Hello, Readers!
We have already discussed: 1) how to select the right parts store for you (think quality!); 2) how to have a successful phone (or in-person) conversation regarding needed items; and 3) CORE charges and sales tax (this is mentioned on its own page for this blog). Since we have all of that established, now seems to be the right time for a 'car maintenance primer'.
There are two important books I recommend you obtain for your vehicle. The first book is the owner's manual for your vehicle. [Yes, I do realize that I have already mentioned (briefly) the importance of owner's manuals in a previous post. But, it is a rather vital source of intelligence for the vehicle you own and operate, so this point bears repeating.] When any automobile is sold new at the dealership, it comes with the owner's manual that the manufacturer provided. Any decent used (or 'previously-owned') dealership will likewise make sure that the auto you purchase from them has it's handy-dandy instruction manual.
The owner's manual is chock full of information you need to know in order to be an informed owner. If you haven't taken the opportunity to read through one before, give it a shot now. You are probably familiar with the adage 'a picture is worth a thousand words'. So, given the relatively small size of the book, it should be no major surprise that it includes a lot of pictures and sketches for reference purposes. That also makes it easier for you literally to see what is being discussed, where it is located and why it is important.
For those not familiar with them, here is a highlighted list of key information in the owner's manual:
1. Table of Contents and/or Index (handy for finding exactly what you seek).
2. Warning Lights (on the dash or 'instrument cluster') and what they mean when lit.
3. Under the Hood - most of the 'more common stuff' should be identified in a sketch or digital photo. For example: air filter housing, oil dipstick, transmission dipstick (if not a 'stick shift' and not a 'sealed system' from the factory), oil filler cap, radiator cap/coolant reservoir (tank), washer fluid tank, battery (or battery jump-start posts, if mounted elsewhere).
4. Fuse panels - there are usually two, sometimes three. You will have at least one 'Main Fuse Panel' (in your Under the Hood section) which uses really big fuses called 'MAXI'. You will also have a 'secondary' fuse panel somewhere in your dash in the auto. Your manual will tell you where to find it, what kind of fuse it takes and what amperage rating for each function (there's a soup of 3 letters with a 1 or 2 digit number to describe these).
5. Fluids - Verify with your manual before adding any fluid besides washer solvent. These days, autos are very picky about the fluids they require. Coolant/antifreeze, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, motor oil, brake fluid, differential/gear oil are all becoming very manufacturer-specific. Your manual *may* also mention total capacity on some of these fluids, but that is not guaranteed.
6. Bulbs - If you experience a burnt-out light bulb (headlight, dome light, tail light, license plate light, etc), most owner's manuals are very good about having a chart with the bulb numbers required for all the common positions.
NOTE: If your auto did not come with its owner's manual - or if yours has become lost over time - there is hope for you! Option #1: You can go to the parts department of the dealership that sells your brand of auto to purchase one (it will probably be a special order deal, especially if your auto is 'mature in age'). Option #2: You can order the manual yourself directly from Helm, Inc. via their website, www.helminc.com. [No, I am not linked with Helm, Inc. in any way. I only remember using them previously to order manuals for work purposes.]
The other book I want you to get, is a repair manual covering your auto's make, model and year. Chilton does a really good job with their books, so I highly recommend them. You could also check the internet for various online repair manuals offered by any number of companies (including Chilton), if that is more your thing. However, I find the professionally-printed-and-bound format of a book to be more handy for reference purposes once the repair task is underway. Not all makes are currently covered by repair manuals - the increasingly popular brand Kia comes to mind as an example - so some autos may require more research than others.
Why should you bother with the repair manual? Well, as handy as the owner's manual is, it stops short of telling you the play-by-play process of actually repairing your vehicle. Basically, the owner's guide may tell you that your 1998 Ford Taurus uses a 3157K bulb in the tail light position; it does *not* tell you the secret handshake to accessing the old bulb for replacement. The repair manual fills this void of information.
