New auto technologies affect independent shops

Chad Hammond works on the computer at Hammond’s Garage. Hammond said most small businesses can’t justify buying equipment when business is slow.

By Stacie Luke

ATHENS, Ga.--Today there are cars that allow you to answer your phone through the car or alert you if you veer out of your lane. Some cars have rain-sensing wipers or technology to help detect pedestrians. Some even allow the driver to start the car with the push of a button.

When something goes wrong with all of this advanced technology, there are two common places to take your vehicle for repairs—a dealership or an independently owned auto repair shop.

“Technology changes so much from year to year that it’s hard to keep up,” said Chris Nash, an auto mechanic at David Yearwood’s Auto Repair in Greensboro, Ga.

Independent repair shops must keep up with the rapidly changing technology in new cars, but sometimes it’s easier said than done. Since most new cars are still covered under factory warranty, independent shops don’t work on new cars as much.

“We stay about five years behind,” said Nash, a mechanic for nine years. “We’re just now starting to work on 2005 and 2006 cars. The work we do on newer cars is mostly oil changes and things like that.”

Independent automotive shops must invest in new equipment regularly to stay on top of the changing technology. One of the limitations for these types of shops is the cost of these new tools.

“One of the main ways [technology affects business] is the equipment and expense of the equipment. Most small businesses can’t afford it,” said Chad Hammond, an auto mechanic for about 24 years at Hammond’s Garage in Statham, Ga.

Auto mechanics use scanners that hook to the vehicle computers in order to diagnose the problem. These scanners require updates every year that cost around $1,000. Eventually, the repair shop may get to a point when the scanner will not take any more updates, and they must invest in a new scanner for the most recent vehicles. The new scanners aren’t cheap, costing around $10,000 depending on the make and model.

Mike Roberts, a mechanic from Statham, Ga., said that his new scanner was stolen in July 2009. He spent about $7,000 on it and had just updated it to scan 2007 and 2008 vehicles.

“I bought a used one to replace it for the time being,” Roberts said. “But it’s not of the same caliber as the one that was stolen. The other one was a top-of-the-line Snap-on unit.”

Some small shops can’t justify buying new equipment when their business is slow, said Larry Hammond, the owner of Hammond’s Garage. Mechanics must also invest in new tools specifically for certain makes and models.

“Tools are getting more and more specialized now,” Nash said. “It used to be more generalized and you could use one tool to do a job on any car, but not anymore. For instance, there are tools specifically for working on a Ford F-150. It can get expensive.”

One type of vehicle that many independent shops don’t have the equipment for yet is hybrids, which use a gasoline engine and an electric motor to power the car. Several independent shops in the Athens, Ga. area said they haven’t had many hybrids come through and they aren’t entirely sure how to work on the electric motors.

“I haven’t had any problems with mine,” said Jackie Taynor, owner of a 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid. “I just take it to the dealership for regular maintenance.” Taynor said that if she did have any serious trouble with it she would take it to the dealership.

Many dealerships may not work on older cars and charge more for labor. While the independent shops may be cheaper than dealership prices, they may be unable to work on certain new technology.

“If it’s too new the independent shops can’t work on it,” said Chad Hammond. “And if it’s too old the dealerships can’t work on it.”

Edited by Lauren Barron