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Show fF November and December by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and Educational Testing Service. Another group will take the exams in the spring. Of the 11,146 experienced mechanics who took the four-par- t, written test, about 75 percent passed at least one of the sections. Twelve percent, 1369 men, passed all four. Subjects included in the test were engines, induction and exhaust systems, automatic transmissions, steering, suspension, brakes and the electrical system. workman it has certified will never make a mistake or refrain from overcharging, but the institute's president, Herbert S. Fuhrman, says most consumer complaints arise from incompetent repair work rather than from dishonest workmen. Because so many motorists have had unpleasant experiences with car repairs, several state and national legislators have considered licensing and certifying repair shops and their employees. U.S. Sen. Vance Hartke (D., Ind.) has submitted bills to license auto repair shops across the country, and other Senators have suggested even more stringent legislation, including licensing mechanics and insurance adjusters and g replacement parts. Nationwide test The men, who paid up to $40 to take the test, came from all over the country the highest number from Texas, About 70 percent of those who signed up for the test worked for automobile dealers. The automotive institute which sponsors this certification program for mechanics bills itself as "established to promote the highest standards of automotive services for the public good" and claims support from "every facet of the automotive service industry." The institute does not say that a k Si) jf! 'WSOIL quality-gradin- Little headway In most state legislatures auto repair shop licensing bills have made little headway. Connecticut, however, has been licensing repair k shops, operators, junk yards and new car dealers since the tow-truc- 1930's. Says Edward T. Ryan, chief of the Connecticut Division of Dealers and Repairs: "I don't see how you can buy a car with any security Warning: The Surgeon General Has Determined That Cigarette Smoking Is Dangerous to Your Health. ' . oreniiGi! difT!l93tlr. r without these laws on the books." He says the state law requires repair shops to hire competent mechanics and that of the more than 60 licenses suspended or revoked in 1972, about half a dozen were for failure to employ such mechanics. Ryan says 12 men work full time investigating complaints and inspect- s V ing dealerships and repair shops. Besides Connecticut, only California licenses auto repair shops. That state's Bureau of Automotive Repair began operations last summer, and victims of shady andor shoddy repairs thronged their offices with complaints. Keep looking In i flt 0 i I both states, power in investi- gating complaints derives from authority to license the shops. In California, a board composed of industry, consumer and government representatives can suspend licenses or take a crooked garage to court. In Connecticut, the state Commissioner of Motor Vehicles himself can suspend licenses and fine mechanics for fraudulent practices, and for re peated convictions for tampering with the odometer, he can even send a man to jail. In most states, however, such help seems a long way off, and a good answer may be to find a mechanic wearing a patch like that shown opposite. John J. Pohanka, a Marlow Heights, Md., Oldsmobile dealer and chairman of the board of the automotive repair institute, says consumers might have to search for the one percent of the nation's mechanics already certified. He adds that many dealers will be advertising employees who meet the certification standards. Many dealers will also have brochures to explain the program. All the consumer has to do is keep looking. Although finding a good mechanic may not be cheap and easy, it may be worth the trouble. After beyond the cost of purchasing a car, a quarter of the cost is for repair and maintenance. For further information, write the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, 1825 K Street Northwest, Washington, D.C. 20006. all, L 7 |