How Auto Mechanics Use Technology
Do you know why finding a good mechanic or repair shop to repair your car is important? The reason: it could save you hundreds of dollars in parts and labor! When we say a “good mechanic” or a “good repair shop”, we mean mechanics equipped with the latest technology. You don’t want to entrust your car to a workshop with outdated machinery and equipment because it will take longer to reach a diagnosis. And the longer a mechanic takes to make a diagnosis, the higher your bill for labor!
Remember that auto mechanics charge by the hour.
Auto repairs can cover any one or a combination of the following (note that this is not a complete list of repairs).
• Air conditioning checks
• Airbag controls
• Electrical wiring
• Cables
• Clutch repair and service
• Transmission repair
• Wheel alignment
• Suspension
• Brakes
• Heating system
• Oil and lubrication
• Battery
• Electric windows
Much of the troubleshooting mechanics use to diagnose a problem is facilitated by auto repair technology.
Have you ever noticed how some lights on your panel come on when something is wrong? In most cases, an experienced mechanic will immediately know what the problem is, but there are cases where sophisticated technology will be needed to achieve an accurate diagnosis.
Sophisticated technology comes in many forms and a popular one is troubleshooting software. Companies like Auto Tech have a software program that car owners can use to find out what is making their vehicle sick.
Most car owners who were previously cynical about software should seriously consider purchasing a reliable car troubleshooting software program. For example, some programs begin by asking you to enter the make and model number of your car, the year of the car, and what type of equipment you have. The software presents a large database of information about all the cars on the market and a car owner simply follows the steps when prompted. It employs what the industry calls a “tree diagnostic,” where logical steps take you through the entire diagnostic process.
Once you have entered your car profile, use the drop down menu to choose the symptoms your car exhibits. For example, if you choose “brake squeal”, the program mimics the brake squeal and if that is the sound you hear, you confirm it and the program recommends a series of steps.
You may not really want to use troubleshooting software, but imagine how much time and money you could save if you spoke to the mechanic intelligently, letting him or her know you know.
Students studying for certification purchase certain tools of the trade. A couple of examples are Snap On and Mac Tools. These two are the most popular in the United States and Canada.
Mechanics now have a wide range of tech tools to help them better understand car problems: digital multimeters (electronic measurement), borescopes (heat exchanger testing), fuel diagnostic testers (fuel injector testing and balancing ) and other similar new technologies.
New auto mechanic technologies help to shorten the learning curve and speed up diagnosis so that the car owner does not have to burden himself with too many hours of work.