Question:Are there any guidelines or standards that mechanics
must follow regarding specific inspection or repair procedures?
Answer: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 (see related question 133).
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
808 17th Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20006
Phone: 202-466-7050
FAX: 202-223-9569