Even if you never intend 'to play mechanic' with your auto beyond the simple stuff (bulbs, wipers, air filter - maybe), I bet you also do not intend to pay more for repairs at a shop than you really need to pay. Knowledge is power, right? Well, without wisdom and discipline, that power goes to waste. You can 'know' that your brakes are noisy, in need of service. BUT, if you don't get the wisdom (from the Chilton's, or whatever book you choose) you need of which symptoms mean what, the time and procedures involved in the total repair, you can't make an informed decision on what quoted work to authorize for completion. AND you must have the discipline to keep your facts at your fingertips - knowing how many labor hours are typical for a given job, for example - to be able to stand your ground when you suspect something is 'off' about the repair's estimate.
By all means, get your hands on both of these books for the automobiles in your life. Get acquainted with these books, because you just might be surprised how much you really *do* know (or just plain figure out) about fixing your vehicle. :-)
I'll be back, again, soon!
18 August 2011
04 August 2011
The (Quality) Auto Parts Store is your Friend! (Part 2)
Welcome back, Readers!
In our last edition, we discussed the importance of finding a *quality* auto parts store. The friendly counterpeople there will be more interested in figuring out which part(s) you actually need during your first visit. The cheap guys will simply have you 'throw' various parts at it, until either the problem is solved or you give up on solving it altogether. I think we can agree on which approach is truly the most customer-centric.
Alright, so now you know which quality parts store will get your first call for parts. Perhaps you have a few repairs you know need to be done soon (or even need to be done pronto). Now is the time for you to contact your new friends at the quality parts store. Even if you are not sure what the proper term is for a given part (or even if you don't know what most of the parts on your vehicle look like), that should not prevent you from getting the information you seek: pricing, availability and options.
You have your pen and paper in front of you, the phone in your hand to call... do you feel a bit nervous? If you aren't already accustomed to calling parts stores for quotes, doing so might remind you of the first time you tried to call that guy/gal you had a crush on from school. You know you really want to call, but you aren't sure what to do or say when the other party answers. Well, let's go ahead and set you up for a successful call.
1. First things first: Know the Year, Make, Model & Engine Size of your vehicle. Basic? Yes. But, by now you probably realize that I like to start with the basics before moving on to anything more complicated. If you don't know what you are driving, it is rather difficult to look up the right parts for your vehicle. If all else fails, have the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) handy, so we can use that to figure out the information we need. You can find your VIN on your title, registration or insurance card. Are none of those handy? If you are by your vehicle, approach the driver's door, then stand at the hood-side of your outside mirror. Look at the bottom of your windshield in the dark border area of the glass. There will be a 'peep hole' wide enough for you to see a raised set of numbers and letters. Write all 17 of them down; that is your VIN.
2. Have a decent idea of which parts you need, either by name, by what they do, or by the symptoms your vehicle shows you. If you've noticed a lot of a high-pitched squealing noise when you try to stop, you might need new brake linings (pads or shoes), but you'll also need to remember whether the noise was from the front or the rear of the vehicle. Just like telling your family doctor what symptoms you experience, when and under what conditions, the same is true of your vehicle. Your automobile is like another child, one that can't use words to tell you what it needs. But, your auto will show you behaviors and symptoms that you need to jot down for repair reference purposes. Keep a small notebook and pen handy, if that helps you to remember this crucial information. Examples of what to note: Outside temperature and/or weather conditions, time of day, speed of vehicle, moving or parked/stopped, sound types (low or high, long or short, clunky or screechy, etc), highway or city driving, uphill/downhill/level, straight/curvy/cornering situations... you get the idea.
3. When you call the parts store, be sure you are ready to talk with the person who answers. Sounds silly, right? If you have a mouthful of food or drink you need to swallow when we answer, that's no big deal. We understand. This reminder is more for those who are in the habit of calling any place of business, while still carrying on an active conversation with people in the room with them. All too often, a store will have customers who actually came in to get a quote or make a purchase, when someone calls while still yucking it up with his/her buddies. Balancing phone customers with in-store customers is a delicate matter any business strives to master. Please understand that any customer who has spent gas money by driving to the store in person, automatically outranks a phone customer who is too busy socializing to pay attention to the conversation.
