Auto Club Offers Women Car Maintenance Checklist During AAA Car Care Month.

LOS ANGELES -- The idea of car repairs makes some women uneasy. To boost their car care confidence, the Automobile Club of Southern California has compiled a car maintenance checklist to promote automotive self-reliance.

"If women put off visiting an auto repair shop because they feel out of their element, they open themselves up to breakdowns and other problems," said Rick Kretsch, manager of the AAA-approved auto repair program in Southern California. "The more anyone knows about their vehicle and how it operates, the better."

Kretsch says the following checklist can make car repairs a less frustrating experience for women:

--1. Become familiar with your automobile's maintenance schedule. This information is provided in the owner's manual of your vehicle.

--2. Don't wait for your car to break down to identify a repair shop and find a mechanic. Be proactive and research where you want to take your vehicle when it needs to be serviced in the future.

--3. Gather recommendations and opinions from friends and family. This will help streamline the decision-making process.

--4. Check with the local consumer agencies to identify if the repair shop in question has any unresolved disputes.

--5. Find out if the shop employs ASE-certified automotive technicians that are experienced working on the type of car or truck you own.

--6. The simplest way to choose a good repair shop is to select an AAA-Approved Auto Repair facility. These shops undergo an extensive investigation and inspection before being admitted to the program.

--7. Communicate your vehicle's "symptoms" effectively by using simple everyday language or demonstrating the problem during a test drive with the technician.

The maintenance checklist was developed for AAA Car Care Month this October when the Auto Club promotes an annual checkup for vehicles just prior to the cooler and rainy months ahead. The Auto Club is offering its members a $19.99 service package that includes an oil and filter change, tire rotation, brake inspection, and 38-point vehicle safety and maintenance inspection at its participating Approved Auto Repair facilities. The offer is available through Nov. 30 and can be obtained by redeeming a coupon published in the September/October issue of WESTWAYS magazine.

"The service check is a great way for women and other motorists to learn about any potential problems with their cars and trucks," said Kretsch. "It also helps establish a baseline for future car maintenance."

For women and other motorists who are searching for a quality repair shop, the Auto Club has nearly 600 Approved Auto Repair facilities listed online, and in a directory it publishes quarterly. Anyone can use the shops, but Auto Club members receive special benefits. For more information about the $19.95 service package, call 866-579-3396, click on aaa-calif.com/repair or visit any Auto Club office.

The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest AAA affiliate, has been serving members since 1900. Today, Auto Club members benefit by the organization's roadside assistance, financial products, travel agency and trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs, insurance products and services and automotive pricing, buying and financing programs. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa.com.