Shops under-utilizing online OEM repair information; NASTF meeting set for Oct. 31 in Las Vegas

Repairers are failing to take advantage of important information readily being made available over the Internet by vehicle manufacturers, leading to unnecessary aggravation for technicians and wasted time and money for shop owners. The situation is among several topics that the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) is expected to address when it meets Oct. 31 in Las Vegas.

“We need more collision shops using the OEM Web sites,” says Jerry Burns, co-chairman of the NASTF Collision Repair Committee. “You need to understand that this information is available; there is a reasonable fee, and some are free of charge.”

Frustrated technicians often spend an inordinate amount of time on a particularly challenging repair before asking others in the shop for advice – which then ties them up as well, according to Burns, owner of Auto Impressions in Rio Rancho, N.M. Yet under the auspices of NASTF, the solution is usually easily accessible via the manufacturer’s Internet postings. “In a matter of 10 or 15 minutes you’ll have all the information you need,” he points out.

“You need to go to the OEM Web sites,” Burns stresses, relating how shop owners who complain about a lack of technical data being made available usually fail to utilize this critical resource.

“A lot of it is ignorance,” Burns reports to ABRN. He believes a number of shop owners simply aren’t informed about the existence of these sites, nor are they aware of the breadth and inexpensiveness of the available repair strategies. “They don’t know what’s there.”

Recently at Burns’ shop they had a 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit with a heavily damaged door. The design of the inside mechanism is new, complex and baffling. In the past a technician might have spent hours trying to figure it out before asking colleagues for help. The owner would ultimately telephone a VW dealer, but most of them don’t have body shops, leading to an even bigger delay as the process steadily escalates into an aggravating, costly ordeal.

Not so any more, says Burns.

Instead, thanks to the OEM/repair industry alliance facilitated by NASTF, they were able to go online to easily unlock the mystery of the Rabbit’s door. “We didn’t break any parts and we got that car repaired in a reasonable time frame,” Burns recounts.

At www.NASTF.org there is a “collision matrix” link that connects body shops with the proper manufacturer resources. If the necessary information is not available, there is a complaint-form process in place to help remedy the problem.

“There are not a lot of complaints being filed by either mechanical or collision” repairers stymied by pertinent information being withheld, Burns notes, urging shop owners to tap this key industry resource.

When formed last March, the NASTF Collision Repair Committee was specifically charged with representing the tools, equipment and training needs of body shops. “They started out with mechanical (when NASTF was established in 2000), and then they discovered there was a need for collision information,” Burns explains.

“There are many common characteristics between collision repair and mechanical repair,” observes Charlie Gorman, NASTF’s chairman. “In many cases, both types of repairs are needed to repair a vehicle after a crash. However, collision repair also involves many unique elements, including frame straightening, painting, welding, bonding and sectioning, for example,” he adds, noting how the Collision Repair Committee helps to “ensure that NASTF is fulfilling its mission with respect to this important group of industry stakeholders.”

All are welcome and no registration is required for the Oct. 31 general meeting, starting at 1:30 pm in the El Dorado Ballroom at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas.

“NASTF encourages all industry professionals to attend this meeting and take advantage of the networking opportunity, as well as getting the latest update on the organization,” according to administrative director Mary Hutchinson.

“The Fall meeting will feature a report on the progress of the Vehicle Security Committee in developing the Secure Data Release Model to address the key codes and other security data,” she notes. “All other committees will also report on progress and we’ll have representatives from all industry partners, along with the EPA in attendance.”