Leave car’s diagnosis for mechanic to decide MOST PEOPLE feel vulnerable when their car is in the hands of a mechanic. An automobile is made up of more than 15,000 parts, so it’s understandable if you feel out of your depth when something goes wrong. There are some general pointers you should know when trying to settle a dispute and some tips which may help you avoid problems in the future. When you purchase garage ser- vices, you are making a contract. The terms of your contract may be express or implied. An express term is one that you and the pro- vider of the service have specifically agreed on — either verbally or in writing. If either of you fails to honor any of these ex- press terms, the contract has been breached. The law also presumes that cer- tain terms are implied in the con- tract. In contracts for services, the law presumes that the supplier will use reasonable care, will do the work in a proper manner, and use materials of reasonable quality. But these are vague terms and often hard to prove, so you should ask for a written estimate and specify a date when the ser- vice will be completed. Automobile mechanics in B.C. are not required to pass any kind of certifying examination, but the Ministry of Advanced Education Training and Technology will issue a certificate of qualification to mechanics who have demon- strated their competence. As well, the B.C. Automobile Association does have an approved auto repair services program. Under this plan, garages contract with BCAA to provide honest work and to guer- antee it. if you’re a member, BCAA will give you a list of participating garages and will help you if you get into a dispute with them over their work. You should also ask if the mechanic has a certificate of qualification and insist that only such a mechanic work on your car. If there is a disagreement over the charge or the quality of work, the first thing you should do is to talk to the mechanic or the owner of the garage. If that doesn’t work, you can call BCAA if you’re a miember, or a private consumer group if you’re not. As a last resort you may have to consult a lawyer or take the case to small claims court. You should ask for the return of all replaced parts. They may be needed as evidence. The work should: be paid for immediately because if it isn’t, the repair shop can register a lien against the car and eventually seize it and sell it. There are some genera! tips for avoiding problems with car repairs so that you won’t have to sue your mechanic. First of all, leave the diagnosis to the mechanic. If you have said that you have a dead battery, don't be surprised if you get a new one — even if all you needed was a new fan belt. Vehicles should also be road tested with a mechanic to ensure the symptoms or problems are understood. PARTICIPACTION. Always give the mechanic a phone number where you can be reached. Ask to be called and told the cost of the work before the repair work begins. If the figures seem high, ask for a written quote and take the car to another shop for a further estimate and com- pare. Report unsolved or new prob- 1992 Hyundai Sonata GL Standard 126 HP 20 litre gine or optional Ve tilt steering, AMIFM cassette stereo 4 4 speakers. Includes Hollyburn ent Care lems immediately. If your car had a tune-up and the engine still misses, ask for a re-check right away it you feel that someone is try- ing to charge you for services that weren't necessary in the first place, or that were never actually performed, contact the B.C. Ministry of Labour and Consumer Services. This is a violation of the provincial Trade Practices Act. (Legal Tips is a series provided by the lawyers in your communi- ty. These tips are for general in- formation only. If you have a specific legal problem you should consult a lawyer.) Friday, Apri! 24, 1992 —- North Shore News - 47 WOLFE CHEVROLET OLDSMOBILE LTD. G.M. (DEE) BRYAN Mr. Frank E. Wolfe, President of Wolfe Chevrolet Oldsmobile Ltd., is pleased to announce the appointment of DEE BRYAN to his new car sales staff. Dee has been in Sales with General Motors for the last seven years, deal- ing mainly on the North Shore. Dee welcomes his many customers to give him a call or drop by anytime, whether to discuss their new car needs or just have a coffee and chat. WOLFE CHEVROLET OLDSMOBILE LTD. 1515 Boundary Road, Vancouver, B.C. V5K 5C4 Telephone: 293-1311 WE DO ALL THE SERVICE AND SUPPLY ALL THE PARTS ON SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE FOR 2 YEARS 1992 Hyundai Excel L 3DR Manual transmission, spacious interior and cargo room, Michelin al-season radial tires. includes Hollyoum Hyundai Care Pack. OR 48,000 Ki See us at Hollyburn Hyundai for precision built automobiles that are serviced and backed for 4 the long run. 1992 Hyundai Scoupe L 1.5 litre mult-point fuei-injected engine, ventilat- ed front disc brakes, 4 speaker AM/FM cassette stereo, Michelin all-season radial tires. Includes Hollybum Hyundai Care Pack. ED Photos for illustration purposes only Where The Smart Money Goes. OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! *Price does not include freight and PDI charges at $395 each. Options are extra FREE HYUNDAI CARE PACK CAREPACK Hof youm Hyundai Care Pack. Free with every pizchase. Includes custom floor mats and Pemmaguard fabric 1992 Hyundai Elantra GL 1.6 litre double OHC engine, power assisted steering, Michelin all-season radial tires Remote fuel filler and trunk release, flush halogen head- lamps. Includes Holiybum Hyundai Care Pack. ANON 700 MARINE DRIVE NORTH VANCOUVER Telephone: 984-7044