4. Note the counterperson's name, tell them the vehicle and the parts you seek (or the symptoms it shows, if you aren't sure). Again, pretty basic, but I know the 'first call jitters' can sometimes make you freeze up. Businesses generally have a standard greeting they use, but the formula tends to be "Thank you for calling [Company Name]. This is [Employee Name]. How may I help you?" If you didn't catch the employee's name - or if it sounded unusual to you - be sure to ask him/her to repeat it. A simple, "I'm sorry, what did you say your name is?" does the trick nicely. For the rest of this topic, simply share the information from #2 above.
5. Pricing, Availability, Options. This part might be a bit more involved, depending on how many different parts (or systems) you are discussing. What you need to jot down in your notes: part's name, price (plus core charge, if any), warranty length and type (if any), and availability (in store, at another store/warehouse or special order). Stores are accustomed to phone customers expecting the lowest price available for a quote. This is the 'as low as', or the 'starting at' price quoting strategy you've probably seen in other industries (flooring/carpeting, mattresses and bedding, furniture, etc). So, if you want to know about other options be sure to ask!
6. Verify the store's business hours and any deadline times to consider. When you are ready to make the purchase, you obviously want to know when the store is open to serve you. If any of the parts you seek need to be retrieved from another location, you want to be sure the store has ample time to make that happen for you - especially if you have a narrow window of time in which your repair can be handled.
7. Verify the counterperson's hours. Think of all the time he or she just spent determining what you need, looking up the parts to quote you, then making sure you were fully satisfied with the information given. Did he or she also take the time to suggest related parts you may want to double check for age/wear considerations, along with a clear and adequate explanation of how they are related? All companies track employee productivity in some fashion. So, by giving the actual sale to the person who first helped you, you are enabling the store (and it's corporate label) to recognize and reward the employee for his/her good service.
Once you have completed step 7, you are ready to conclude the call. Now, all you have to do is decide which part you wish to purchase from the information in front of you. Of course, budget and schedule concerns may dictate the timing of the repair, but only you hold the answer to your particular situation. Whenever you are ready to make the purchase at the store, feel free to call ahead (even if the item was in stock there) and ask your counterperson to reserve it for you. Just make sure you will be picking the item up that same business day, because most stores don't have the space to 'hold' items longer than same-day. Even if you show up after he/she leaves, by having it in reserve for you the sale should still be properly credited to the right counterperson.
I think that should be enough to help you through those first few phone quotes for parts. The same process can be used for getting a quote at the store, with the added bonus of being able to see what the part looks like (even if it is only a picture in the book or on the screen). If you are as visual as I am, that is really helpful in identifying whether the part in question is what you were looking at on the auto!
As always, leave a comment or drop me a line if you have any questions. I look forward to hearing from you all.
In our last edition, we discussed the importance of finding a *quality* auto parts store. The friendly counterpeople there will be more interested in figuring out which part(s) you actually need during your first visit. The cheap guys will simply have you 'throw' various parts at it, until either the problem is solved or you give up on solving it altogether. I think we can agree on which approach is truly the most customer-centric.
Alright, so now you know which quality parts store will get your first call for parts. Perhaps you have a few repairs you know need to be done soon (or even need to be done pronto). Now is the time for you to contact your new friends at the quality parts store. Even if you are not sure what the proper term is for a given part (or even if you don't know what most of the parts on your vehicle look like), that should not prevent you from getting the information you seek: pricing, availability and options.
You have your pen and paper in front of you, the phone in your hand to call... do you feel a bit nervous? If you aren't already accustomed to calling parts stores for quotes, doing so might remind you of the first time you tried to call that guy/gal you had a crush on from school. You know you really want to call, but you aren't sure what to do or say when the other party answers. Well, let's go ahead and set you up for a successful call.
1. First things first: Know the Year, Make, Model & Engine Size of your vehicle. Basic? Yes. But, by now you probably realize that I like to start with the basics before moving on to anything more complicated. If you don't know what you are driving, it is rather difficult to look up the right parts for your vehicle. If all else fails, have the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) handy, so we can use that to figure out the information we need. You can find your VIN on your title, registration or insurance card. Are none of those handy? If you are by your vehicle, approach the driver's door, then stand at the hood-side of your outside mirror. Look at the bottom of your windshield in the dark border area of the glass. There will be a 'peep hole' wide enough for you to see a raised set of numbers and letters. Write all 17 of them down; that is your VIN.
