Repairs Preventive Maintenance

All pilots have checklists for every aspect of flying. They always use their checklists even if they only have two steps on them. They do this simply because a checklist is a great way to not forget important steps. It is also how you can assure a predictable outcome.

That is why Henrico and Chesterfield automotive service centers have procedural standards for each service they perform. Technicians are trained step by step. And they perform the procedures step by step, the same way each time. By training to procedural standards, centers can assure a quality outcome. The job is done right every time and you are happy with how your car performs.

Each company trains its technicians to standards. The industry as a whole is very committed to standards of excellence and encourages individual service center operators to apply them to every vehicle they service.

An example is how service technicians grade problems and communicate their recommendations. If a technician tells you that a repair or replacement is required it must meet the following criteria:

1. The part no longer performs its intended purpose
2. The part does not meet a design specification
3. The part is missing

The technician may suggest repair or replacement if:

1. The part is close to the end of its useful life – just above discard specifications or likely to fail soon
2. To address a customer need or request – like for better ride or increased performance
3. To comply with maintenance recommended by the vehicle’s manufacturer
4. Based on the technician’s informed experience

Here are some examples:

An exhaust pipe has rusted through and is leaking. Replacement is required because the part has failed. If the pipe were rusted, corroded or weak, but not leaking, the technician may suggest it be replaced because it is near the end of its useful life and replacing it now may be more convenient for the customer.

Suppose a customer wants to improve his car’s handling, but his shocks haven’t failed. The technician may suggest replacement of the shocks to satisfy the customer’s wishes.

Under these guidelines the service center must refuse partial service of a required repair if the repair creates or continues an unsafe condition. Let’s say a customer has a cracked brake rotor. This is a dangerous condition that must be repaired. If the customer does not want to replace the rotor, but instead just wants new brake pads installed, the shop must ethically refuse the partial repair. That can be an upsetting conversation, but understanding that service centers operate under service standards and procedures is comforting. You want your service to be done right and to have confidence in your technician’s recommendations.

The automotive service industry and Repairs Preventive Maintenance want the best for you and for you to keep coming back. AutoNetTV is committed to providing automotive maintenance information to help you be confident in your service decisions.

New car dealership closings are all over the news. Nearly 800 Chrysler dealerships canceled. About 1,100 GM dealers’ contracts will not be renewed after October 2010. And record numbers are just shutting down because they aren’t selling enough cars and trucks to stay in business.

It’s estimated that some 40,000 dealership service bays could be taken out of service in the next year or so.

Of course, this is a tragedy for those who work at our local Richmond dealerships and the owners that risk losing much of their life’s work. Our Richmond communities will lose some of our best corporate citizens. Think of all the youth sports team, service clubs and Richmond community events that have been sponsored by our local new car dealers.

One question we hear a lot at AutoNetTV is, ‘Who will service my car?’ Richmond folks are concerned that they will not get the care and attention they need. They’re wondering where they will find trained technicians in the Richmond area. Will they be able to get quality replacement parts for their vehicles?

Fortunately, the Richmond automotive aftermarket is ready to fill the need. As one of over 200,000 independent service and repair facilities in North America, Repairs Preventive Maintenance is here to help. Repairs Preventive Maintenance has been the backbone of the automotive service and repair industry for Richmond and will continue to provide this vital role.

Repairs Preventive Maintenance has the latest diagnostic and repair equipment, access to parts and repair databases, and a commitment to the highest standards of technician training. The reality is that our independent service center in Richmond is ready to service all your vehicle’s needs – and we always have been. We don’t have to ’step up’ to the task – we’re ready now.

Many consumers in Richmond have known this about the local Richmond independent service and repair industry and have used it for all their non-warranty work. And they have enjoyed greater convenience and have saved quite a bit of money along the way: The average independent service and repair center in Richmond costs 34% less than the dealership.

And of course, Repairs Preventive Maintenance has access to the very same replacement parts as the dealership as well as a selection of superior parts for greater reliability and enhanced performance. And we can source parts that may help with a tight budget as well.

So in the midst of uncertainty surrounding dealership closings, know you can turn to your local Richmond independent service center to take care of your family’s safety and to keep your vehicles performing well. You’ll save some money too. And that’s good news in these times.

Repairs Preventive Maintenance
4705 W Broad St
Richmond, Virginia 23230
804-358-9576

There are some things Richmond consumers should know about Richmond automotive service and repair. First and foremost, Repairs Preventive Maintenance cares about you and your family’s safety. And we really appreciate your business. Repairs Preventive Maintenance in Richmond wants to build a trusting relationship that becomes the foundation for a mutually beneficial experience for years to come.

Building on that foundation, there are some things that would help you understand the auto service and repair business better. First, it can be really hard to fix cars. The days of shade tree mechanics are long gone. The majority of automotive systems are computerized. It takes a lot of training and very expensive equipment to diagnose and repair modern vehicles. The technicians that work for Repairs Preventive Maintenance need extensive computer training – not just how to run the diagnostic systems, but also searching for the right parts, networking with other technicians to help them with a difficult problem and pulling together a job order that makes sure that each step of the process is addressed.

The threshold for getting started as a technician gets higher all the time and there is a huge commitment to on-going training every year. This training takes time and money. It contributes to business overhead. The average Henrico or Chesterfield driver may not realize the business and environmental regulations Repairs Preventive Maintenance must comply with. Of course that costs money too. Like any business, overhead is a big factor.

When you go into a Richmond restaurant you don’t value the meal by what the food would cost at the grocery store. The restaurant has rent, wages, insurance, taxes, utilities, professional fees, equipment, supplies – you get the picture. The restaurant has to charge enough to not only pay for the ingredients, but for all these other things as well while making enough profit to remain in business. If you value the meal and are satisfied with your dining experience, you’ll come back and tell your friends.

It’s the same for Repairs Preventive Maintenance. The value of its service is not the cost of the parts they replace, but in your satisfaction with the results. If they deliver a good product at a fair price, Richmond customers are happy to see them succeed as a Virginia automotive business.

Contact Repairs Preventive Maintenance to learn more about our extensive auto service training.
You can find us at:
4705 W Broad St
Richmond, Virginia 23230
Or call us at 804-358-9576

Your Richmond service center loves to see its customers whenever they come in, but they would much rather see them three or four times a year for routine maintenance than once a year on a tow truck. They want to work together with you to avoid breakdowns. Tell your Richmond area friends and family to go in for their scheduled maintenance too. That lowers the service center’s marketing costs and helps keep its labor rates down. That’s good for everyone.

Repairs Preventive Maintenance appreciates this great review of automotive service from AutoNetTV.