Newsletter - May 2009

Price, Quality, Value

Auto repair is something that's hard to shop for because there are so many variables.  A new car is exactly the same vehicle no matter where it's purchased. Using cost as a deciding factor is valid when purchasing an identical item. Unfortunately, there's not much standard or uniform in performing repairs and maintenance.

The variables in auto repair are:

1. Quality of parts. Do you ever wonder how a brake repair shop can do front and rear brakes for $99? They do it with cheap parts that don’t last! Everyone understands the good, better, best concept and that auto part stores usually have two or three lines of parts based on price and quality. Many of us are angling to keep our cars longer and if a repair needs to be redone in a year or two because of inferior parts it was a waste of money to skimp the first time.
   
   Example: Recently we worked on a car that had a cheap water pump installed. The pump was leaking a year after it was installed and since it leaked down into the alternator, the alternator also had to be replaced because it quit charging.
2. Accuracy of diagnosis. The way a system works and the procedure for thoroughly testing a part before replacing it must be understood by the technician. Guessing cause and effect results in unnecessary parts being installed adding needlessly to the cost of the repair.
3. Warranty and longevity. A warranty is worthless if the business that did the repair is no longer in business. A shop that competes on price alone won’t be around long. Attracting Denver’s best techs, using quality parts, paying for on-going technical training/certifications and purchasing up-to-date equipment is expensive but paramount to performing service and repairs accurately.

Are cars safer than they were five years ago?

In the last 5 years many innovations in auto design and construction have occurred. Three of the most important advances are side air bags, electronic stability control and use of high strength and ultra high strength steel in the frame and passenger compartment.

Side Air Bags. Side-impact air bag (SAB) technology is advancing rapidly. SABs are very effective in protecting the head and chest during a side-impact crash. The two types of SABs are the side curtain air bag which deploys from the roof and is designed to protect the head and the side air bag which deploys from the seatback or door and protects the chest. These began appearing on cars in the late 90s, but became more common as time passed. In 2004 most Honda models listed side air bags as an option and a few had side curtain air bags as an option. By 2007 most Honda models came standard with both. To see which cars are equipped with side-impact air bags go to SaferCar.gov

Electronic Stability Control (ESC). ESC helps to maintain control of a vehicle during extreme steering maneuvers such as swerving and helps keep a vehicle from spinning out on a slippery road. If the sensors detect the vehicle may lose control, ESC will apply the brakes on one or more wheels to turn the vehicle back in the right direction. The link above will also direct you to a list of vehicles equipped with ESC.

High Strength Steel (HSS). Since about 2005 High strength steel has been added to the unibody structure and passenger compartment of many vehicles. HHS is lighter and stronger than mild steel and is less expensive than aluminum. Therefore its use has increased greatly as manufacturers try to reduce weight for better fuel economy and increase crashworthiness to meet more stringent federal standards.