Guidelines?
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"Are there any guidelines for repair shops?"
YES. Some states (such as
California) have rules that regulate the inspection and repair of
certain vehicle systems such as brakes and emission control
components. There are also federal rules that prohibit tampering or
disconnecting emission controls. But for general types of
repairs, there are no official regulations, standards or guidelines in
most instances.
This is changing, however. In an attempt to "clean up" the auto repair
industry, "voluntary" standards have been developed and are now being
adopted by many service facilities. But these voluntary standards are
by no means universally accepted.
Until very recently, there were no such standards or guidelines for
inspection or repair procedures. When a mechanic inspected a vehicle
or made a repair, he more or less did it his own way. He usually
followed "industry accepted practices," but the truth of the matter
was that industry accepted practices varied widely.
To address consumer concerns over this issue and head off threatened
legislation that would have dictated inspection guidelines and repair
procedures for the automotive repair industry, the
Automotive Parts and
Accessories Association (APAA) spearheaded a coalition of
automotive parts suppliers, service providers, retailers and vehicle
manufacturers in 1992 to create the "Maintenance Awareness Program."
The coalition eventually became its own nonprofit organization and was
renamed the "Motorist Assurance
Program" or MAP
How to talk to a repair technician.
The "Uniform Inspection Guidelines" that MAP hammered out cover the
following areas of automotive service and repair:
* Brakes
* ABS brakes
* Exhaust system
* Steering & suspension (includes tires & alignment)
* Engine maintenance & performance (includes cooling system, ignition,
fuel and emissions control)
* Engine repair (internal mechanical components)
* Electrical systems (battery, starter, charging system)
* Heating, ventilation and air conditioning
* Transmission & driveline
Each set of guidelines describes in great detail the items that need
to be inspected, how each item should be inspected, and criteria for
determining if a component is good or bad. The bottom line in most
instances is if a component is damaged, broken, failed or exceeds the
vehicle manufacturer's specified wear limit, it needs to be repaired
or replaced. The guidelines clearly specify when certain types of
repairs are required, and when such repairs that are not absolutely
necessary can be "suggested" or recommended.
Required Repairs
According to the MAP guidelines, a
"required repair" is necessary when:
* A component no longer performs its intended purpose (meaning it is
broken or has failed). This would include things such as a brake or
coolant hose that is leaking, a muffler with a hole in it, a broken
drive belt, fouled spark plugs, a failed engine sensor, etc. Your
engine may not run, drive or brake properly (or safely) unless such
repairs are made.
* A component does not meet a "design specification" regardless of
whether it still works or not. This includes parts that exceed the
vehicle manufacturers wear or operating limits. Examples here could
include things like worn brake shoes or pads, loose ball joints or tie
rod ends, a wheel that is out of alignment, etc. If something is worn
out, loose or out of adjustment, it needs to be replaced or corrected.
* A component is missing. This might include emission control
components that someone removed (like the catalytic converter) or
other parts that perform a vital function or are necessary for the
vehicle to operate properly, meet government emission and/or safety
requirements.
Suggested Repairs
MAP says certain types of repairs
may be suggested or recommended if:
* A component is near the end of its useful life, is very close to the
manufacturer's wear limit or discard specification, is on the verge of
failure, or will need replacing soon (even if it still works or meets
specs now). The rationale here is why wait to replace something that's
about to fail if it can be replaced or fixed now?
Two issues are involved here: reliability and convenience. If the part
that is about to fail is not replaced or fixed, it may fail and leave
you stranded or cause other problems or damage. For example, a
radiator hose is eight years old and has never been replaced. It may
look okay, but be full of cracks that can't be seen on the outside. If
the hose fails, the engine will overheat (which besides causing a
break down may also cause heat-related damage to the engine!). So the
technician may recommend replacing your old hoses as preventative
maintenance.
As for convenience, having a repair done now may eliminate the need
for a second appointment if the vehicle is already in for other
service or repairs. In some cases, this may actually save you money by
reducing labor costs if the part(s) that need to be replaced is one
that is related to another part which is being serviced or replaced.
For example, replacing the clutch requires a lot of disassembly. It
usually makes sense, therefore, to replace all the major clutch
components (pressure plate, disk and throw-out bearing) when the job
is done so it doesn't have to be redone if one of these parts isn't
replaced and later fails.
* It would be of benefit to the customer or the customer requests it.
For example, let's say your brakes work fine but are noisy. A
technician might suggest replacing the brake pads and resurfacing the
rotors to cure your noise problem. Another type of repair that would
fit into this category would be "upgrades" you might request, like
installing different springs or heavy-duty or air-assist shocks if
you're going to be towing a trailer, replacing your existing tires
with performance tires, all-season tires or snow tires, etc.
* It is necessary to comply with the vehicle manufacturer's
recommended maintenance schedule. To keep a new car engine or
powertrain warranty in effect, the vehicle manufacturer says you must
have certain maintenance performed at specified mileage and/or time
intervals. This includes things like changing your oil and filters
regularly, replacing the spark plugs, and so on. If you don't do the
required maintenance, they don't have to honor your warranty should
you have a problem later on -- and that can be a very expensive
mistake!
* If the technician thinks a repair or adjustment would be beneficial
based on his own experience. The implication here is that the
technician often knows best. If he thinks replacing or adjusting a
certain component would help solve or prevent a problem, he probably
has good reason for saying so. It doesn't necessarily mean he's right,
but it is based on past experience with similar conditions in other
vehicles. An example here might be a recommendation to replace your
existing battery with a larger one for improved cold starting
reliability. Your old battery might still be working fine. But if the
technician has seen cold starting problems in other cars with a
battery the same size as yours, he may have a very good reason for
recommending a more powerful battery.
In any event, don't be afraid to ask the technician or service why
when a certain repair or adjustment is suggested. The should be able
to give you a satisfactory explanation. If they can't, then you might
be well advised to ask someone else for a second opinion.
A final point about the MAP guidelines: The guidelines say that before
any service is performed on a vehicle, an inspection of the
appropriate system must be performed. The findings of this inspection
must then be explained to the customer and documented (written down)
on a form (work order or inspection form) to indicate the condition of
the items inspected. Furthermore, the form should clearly indicate
which parts need attention, what parts or services may be required,
and which are suggested.
Copies of the MAP guidelines may be obtained from:
MAP
7101
Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD
20814
Phone (301)
634 4955
•
Fax (202) 318-0378
January 2002
Map@motorist.org