2. Have a decent idea of which parts you need, either by name, by what they do, or by the symptoms your vehicle shows you. If you've noticed a lot of a high-pitched squealing noise when you try to stop, you might need new brake linings (pads or shoes), but you'll also need to remember whether the noise was from the front or the rear of the vehicle. Just like telling your family doctor what symptoms you experience, when and under what conditions, the same is true of your vehicle. Your automobile is like another child, one that can't use words to tell you what it needs. But, your auto will show you behaviors and symptoms that you need to jot down for repair reference purposes. Keep a small notebook and pen handy, if that helps you to remember this crucial information. Examples of what to note: Outside temperature and/or weather conditions, time of day, speed of vehicle, moving or parked/stopped, sound types (low or high, long or short, clunky or screechy, etc), highway or city driving, uphill/downhill/level, straight/curvy/cornering situations... you get the idea.
3. When you call the parts store, be sure you are ready to talk with the person who answers. Sounds silly, right? If you have a mouthful of food or drink you need to swallow when we answer, that's no big deal. We understand. This reminder is more for those who are in the habit of calling any place of business, while still carrying on an active conversation with people in the room with them. All too often, a store will have customers who actually came in to get a quote or make a purchase, when someone calls while still yucking it up with his/her buddies. Balancing phone customers with in-store customers is a delicate matter any business strives to master. Please understand that any customer who has spent gas money by driving to the store in person, automatically outranks a phone customer who is too busy socializing to pay attention to the conversation.
4. Note the counterperson's name, tell them the vehicle and the parts you seek (or the symptoms it shows, if you aren't sure). Again, pretty basic, but I know the 'first call jitters' can sometimes make you freeze up. Businesses generally have a standard greeting they use, but the formula tends to be "Thank you for calling [Company Name]. This is [Employee Name]. How may I help you?" If you didn't catch the employee's name - or if it sounded unusual to you - be sure to ask him/her to repeat it. A simple, "I'm sorry, what did you say your name is?" does the trick nicely. For the rest of this topic, simply share the information from #2 above.
5. Pricing, Availability, Options. This part might be a bit more involved, depending on how many different parts (or systems) you are discussing. What you need to jot down in your notes: part's name, price (plus core charge, if any), warranty length and type (if any), and availability (in store, at another store/warehouse or special order). Stores are accustomed to phone customers expecting the lowest price available for a quote. This is the 'as low as', or the 'starting at' price quoting strategy you've probably seen in other industries (flooring/carpeting, mattresses and bedding, furniture, etc). So, if you want to know about other options be sure to ask!
6. Verify the store's business hours and any deadline times to consider. When you are ready to make the purchase, you obviously want to know when the store is open to serve you. If any of the parts you seek need to be retrieved from another location, you want to be sure the store has ample time to make that happen for you - especially if you have a narrow window of time in which your repair can be handled.
7. Verify the counterperson's hours. Think of all the time he or she just spent determining what you need, looking up the parts to quote you, then making sure you were fully satisfied with the information given. Did he or she also take the time to suggest related parts you may want to double check for age/wear considerations, along with a clear and adequate explanation of how they are related? All companies track employee productivity in some fashion. So, by giving the actual sale to the person who first helped you, you are enabling the store (and it's corporate label) to recognize and reward the employee for his/her good service.
Once you have completed step 7, you are ready to conclude the call. Now, all you have to do is decide which part you wish to purchase from the information in front of you. Of course, budget and schedule concerns may dictate the timing of the repair, but only you hold the answer to your particular situation. Whenever you are ready to make the purchase at the store, feel free to call ahead (even if the item was in stock there) and ask your counterperson to reserve it for you. Just make sure you will be picking the item up that same business day, because most stores don't have the space to 'hold' items longer than same-day. Even if you show up after he/she leaves, by having it in reserve for you the sale should still be properly credited to the right counterperson.
I think that should be enough to help you through those first few phone quotes for parts. The same process can be used for getting a quote at the store, with the added bonus of being able to see what the part looks like (even if it is only a picture in the book or on the screen). If you are as visual as I am, that is really helpful in identifying whether the part in question is what you were looking at on the auto!
As always, leave a comment or drop me a line if you have any questions. I look forward to hearing from you all.
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