Car Service Checklist

Cost-effective and convenient, a car service checklist assists automotive technicians in verifying car problems and advising customers on additional repairs and service work.

This article will discuss the following:

• 3 common challenges of car service;
• how automotive technicians can step up;
• iAuditor car service checklist software; and
• free ready-to-use car service checklists.

Aside from being free and easy to accomplish, car service checklists help solve some of the common challenges that automotive technicians face when servicing cars.

Common Challenges of Car Service

While most automotive technicians are experienced in car service, even veteran mechanics can still make mistakes. This is due to the repetitive nature of the job, making it easy to slip up and forget even the simplest but most important parts.

Such mistakes can incur huge financial costs for the shop and irreparably damage its reputation among its clientele. Diligence is vital for automotive technicians since they have a lot of responsibilities to deal with on a daily basis.

Here are the top three concerns of an automotive technician:

Safety Risks

Working on cars everyday takes a toll on one’s body. If automotive technicians aren’t aware of how to properly move and position themselves when doing certain tasks, they run the risk of injury or ending up with joint and muscle problems later on in life.

Aside from the medical expense, a serious injury could actually end an automotive technician’s career since the work does require them to be physically fit or capable, at the very least. 

Overwhelming Tasks

For automotive technicians, the faster they finish a job, the more money they get from it. This is why, despite the long hours, they are always working against the clock. Notwithstanding the higher incentive, automotive technicians are also motivated by customer demands.

Most clients expect their car to be ready soon, regardless of the complexity of the work. Keeping up with the fast pace of the job and, at the same time, pulling 12-hour shifts can easily overwhelm and exhaust automotive technicians to the point of burnout.

Unfinished Work

Despite working nonstop all-day, automotive technicians still have to double-check their work. Aside from the very real threat of being fired for not being careful enough, automotive technicians also need to keep in mind that they are working on a piece of machinery that could potentially cause fatal accidents.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), tires and wheel-related problems account for 35% of car accidents in the US caused by mechanical failure, and 22% are from bad brakes. 

How Automotive Technicians Can Step Up and Perform Better

Though being an automotive technician is a difficult job, it can be incredibly rewarding for people who love tinkering with cars. Nevertheless, even those who know they are on the right career path can be sidetracked by inefficiencies in the workplace.

That being said, here are some suggestions on how automotive technicians can make their life easier and do their job better:

Have a Talk With Their Supervisor

While it can be tempting to just brush off safety concerns, it really pays in the long run to put one’s foot down when it comes to safety. Automotive technicians should be wary of working without proper safety equipment, especially in such a harsh environment that is full of hazards.

Aside from safety, automotive technicians should also have an honest discussion with their supervisor regarding their work hours and pay. While a shop’s pay structure and shift schedule may seem set in stone, it’s possible for both to change if a supervisor sees the benefit in doing so.

Having a reasonable discussion is always beneficial for both technician and supervisor because it’s an avenue where concerns can be raised and problems can be addressed.

Don’t Overspend on Tools

One of the biggest mistakes a newbie automotive technician can make is buying an expensive set of tools right away. While these tools may be of higher quality, they aren’t a good investment.

No matter how careful one is with tools, they’ll still end up getting damaged by one thing or another at the end of the day. A helpful tip is to let the shop buy the big tools and only pay a small amount ($500-1500 per year) out-of-pocket for other tools.

Use a Digital Car Service Checklist

A car service checklist is one tool that costs nothing, not even time and effort. Since a car service checklist is pre-made, automotive technicians don’t have to worry about creating their own checklist from scratch. It’s also relatively straightforward, meaning it doesn’t take much effort to go through it.

Like any other tool, a car service checklist should do most of the grunt work, so that the automotive technician can focus on the task at hand, which is ensuring that vehicles are in good working condition and are safe to use.

Embrace Mobile Technology with iAuditor Car Service Checklists

iAuditor by SafetyCulture has free car service checklists for you to use before and after you work on a car. It provides a convenient way for you to remember everything. iAuditor also allows you to do the following:

• Create actions with due dates and times from within the car service checklist. 
• Customize the car service checklist to fit the service needs of the car.
• Send car service reports to customers via email or print the PDF version for them to pick up before they leave the shop or when they get their car after its service.

Get started for free with iAuditor today and increase the efficiency and accuracy of car service. You can start with our featured car service checklist templates below.