Monday, November 28, 2011

Characteristics of a Good Automotive Repair Mechanic

Knowledgeable on various auto parts.

This is perhaps the most basic characteristic that any auto mechanic should have. Lots of different auto parts are out in the market today. And because we, as car owners, do not necessarily possess the sufficient knowledge when it comes to vehicle parts, we will inevitably depend on the expertise of our mechanic. A simple trick to determine if your chosen car specialist really knows his business is to ask him to differentiate a few parts and gauge whether he is confidently answering your question or is just making his way around.

Diverse background on automotive repair experiences.

Years ago when the makes of our vehicles were much simpler, any mechanic would have been okay. But with today's high-tech and complex vehicles including family sedans, sports and luxury cars, SUVs, and pick-up trucks, we need someone who has a diverse background in automotive repair services. Mistakes have no room when it comes to automotive repair as these will only make things even more costly. Choose a mechanic who has certifications of training programs and classes that he has attended. The mechanic's time spent in studying as well as in the actual practice of automotive repair is very advantageous for us car owners.

ASE certified to be an automotive repair professional.

Speaking of certifications, perhaps the most famous and widely recognized one, when it comes to professionals in the automotive industry is the ASE certification. Annually, an estimated 100,000 automotive technicians take ASE certification exams each May and November at over 750 locations.

With an ASE certification, we are assured that our mechanic has good background in all automotive services because an ASE certification requires a minimum of two years work experience in addition to passing a series of examinations that include Engine Repair, Engine Performance, Electrical/Electronic Systems, Brakes, Heating and Air Conditioning, Suspension and Steering, Manual Drive Train and Axles, and Automatic Transmissions for auto technicians alone. There are separate tests for those who want to be collision repair technicians, engine machinists, parts specialists, and others.

Furthermore, all ASE certifications have expiration dates which requires technicians to re-test every five years to keep up with technology and to remain certified.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Auto Mechanic Tips and Information

With today's cars auto repair manuals are crucial for diagnosing and repairing vehicles in a timely manner. Some auto mechanics prefer paper books, others prefer to have a software program loaded onto their computer or to access information via the internet. However you prefer to access automotive repair information, this article includes some of the most popular companies that specialize in automotive repair information.

Mitchell 1 On Demand is owned by the Snap On corporation and has been a popular choice for automotive repair information for years. Many auto repair shops use Mitchel's information including repair procedures, torque specifications, TSB's (Technical Service Bulletins) and auto repair tips. Mitchell offers the DIY information available online, branded as eAutoRepair. The online repair information company, eAutoRepair offers an abreviated subscription for the DIY at a much lower cost than automotive repair shops pay. Each subscription covers only one vehicle, but this works out great for the DIY'er that needs to access automotive repair information and would like to get it with the convenience of the internet.

ALLData is another very popular choice for automotive professionals. As with Mitchell, repair information that was provided by the car manufacturers are made available to the auto technician or car owner. Diagrams, timing belt marks, trouble code information etc. And ALLData has now made their products available online for the DIYer as well at ALLData DIY.

There are many other good automotive repair manuals available from other companies as well, but these two are the ones that I've used the most over the years. The tips and information that these two companies provide are likely to make any DIY project a success.

Hi I'm Dennis Bandy, thanks for reading. I've been an ASE Master Auto Technician for over 20 years and have also sold professional auto tools since 2005. I am in a unique position to help readers with automotive repair related topics since I've had personal hands on experience with many auto repairs and automotive specialty tools. This is not a hobby for me, this is my business. Your feedback is really appreciated, if you thought this article was helpful or informative, please rate it below (thank you in advance).