DRIVERS have been forced to ditch their mechanics over simple repairs and turn to dealerships instead.
Newer models of vehicles are posing fresh challenges for mechanics, and now security could mean the end for some independent stores.
George Geropoulos in his family-owned mechanic shop in Chicago[/caption]
The scanning tool which allows mechanics to access vehicles’ computers[/caption]
After auto companies learned in 2015 how easy it was for hackers to remotely control a Jeep Cherokee while someone was driving it, makers made a major change to their models.
Mechanics must now pay a subscription – sometimes in the $10,000s – to use what is called a scan tool.
This is hooked up to the gateway computer in the car, which manages all of the electrical systems in the vehicle.
Once in place, the technician can uncover what inside the car needs fixing.
But the punishing costs of these subscriptions put them beyond the reach of many independent mechanics.
“If a manufacturer requires a $40,000-a-year subscription, we’re just not going to service those cars because we don’t have enough volume of that specific vehicle to afford the subscription,” mechanic George Geropoulos told local Illinois-based Fox affiliate FOX 32.
George, who runs the family-owned “Ted’s Auto Clinic” on the Northwest side of Chicago, has worked at the shop for as long as he can remember.
His father opened the business in 1982, and some customers have been coming back for 25 years for the family touch.
But the added costs required by new cars’ subscription services mean official dealerships might be the better option.
“A lot of the reasons we cannot service a car is because of financial constraints,” George added.
Mechanics have to purchase the scan tool themselves as well.
George explained that the tool can usually cost up to $5,000 – a difficult expense to manage at independent mechanics with smaller margins.
George has a universal tool that can work on more than one type of car, but not all of them.
Many stores also need to spend time and money training their technicians on how to use equipment.
The Automotive & Maintenance Repair Association (AMRA) works with independent shops, auto regulators, and legislators to create repair standards to ensure consumers are not paying for unnecessary service work.
AMRA President Jeff Cox explained that newer vehicles often don’t need major repairs for the first few years.
The government has introduced legislation to try and tackle the issue.
Last year, the Repair Act was introduced in Congress.
It aims to require manufacturers to let consumers access data from their cars so they can have them repaired at independent shops.
A similar bill was introduced in the Illinois Senate in January.
How to save money at the mechanic
THERE are several services offered by mechanics that drivers should never pay for, according to a car expert.
Ron Krauch, an automotive writer, warned drivers not to trust everything they hear in the shop in an exclusive conversation with The U.S. Sun.
He said it’s important for vehicle owners to recognize the difference between their car’s manufacturer’s service schedule and what mechanics are trying to sell.
Any work referred to as a “dealer recommended service” is often an attempt at upselling, Krauch warned.
One of these useless upsells is fuel injecting clearing, which removes built-up dirt and debris from a vehicle’s fuel system to improve performance.
“Modern vehicles typically have fuel systems that are designed to stay clean, especially with the use of high-quality gasoline that contains detergents to keep injectors free of deposits,” he said.
Drivers should also always say no to engine flushes, as modern vehicles don’t need any help cleaning out “sludge or deposits.”
“Most modern engines and oils are formulated to stay clean, and if you regularly change your oil on schedule, you shouldn’t need this service,” he said.
And finally, no one should spend extra getting a premium oil change.
“Shops often upsell customers to synthetic or high-performance oils – even if the vehicle’s manufacturer doesn’t require them,” Krauch said.
