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Gas-Saving Tips for Your Auto While it is always wise to conserve natural resources, the recent price of gasoline has made even the most wasteful people think twice. Whatever your motivation, here are some gas saving tips from the pros at the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Monitor tires.  Under inflated tires or poorly aligned wheels waste fuel by forcing the engine to work harder. (Let the tires cool down before checking the air pressure.) Out-of-line wheels, as evidenced by uneven tread wear, should be aligned by a professional. Remove excess weight.  Remove unnecessary items from the vehicle. Store only essentials in the trunk. Less weight means better mileage. Consolidate trips and errands.  Some trips may be unnecessary. Also, try to travel when traffic is light so you can avoid stop-and-go conditions. Avoid excessive idling.  Shut off the engine while waiting for friends and family. Observe speed limits.  Speedin...

It's Easy Being "Green" Motorists can do their part to help the environment by practicing a few 'earth-friendly' car care habits, note the experts at the non-profit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). It all comes down to timely vehicle maintenance and non-aggressive driving. Here are specific suggestions from ASE: Slow down. Speeding and hard accelerations waste gasoline. Use cruise-control on highways to maintain a steady pace. When waiting for friends or family, shut off the engine. Consolidate daily errands. Lighten up. Remove unnecessary items from the vehicle to reduce weight. Don't pollute. Dispose of used motor oil, antifreeze/coolant, and old batteries properly. Some repair facilities accept these items. Or call your local government. Keep the engine running at its peak-a misfiring spark plug can reduce fuel efficiency as much as 30%. Replace filters and fluids as recommended by the owner's manual. Get ...

Smart Cars, Smarter Technicians Today's vehicles are sophisticated and complex machines. The average car has 6-20 computers that help manage everything from the sunroof to anti-lock braking system (ABS) to the electronically controlled transmission (ECT). And the technicians who service the vehicles need to be technologically savvy like never before. The increasing demand for automotive technicians combined with good salaries make this a career choice that neither students, parents nor guidance counselors should ignore. Alan Cherko, a shop owner in the Los Angeles area, says the potential exists for individuals who work hard at educating and certifying themselves to make "upwards of $80-100,000 per year." Cherko adds that "a willingness to continue education and pursue voluntary on-the-job training" helps put young technicians on the fast track. Students who want to become automotive technicians can usually begin their careers after two years of stu...

National Standards Help Consumers Locate Qualified Automotive Technicians Car owners know they should keep their vehicles in good operating condition, but often they do not know where to turn for dependable service or what to look for in a repair shop. Some choose a repair shop based solely on its convenient location or an advertised special. Not the best move, according to officials with the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, also known as ASE. “Look for the ASE sign,” says Tony Molla, vice president of communications at ASE. “It indicates the repair shop employs one or more ASE-certified technicians.” Molla emphasizes that finding a competent auto technician need not be a matter of chance. Much of the guesswork has been eliminated, thanks to a national program conducted by ASE: “Qualified technicians are the backbone of any repair establishment,” he adds. ASE tests and certifies automotive professionals in all major technical areas of repair an...

Auto Service Goes High-Tech Increasingly, automotive repair and service is becoming a high-tech profession, note officials with the non-profit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Old images die hard, but yesterday's mechanics have become today's technicians, complete with hand-held computer diagnostic tools and a wall full of credentials attesting to their abilities. In a recent poll of ASE-certified automotive technicians, over four-fifths said they used a computer on the job, more than two-thirds said they owned a computer at home, and over half said they had access to the Internet. "The profession is being revolutionized," notes ASE President Tim Zilke. "Brute force has been supplanted by brain power. If you don't think so, just look under the hood of one of today's sport coupes or SUVs. This is rocket science-or very close to it. Today's auto technicians need to be master diagnosticians, well versed in electronic...

Don't Scrimp on Vehicle Maintenance Technician certification organization ASE surveys show a well-maintained vehicle not only lasts longer, it retains more of its resale value. With a sluggish economic recovery and today’s consumers watching their finances carefully, it’s no surprise that the average age of vehicles in the United States is more than 11 years old, according to automotive research firm R.L. Polk and Co. With motorists holding on to their vehicles longer than ever before, maintenance takes an even greater importance in keeping roads — and people — safe. The cost of neglect “It’s tempting to avoid car maintenance in tough economic times, but that’s not a financially sound method to manage the big investment you’ve made in your vehicle,” notes Tony Molla, vice president of communications for the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). “Surveys of our certified technicians show that a well-maintained vehicle lasts longer, retain...

Don't Overlook Automotive Technology as a High-Tech Career Path Parents and students should take a second look at automotive repair, a high-tech career that is always in demand and can’t be outsourced overseas. Parents, if becoming an automotive technician is not high on your list of career choices for your child, perhaps it’s time to look again. Officials with the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) — the independent group that tests and certifies the competence of auto technicians nationally — note that automotive service and repair has changed dramatically in just the span of a generation. High-tech systems unheard of 30 years ago are now standard equipment on much of the nation’s fleet of vehicles: stability and traction control systems, adaptive cruise control and variable valve timing, just to name a few. And more changes are on the way: hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles are commonplace; hydrogen fuel cell and other alte...