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February 28, 2013

Volume 18, Issue 22

AMRA / MAP

Good News is Worth Repeating!

By now, you’ve probably seen a few articles about AMRA/MAP or quotes from the Motorist Assurance Program in various trade publications. And, if you pay attention to news beyond automotive repair, you may even have run across AMRA/MAP information and quotes in various mainstream publications such as US News and World Report. It seems that more and more, national news media and others are finding MAP Standards, well… the Standard for educating both motorists and service providers.

As an AMRA/MAP member, you should probably keep an eye out for any articles, quotes, blog posts, etc. that mention AMRA/MAP or the Motorist Assurance Program. Why? Because whatever your customers read or hear about MAP Standards, they will expect you to know and understand, as well. These topics can become great conversation starters and a basis for building (or strengthening) a relationship between you and your customers.

A great way to stay tuned to all this media attention is to let your computer alert you whenever AMRA, the Automotive Maintenance and Repair Association, MAP or the Motorist Assurance Program pops up in the news. Simply setting up GOOGLE Alerts for the above terms will offer 24/7 monitoring for anything newly posted on the internet, even digital versions of traditional print magazines.

As an example, the following pages of this newsletter contain a recent a blog post about AMRA/MAP from the folks at OpenBay. It gives a great overview of our organization.

March 31, 2016

Volume 21, Issue Q1

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February 28, 2013

Volume 18, Issue 22

AMRA / MAP in the News (continued)

Joseph M. Henmueller is President & COO of the Automotive Maintenance & Repair Association / Motorist Assurance Program, widely known as AMRA/MAP. AMRA is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen the relationship between automotive service providers and vehicle owners, and it accomplishes that by developing industry standards for vehicle inspection and communication. Its complementary association, MAP, educates both service providers and consumers, so motorists receive options and information to help make the best decisions for their vehicles’ repair and maintenance.

AMRA was founded more than 20 years ago, during a time when, as Henmueller says, service providers were “really good at fixing cars, but really bad at communicating the value they were providing for the consumer.” Since then, AMRA has focused its efforts primarily on service providers, setting industry standards for communicating and documenting the results of vehicle inspections and services performed, with an end goal of demonstrating value to the consumer.

“AMRA writes the standards, and helps convey the value of services performed back to the consumer in a way that consumer understands. We don’t ever want consumers to walk away feeling they were oversold,” said Henmueller.

A Big Part of the Industry “We’re a big part of the industry,” explains Henmueller. “Based on the number of participating shops, the number of repair bays, and the average number of jobs performed per year, we estimate that our MAP Standards and MAP Process are utilized in over 90 million car repair transactions every year.”

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February 28, 2013

Volume 18, Issue 22

AMRA / MAP in the News (continued)

AMRA’s membership is composed of about 20,000 service provider shops, representing nearly 75,000 MAP-Qualified technicians and 90,000 service bays, including “everyone from independent Mom-and-Pop shops to national retailers like TBC Corporation and Bridgestone Firestone, to banner groups like

TECHNET, regional operations that have 150 shops, and everything in between; along with schools, educators, OEM suppliers, and equipment and tool manufacturers.”

Participation in the program primarily involves education, as provided through MAP Technical Committee meetings; each year, there are two in Chicago, and one in Florida, and one General Membership meeting held in Las Vegas, during SEMA/AAPEX.

AMRA/MAP standards are also available to all member shops online. AMRA produces vehicle inspection check-sheets, as well as standards on how to complete them, to help repair technicians inspect each vehicle, to document their findings and to communicate the results back to the consumer. In addition, each member shop has access to an online training module that earns them “MAP-Qualified” certification.

Defining Recommended vs. Required Repairs

Before any service is performed by a participating AMRA/MAP service center, it’s policy that an inspection of the affected system is performed. The results of the inspection must then be documented; along with MAP’s “Reason for Repair Codes” ensuring the customer understands the reason for the repair recommendations.

While the consumer always has the right to refuse vehicle service, and is never bound to complete any service, AMRA/MAP helps to distinguish between when a shop should require, vs. suggest repair or replacement.

Reasons to “Require” Repair or Replacement A - Part no longer performs its intended purpose B - Part does not meet a design specification (regardless of performance) C - Part is missing

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AMRA / MAP in the News (continued)

“Required” means that the shop is required to replace the part or perform the service in order to bring

that system back to its proper operating condition. Anything beyond that is always suggested/optional, says Henmueller, because a part may be near the end of its useful life or as preventive maintenance designed to prolong the life of the vehicle.

AMRA Membership When a service center joins AMRA, the owner/operator signs a contract confirming a commitment to follow AMRA/MAP Standards. And, at least one person on that shop’s staff must be trained and receive MAP-Qualified certification. They’re then designated as a MAP-Participating Facility, which consumers may find via MAP’s online shop locator, and via a “MAP Participating Facility” logo, which confirms that MAP-Qualified individuals are inspecting and making consistent service and repair recommendations,

based on uniform industry standards.

If you’re a consumer looking for more free information, check out MAP, the Motorist Assurance Program.

