I
 The Prince George Citizen - SPRING CAR CARE GUIDE - Saturday, April 12,1997 - 5
Finding the Right Repair Shop
       HERE’S ADVICE FROM THE PROFESSIONALS
    A little planning, attention to detail, and good, two-way communication between customer and the repair facility are fundamental to getting satisfactory automotive repair and service, say the experts at the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
    Unless you’re a bona fide car enthusiast with plenty of tools and lots of patience, you’ll probably depend upon a professional to maintain your car, light truck or van.
    ASE offers the following advice to consumers as they purchase automotive repair and service.
    Read the owner’s manual to become familiar with your vehicle, and follow the manufacturer’s suggested service schedule.
    Start shopping for a repair facility before you need one; you can make better decisions when you are not rushed or in a panic.
    Ask friends and associates for their recommendations. Even in this high-tech era, old-fashioned word-of-mouth reputation works well.
    Check with your local consumer organization about the reputation of the shop.
    If possible, arrange for transportation, so you won’t select a shop based solely on location.
    Look for a neat, clean, well-organized facility with vehicles in the parking lot equal in value to your own and modern equipment in the service bays.
    Professionally run establishments have a courteous, helpful staff. The service writer should be willing to listen to you and to answer your questions.
    Policies (labor rates, fees for diagnostic services, guarantees, methods of payment, etc.) should be posted or explained to your
  satisfaction.
    Ask if the shop customarily handles your vehicle make and model. Some facilities specialize. If your vehicle needs major work, ask if the shop usually handles that type of repair.
    Feel free to ask for the names of a few customers as references. Call them.
    Look for signs of professionalism in the customer-service area: civic and community-service awards, membership in the Better Business Bureau, and customer-service awards.
    Look for qualified technicians. Trade-school diplomas, certificates of advanced course work and ASE certification of the individual technicians are measures of competence. ASE-certified technicians carry credentials listing their specific areas of expertise (brakes, electrical systems, etc.), while their employers often display the ASE sign.
    Reward good service with repeat business and customer loyalty. It is mutually beneficial to you and the shop owner to establish a relationship.
    If the service was not all you expected, don’t rush to another shop. Discuss the problem with the service manager or owner.
  Give the business a chance to resolve the problem. Reputable shops value customer feedback and will make a sincere effort to keep your business.
    Keep good records; keep all paperwork.
                                                                                                                                                                 For a free brochure with advice on how to commu-
 nicate with your auto technician, send a No. 10, self-addressed, stamped envelope to Communication Brochure, ASE, P.O. Box 347, Herndon, VA 22070.
    The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) was founded in 1972 as a nonprofit, independent organization dedicated to improving the quality of automotive service and repair through
 the voluntary testing and certification of automotive technicians. ASE-certified technicians wear blue and white ASE shoulder insignia and carry credentials listing their exact area(s) of certification. Their employers often display the blue and white ASE sign.
     Some 375,000 technicians hold current ASE credentials.
   MIIKC TRACKS TO
  VERSATILE AUTOMOTIVE
       ■ . ;i:4 ' .
                                                   Repairs to all makes and models 4x4s, Engine Rebuilding, Electrical Repairs, Tune-ups, Computer Diagnosis, Front End Repairs, Propane, etc. Motor Vehicle Inspection Facility
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 1754 S. Ogilvie SI. Prince George, B.C. V2N 1UI9 • 564-3449
                                  We employ technicians certified by the National Institute for
                                  AUTOMOTIVE
                                     SERVICE
                                  EXCELLENCE
                                   Let us show you their credentials
  THE PROVEN PROS — ASE-certified automotive technicians have taken and passed national competency exams in up to 25 specialties. There are 375,000 ASE-certified technicians at work across the country in every type of repair facility, from new car dealerships to service stations and independent garages.
DON'T
FOR6ET
NOW THAT SPRING IS HERE, SHOULDN’T YOUR VEHICLE HAVE A TUNE UP?
 LABOR ONLY — PARTS AND TAXES EXTRA
DL #8330        562-474$*
105 Brunswick St