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Featured
Truck Article: Taking
the Scare Out of Truck Repair
The best way to avoid truck repair rip-offs is to be prepared.
Knowing how your vehicle works and how to identify common truck
problems is a good beginning. It's also important to know how to
select a good technician, the kinds of questions to ask, and your
consumer rights.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the American
Automobile Association (AAA), and the National Association of
Attorneys General (NAAG), this kind of information about your truck
may help you keep a lid on mechanical mistakes.
REPAIR INFORMATION
How to Choose a Repair Shop
What should I look for when choosing a repair shop?
Ask for recommendations from friends, family, and other people you
trust. Look for an auto repair shop before you need one to avoid
being rushed into a last-minute decision.
Shop around by telephone for the best deal, and compare warranty
policies on repairs.
Ask to see current licenses if state or local law requires repair
shops to be licensed or registered. Also, your state Attorney
General's office or local consumer protection agency may know
whether there's a record of complaints about a particular repair
shop.
Make sure the shop will honor your vehicle's warranty.
How to Choose a Technician
Is one technician better than another?
Look for shops that display various certifications - like an
Automotive Service Excellence seal. Certification indicates that
some or all of the technicians meet basic standards of knowledge and
competence in specific technical areas. Make sure the certifications
are current, but remember that certification alone is no guarantee
of good or honest work.
Ask if the technician or shop has experience working on the same
make or model vehicle as yours.
Repair Charges: Unlocking the Mystery
Before you arrange to have any work performed, ask how the shop
prices its work. Some shops charge a flat rate for labor on truck
repairs. This published rate is based on an independent or
manufacturer's estimate of the time required to complete repairs.
Others charge on the basis of the actual time the technician worked
on the repair.
If you need expensive or complicated repairs, or if you have
questions about recommended work, consider getting a second opinion.
Find out if there will be a diagnostic charge if you decide to have
the work performed elsewhere. Many repair shops charge for
diagnostic time.
Shops that do only diagnostic work and do not sell parts or repairs
may be able to give you an objective opinion about which repairs are
necessary.
If you decide to get the work done, ask for a written estimate.
What should a written estimate include?
It should identify the condition to be repaired, the parts needed,
and the anticipated labor charge. Make sure you get a signed copy.
It should state that the shop will contact you for approval before
they do any work exceeding a specified amount of time or money.
State law may require this.
What should I know about the parts to be repaired or replaced?
Parts are classified as:
New - These parts generally are made to original manufacturer's
specifications, either by the vehicle manufacturer or an independent
company. Your state may require repair shops to tell you if
non-original equipment will be used in the repair. Prices and
quality of these parts vary.
Remanufactured, rebuilt and reconditioned - These terms generally
mean the same thing: parts have been restored to a sound working
condition. Many manufacturers offer a warranty covering replacement
parts, but not the labor to install them.
Salvage - These are used parts taken from another vehicle without
alteration. Salvage parts may be the only source for certain items,
though their reliability is seldom guaranteed.
What do I need after the work is done?
Get a completed repair order describing the work done. It should
list each repair, parts supplied, the cost of each part, labor
charges, and the vehicle's odometer reading when you brought the
vehicle in as well as when the repair order was completed. Ask for
all replaced parts. State law may require this.
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