squeal of brakes and if that’s the sound you hear, you confirm it and the program recommends a series of steps.
You may not really want to use troubleshooting software, but imagine how much time and money you could save by talking to the mechanic in a smart way, letting them know you’re in the know.
Students studying for certification purchase certain tools of the trade. A couple of examples are Snap On and Mac Tools. These two are the most popular in the United States and Canada.
Mechanics now have a wide range of technological tools to help them better understand car problems: digital multimeters (electronic measurement), borescopes (test heat exchangers), fuel diagnostic testers (test and balance fuel injectors) and other new technologies.
New auto mechanical technologies help shorten the learning curve and speed up diagnosis so the car owner is not saddled with excessive man hours.
