When you’re looking for quality auto repair services, you may be confused as to which kind of auto shop you should use. Not all shops are alike! Before making your decision, ask a few questions about the type of auto repair services offered. For most repairs, a one-stop shop that can take care of various types of auto repair may be your best choice!
The general categories for auto repair shops include:
> Parts Store – These stores sell automotive parts to the general public. Some may also provide auto repair services.
> Independently owned and operated business – These auto repair shops may include national chains and franchises. An independent auto repair shop may achieve certification through manufacturer-sponsored programs, such as maintenance for hybrid vehicles.
> Dealerships – Dealerships are commonly certified by their respective manufacturer to perform warranty and recall repairs.
> Specialty Shop – These shops specialize in certain components and systems such as brakes, mufflers and exhaust, transmissions, tires, electrical, air conditioners, glass repairs and installation, wheel alignment, modifications and customization, or specific vehicle models. Specialized shops may use different facilities for specific jobs or vehicles, and employ technicians and mechanics with varying certifications.
> Online – Online shops provide doorstep auto repair services and home delivery of new and used auto parts of parts that are not widely available in the market.
***In the News — For years, the U.S. tire industry has sought substitutes for both imported natural rubber and the petroleum that is used in synthetic rubber. Cooper Tire has progressed to manufacturer tires with components made from the guayule plant, a desert shrub from the Southwestern United States.
The company says it will be able to make a complete tire from guayule-sourced rubber by 2017. Cooper’s project is part of a $ 6.9 million Biomass Research and Development Initiative grant, being administered jointly by the U.S. Department of Energy, and Department of Agriculture. In addition to yielding latex
that can be processed into rubber, guayule also reportedly produces resin that can be used in adhesives, flavors, fragrances, and biofuel. Fibrous material from the plant can also be made into biofuel, as well as construction materials. Interest in cultivating guayule as an alternative to hevea–the source of natural rubber–became particularly strong during World War II when advancing Japanese forces cut off U.S. access to hevea, and again during the 1970s. Even through guayule grows faster than hevea, there are some pros and cons. Hevea is less prone to cracking, and doesn’t allow as much heat buildup as rubber made from guayule. Cooper claims it has already made some tire components from 100-percent guayule rubber, and that it is well on its way to replacing others with the domestically-sourced material. Tires already account for 70 percent of global rubber use, and demand is expected to grow as more
countries fully industrialize. ***
Looking for quality auto repair? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive (The Hybrid Shop) by calling (608) 221-8321 or go on-line at http://clausenautomotive.com for more information about auto repair services on all makes, models, and types of vehicles. Since 1975, our family-owned auto
shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.