It is actually prohibited by Federal Law for a new car dealer to either deny warranty service or even imply that warranty service will be voided if servicing or repairs are not performed at the dealership. The law is the Magnuson-Moss Act of 1975, Title 15, Chapter 50, Section 2301-2312. Look it up for yourself! A complete version of the Magnuson Moss Act can be found at www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/warranty.htm.
Look under “Tie-In Sales” Provisions. A Google Search on the Magnuson-Moss Act will also bring up many Web sites that explain this Federal Code in less “legal speak”.

Your own car manual even tells you that your vehicle’s maintenance may be performed by any automotive repair establishment or individual without invalidating the manufacturers’ warranty. Look under Vehicle Maintenance and Care, Maintenance Providers, Where to Go for Service and Replacement Parts, just to name a few areas in the manuals where you will find this confirmed.

For example: under Replacement Parts it says “Warranty coverage is not dependent upon the use of any particular brand of replacement parts.” Or, under Maintenance: “When maintenance and repairs are paid for by you, these services may be performed by you or by any automotive service provider you choose.”

Have you ever wondered how well a vehicle is being serviced at a facility whose primary purpose is to sell you a new car every 3 – 5 years? You may prefer a service provider that wants to develop a long-term relationship with you and help your vehicle stay healthy for 10 years or more.

The next time you are told that a new car has to be serviced at the dealer or the warranty will be void, mention the Magnuson-Moss Act (1975), and say “It just isn’t so!”

It all comes down to what we know and what we don’t know. If you want to feel more confident and in control concerning the care and maintenance of your car, (short of taking courses to become an auto tech!), you simply need to choose an auto repair/service shop that will be the right fit for you and your vehicle.

The following checklist is a way to determine whether a shop is indeed a quality shop that will provide you with a stress-free, trustworthy, and pleasant experience. Remember, never be afraid to ask a shop these questions:

1. Are your technicians ASE-certified, and are their certificates current?
2. Is there an ongoing training program in place for all your technicians and service advisors?
3. Do you have experienced diagnosticians using the latest diagnostic equipment?
4. Do you provide at least a 12,000 mile/12 month warranty on parts and labor?
5. Are you properly insured to cover possible vehicle damage that may occur while in the shop?
6. Are you certified/approved by AAA and is that status current? (Note: if so, the shop will have answered Yes to the previous 5 questions, plus you will know that they have a satisfied customer base – all prerequisites for being AAA approved.)
7. Do you offer secure “early drop-off” or “late pick-up” for your customer vehicles?
8. Do you provide free shuttle service within a reasonable distance from your shop?
9. Do you provide assistance with rental car service if needed?
10. Do you keep your customers informed regarding future vehicle maintenance needs?

Either before or after asking the above questions, you will want to visit the shop and note if they have a clean garage and a clean, comfortable waiting area. A good shop will encourage you to visit and get to know them before making your first appointment. Most important, how are you treated by the service advisor? Is he or she friendly, helpful, and thankful for your business? Are all your questions welcomed and answered? Are all the services being recommended for your car explained to you fully and using language you can understand?

By making the effort to qualify who works on your car, you will enjoy peace of mind, improve the relationship between you and your vehicle, and save money in the long term by avoiding unexpected, sometimes catastrophic, and always expensive, repairs.

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Donna McCord
Owner
Dean’s Automotive, Inc.
2037 Old Middlefield Way
Mountain View, CA 94043
650-961-0302
www.deansautomotive.com

1. Your engine coolant turns acidic as it ages. When this happens, it will cause damage to the engine and cooling system components. Coolant in good condition will be within the neutral range of the pH scale. A thorough service center will check coolant pH and recommend coolant changes when needed BEFORE damage occurs.

2. Brake system fluid collects both moisture from the environment and wear metal from the brake system itself. These contaminants cause damage and premature wear to the brake system components, so the fluid contaminate level should be checked at service intervals and changed as needed. Modern day vehicles can have brake system components costing as much as $3,000 to replace, so changing the fluid can save big money in repairs!

3. Your power steering system fluid breaks down over a period of time and picks up wear particles from the system hoses. Worn out fluid causes premature wear in the system’s pump and steering rack. The hose debris will block the system’s small passageways. Changing this fluid when needed can also save thousands of dollars in repair costs.

4. Automatic transmission fluid works especially hard in doing its job of connecting the engine to the drive train. It both lubricates and serves as a coupling agent in the transmission, and goes through a wide range of temperature changes every time the vehicle is driven. When this fluid breaks down, the result is premature wear of components inside the transmission. Transmission replacement or rebuilding can cost $3,000 and more, so change that fluid!

All the above fluids require monitoring and changing, and replacement must be done in its entirety. What is known as a “drain and refill” only replaces, on average, about 20% of the old fluid, as the fluid is present throughout the vehicle systems, not just in the fluid receptacle. Special equipment is needed to insure a 100% fluid change, so don’t hesitate to ask if your service center has invested in such equipment and will perform the correct service for you.

Your vehicle’s fluids are its lifeblood. Prolong your vehicle’s life and help avoid big repair bills by keeping those fluids healthy.

Donna McCord
Owner
Dean’s Automotive, Inc.
2037 Old Middlefield Way
Mountain View, CA 94040
650-961-0302
www.deansautomotive.com

Truthfully, an SUV is not the best vehicle for a young driver. It is like a truck! The theory is that if there is an accident, they will be less likely to get hurt. Unfortunately, a young driver is more likely to experience an accident when driving an SUV/truck.

The many reasons why this is true range from minor incidents occurring because it is harder to judge where the corners of the vehicle are when parking and driving, to more severe incidents occurring due to the higher center of gravity in these vehicles…they are much more likely to roll over during panic situations. In between, there is also the increase in stopping distance required for these vehicles. More distance is needed between an SUV/truck and other vehicles in order for it to come to a full stop. Lastly, these vehicles do not respond as quickly and securely as a regular car.

Here is what you need to know:

This service can only be performed correctly if the shop has invested in the right equipment, the right software and trained technicians with access to the right information to determine the cause of a warning light. The equipment and software must be updated every year, and that is done at a great expense to the shop owner. The technicians must go through training, at least 40 hours per year, in order to have the knowledge required to interpret the information accumulated from the diagnostic equipment. The information is available at an ongoing expense paid by the shop to manufacturers, on call services, and after market online services. The only information provided by the vehicle’s control unit is an error code with a definition, and this error code only points to a vehicle’s particular system. The technician must then determine what component or components within the system have malfunctioned. The repair can only take place after this step is accomplished. Anyone without the knowledge and equipment is just guessing at the correct repair. The danger of this guesswork is that if the cause of the warning light is not repaired correctly, additional damage may occur to other components in the vehicle. It is also good to know that when your check engine light comes on, it is telling you about a problem with your vehicle that is related to the emissions systems. Thus, if your check engine light is on, you will fail a Smog Test!

So, make sure that the facility you take your vehicle to for this type of repair has the ability to do it correctly. If the first step in the process (determining why the light came on) is not being charged for, it usually means that there has been no investment in the correct equipment, software or training, and the outcome of any subsequent repair may not be what you expect.

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Donna McCord, Owner

mountain view auto repair