And, if you’re an automotive service provider, or any company that supports the automotive aftermarket, consider joining AMRA, the Automotive Maintenance & Repair Association

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Big thanks to AMRA/MAP for advancing professionalism within the auto care industry. Openbay is an online marketplace for auto repair, and we know that a well informed consumer is a happy consumer. Whether you’re a vehicle owner or the owner/operator of a service center, check out Openbay today.

For a link to the original article, click here,

Posted: March 16, 2016

February 28, 2013

Volume 18, Issue 22

March 31, 2016

Volume 21, Issue Q1

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February 28, 2013

Volume 18, Issue 22

Plan RIGHT NOW to Attend! MAP’s Spring Technical Committee Meeting — May 25-26 in Chicago, IL

Welcome to the “kitchen” where industry standards are made. Three times a year, industry experts (people just like you) gather to hear presentations and learn about vehicle technologies affecting our industry and then determine their impact on MAP Uniform Inspection and Communication Standards.

You might be a trainer striving to keep up with new diagnostics and repairs, or you might be the marketing person responsible for letting customers know just what your shops can offer to help service their cars. You might be from operations or equipment/tools/inventory purchasing departments, but you want to know what’s happening... before it happens to you!

This meeting will begin by focusing on GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) engines and the service issues they present in shops today.

Sources estimate that 35% of new vehicles are equipped with GDI engines, and that percentage will increase to 50% by 2020.

Whether diagnosing and repairing GDI systems, trying to determine the CORRECT fuel system cleaning process, or you are the person responsible for making sure shops have the parts, tools, supplies, training and equipment to handle GDI technologies… this is the meeting that YOU are REQUIRED to attend!

And, if you happen to be a manufacturer or supplier, you’ll want to be at this meeting and learn just what your customers (and potential customers) are now facing in their efforts to provide up-to-date GDI maintenance and repair services with technically-correct procedures, in a regulatory compliant manner.

A meeting promo, registration info and agenda is attached to this newsletter.

March 31, 2016

Volume 21, Issue Q1

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February 28, 2013

Volume 18, Issue 22

in detail...

Did you know that MAP Standards, specifically the MAP Reason for Repair Codes, allow you to confidently make recommendations to replace perfectly functioning components?

MAP Reason for Repair Code #2

To address a customer need, convenience or request. (to stiffen ride, enhance performance, eliminate noise, etc.) Sometimes, a customer will come to your shop looking for an “upgrade.” They probably don’t have a specific complaint, concern or symptom to describe. However, they are interested in a particular result or outcome for their vehicle.

Motorists with virtually brand-new (summer) tires may request a set of “winter” tires. The owner of a newly purchased pickup may request a performance exhaust system. An SUV owner may request a solution to level out the rear of the vehicle (only) when towing their boat.

The existing tires, exhaust components or springs are still performing as designed (and well within specs.) So, what is your REASON for Suggesting a part replacement to your customer? What if the customer wants to change the oil twice as frequently as the OE service schedule recommends?

In all these cases, your shop is simply addressing a customer request to produce a specific outcome; and MAP’s Suggested Reason for Repair CODE #2 is correct. Without properly documenting CODE #2, your shop may find itself accused of fraudulently replacing serviceable components!

WARNING: Do Not misuse Reason CODE #2 If a customer comes to the shop requesting that you replace the catalytic converter because the check engine light is on.., you have a responsibility to determine if replacing the converter will indeed provide the outcome the customer is seeking. If there is any complaint, concern or symptom the customer is trying to correct, you must diagnose and verify the concern before replacing a part. When you correctly diagnose the fault, you will identify the appropriate Reason for Repair Code. And, the repair will likely be REQUIRED. For more insight to MAP standards, please view our next newsletter for more MAP, in detail...

March 31, 2016

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* MAP Standards are utilized in over 300,000 customer transactions each and every day!

A-TECH AUTOMOTIVE CO.

Shrewsbury, MA 01545 508-842-0060

Contact: Russell K Bradway

Service Provider with 1 Location

AMWELL AUTOMOTIVE, INC.

Lambertville, NJ 08530 609-397-8032

Contact: Kevin Snyder

Service Provider with 1 Location

EJS AUTOMOTIVE

Lincoln, NE 68506 402-434-2886

Contact : Gary Evans

Service Provider with 1 Location

NEW

AMRA/MAP

MEMBERS!

1st Quarter, 2016

AMRA/MAP Membership Profile

(as of March 31, 2016)

Service Provider Locations …..…… 20,977*

Member Service Bays ….………...… 94,397

MAP-Qualified Associates….….... 80,000+

HONEST-1 AUTO CARE

dba JBMC Malvern

Malvern, PA 19355 484-328-3434

Contact: Tom Kitts

Service Provider with 1 Location

J. WHITE’S AUTOMOTIVE, LLC

Framingham, MA 01702 508-872-4752

Contact: Shirley Warren

Service Provider with 1 Location

KAUAI AUTO REPAIR, LLC

Lihue, HI 96766 808-245-8055

Contact: Angel Santiago, III

Service Provider with 1 Location