Local automotive expert stresses attention to car care.
Joshua “J.D.” Davis, manager of one of Prescott’s largest full-service maintenance shops, has firm ideas about how vehicle owners need to keep their cars running at minimum expense and maximum efficiency.
The 42-year-old Prescott native has been involved and educated in auto maintenance and repairs since he was able to turn a wrench. When his family moved to Phoenix, he graduated from East Valley High School and later attended Mesa Community College. He owned his own vehicle shop for several years in Phoenix and returned to Prescott a few years ago.
He has been with Network Automotive Service Center, 233 Grove Ave., for almost six years. For five, he’s been manager of one of the area’s largest full-service vehicle repair shops.
“The days of the shade-tree mechanic and weekend engine repair are over,” he said. “Contemporary vehicles are too complex. Most require sophisticated diagnostic equipment except for the simplest of do-it-yourself chores like changing windshield wipers.”
He notes that the pandemic has changed the way people are traveling. “Not so much commercially, but much more in personal vehicles. That’s why we’ve seen the need for maintenance increase – more vehicle use.”
During his years as manager of the Prescott Network shop, Davis has seen revenue increase from $26,000 a month in 2016 to more than $85,000 a month this year.
The Prescott shop is one of six owned by Network. The other five locations are in the Phoenix area.
“I think the most important thing a car owner needs to consider nowadays is regular and systematic complete maintenance. To do that, owners need to have a good, reliable and honest dealership or repair shop. Let’s face it – cars are too expensive anymore to ignore having them worked on,” Davis said.
Noting there are more than 40 auto repair shops in the immediate Prescott area, Davis says one of the most difficult aspects of making a decision about where to go is knowing what maintenance or repairs are needed. “I admit I have a bias about this, but I think a full-service repair center is the best choice. They have the necessary equipment and trained employees who can run diagnostics to identify what root problems are before they make service suggestions. There’s a big difference between basic maintenance based on manufacturer’s recommendations as opposed to specialized repair work that might be required for an engine or transmission or computer-related issues.”
Davis offers these tips:
- Ask your friends where they go, especially those who have cars similar to yours.
- Check for certification such as that from the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence.
- Look for online reviews and customer appraisals.
- Find out if the shop does full-service repair work or if it is a specialty shop (e.g., radiator or brakes).
- See if the shop offers warranties or guarantees to stand behind its work.
- Davis also is strict about regular maintenance on any vehicle.
“The first thing I tell folks is that they need to really pay attention to changing the oil regularly, as recommended by the manufacturer. Oil breaks down. Newer cars are not like those older vehicles that could go on and on. Pay absolute attention to regular oil changes. The second absolutely necessary maintenance: brakes and suspension. Not only is ride quality affected but even more important, safety,” he said.
His third point of emphasis is about regular diagnostics of engine status: battery, electrical, fluids and filters. “Modern cars are so sophisticated that if you ignore one of the engine components, you’re likely to wind up with bigger and costlier repair issues in the future. New cars are engineered to run for hundreds of thousands of miles – but only if they are well maintained and cared for,” he stressed.
Network Service Adviser Desiree Gunder offers advice about service warranties and extended warranties. “I tell folks to ignore those random telephone calls from Rachel and letters about buying an extended warranty. Before you ever think about getting one of those, do the research. Be sure it is honest and reliable, and not some hyped-up sales pitch that takes your money and then disappears.”
Gunder, who has worked for Network for several years, also comments about the use of synthetic vs. conventional oil in newer vehicles. “Always pay attention to what the manufacturer recommends – for either the kind of oil or the miles between oil changes. Automotive engineers and manufacturers spend thousands of hours and millions of dollars researching what is best for a given vehicle.”
Both Davis and Gunder say that ultimately, electric vehicles will become more dominant, which they agree will be easier to maintain. “Just think of the difference between the number of moving parts in an internal combustion engine compared to an electric motor,” Davis said. “We’re in a new generation of automotive ownership.” QCBN
By Ray Newton, QCBN
Leave a Reply