My name is Todd Ainsworth and I have been working as a professional automotive technician since 1986. For some time I have wanted to write about our industry in order to give insight and shed light on subjects that have caused confusion and frustration to both customers and automotive professionals alike.

I also welcome the opportunity to have an open forum and answer any questions that you, the consumer, may have.

Auto repair shops are often viewed in a negative light, and while there are many reasons for that, I believe the majority of complaints and misunderstandings could be avoided through education in order to better understand a highly technical and misunderstood industry.

Educating the consumer has been a personal priority of mine my entire career. I strive on each car to make sure the customer understands what repairs or maintenance is needed and why.

Auto repairs are something nearly everybody will need, but it's not something anybody wants. Usually, when we see a customer, it's not because they stopped by to say "Hi," but because they have a problem with their vehicle. Most of the time it's not planned, it's inconvenient, and will cost money that may or may not be budgeted. We understand this, and try to make it as easy as we can for you.

Repair shops can often give you a ride home or to work, arrange for after hour drop offs or pickups, and/or arrange for rental cars.

Good communication is the start of a good relationship. The repair shop will have questions for you regarding the concerns on your vehicle and certainly you will have questions as well. One of the biggest questions customers have is "How much will it cost?" This may or may not be an easy question to answer.

For example, when a car comes in for regular service like a scheduled oil change, a manufacturer recommended mileage service, or other preventative maintenance, labor and parts are easier to check and there are not unknown factors.

However, if the car is experiencing unexpected problems, the concerns will need to be diagnosed, and that is trickier to price. Most auto repairs shops will try and give an estimate for how long diagnosis will take based on what type of testing will be needed, but that is just that, an estimate.

The estimate is based on experience and knowledge of the service advisor and the technicians, and is part of why choosing a repair facility with qualified employees should be the customer's first priority. Sometimes, problems with the vehicle can be simple to diagnose, such as an obvious leak, noise, or worn service item like belts and hoses, but other more difficult failures (such as a check engine light being on) may take much longer.

Another question customers often has is "How long will it take?" The time needed for repair can also vary depending on what caused the failure, part availability, daily schedule, and even vehicle condition. Having an appointment at an automotive repair shop does not mean that once your car is diagnosed, the technician will always be immediately available to perform the repair. He may need to move onto the next car in order to diagnose and then later will return to perform approved repairs on the first car.

I believe helping the customer understand more about what our job entails, and understanding that the majority of automotive repair shops really do want to help you and provide good, honest service can lead to better working relationships.

We also hope to improve the image of auto repair facilities. I will be working on future articles to deal with different aspects in more detail, welcome questions of any type, and will do my best to answer them all. I will also be including article topics that you may find interesting or helpful. I hope this is the beginning of a useful format for all readers.

Drive safely.

Todd Ainsworth is a technician at Alki Auto Repair, 935-8059, 2504 Alki Ave. S.W.