The person to call when you see that engine check light go on

Despite the proliferation of complex

vehicles, diagnostic tools and sophisticated modern engines, fixing a car still comes back to the basic skills of communication and problem-solving, according to Graham Young, owneroperator of Graham’s Autocare.

It all starts with a conversation about how you use your car. Graham recalls one customer who came in to get their tyres replaced. Graham noticed that the old tyres had been worn down by sharp stone.

He recommended switching to an SUV tyre, which was better for wear. Graham was even able to get the replacement tyres for less than the cost of the originals, because he deals with national wholesalers.

The client rang him the following

Monday. Not only did the car handle better, the client thought he was dreaming as the car was so much quieter, and wasn’t wandering down the road.

Times are tough, and sometimes problem-solving is necessary with complex cases. One customer came in to do a preholiday check on a Volvo for a long trip up north. Graham had to break the bad news to him that the tyres, front and rear brakes all needed replacing. There wasn’t enough budget to get it all done, so Graham looked at what they desperately needed to do, and figured out how they could prioritise the work to do the essential things first.

Communication at each step of the way is key. There was one case of a very special

BMW that had had almost $30,000 spent on it to try and make it run right. The car eventually came to Graham’s Autocare after having travelled through a number of different workshops. By watching the diagnostic equipment carefully while driving the vehicle, Graham observed that the vehicle was suffering from a fuel enrichment problem. He replaced the muffler and the thermostat for just $1000, which resolved the problem. Needless to say, the client was thrilled.

Many people don’t know that when an engine check light goes on, it might be for just one code or it might be for multiple codes. The longer you’ve driven a car after the initial engine check light, the more likely it is that multiple codes may be causing the problem. Graham’s Autocare uses four different diagnostic machines to diagnose problems across an enormous range of makes and models, but there’s still human intelligence and experience needed to interpret the live data that comes from the diagnostics.

It’s a combination of factors that make a great mechanic – great parts supply, knowledge, honesty and experience, and

Graham’s Autocare has the lot.

Times are tough, and Graham’s Autocare is pleased to announce that they are introducing a Super Gold discount.

To find out more, contact Graham on 027 733 1540.