It is time to bring in new jeans, new socks and new underwear for the Reno Rodeo Denim Drive! We just received our box to fill from the Reno Rodeo Foundation. Each year, at this time, we ask our customers to participate in helping our local foster kids have new clothes. There are children who need all sizes of jeans, outfits, socks and underwear, from toddlers to size 18, for high school girls and guys. No new clothes are refused!
This year we will perform a complete system starting and charging check on your vehicle at no charge, when you bring in any clothing to add to our Denim Drive!
Please help us raise the self esteem of children in crisis through a program that gives back 100% in our own community!
Stop by, drop off your donation and your name will go into a drawing for one of our “flushing system services” also, kind of a grand prize for someone. This is our way of thanking you for participating!
God Bless and Enjoy your family through these happy holiday months.
You may also go to this link to see other ways you can help this season and learn more about the Denim Drive!
www.RenoRodeoFoundation.org
Download PDF Flyer
See you soon & enjoy the ride,
A Master Mechanic (775) 358-6777
service@amastermechanic.com
Back in September 2010 we attended a meeting in California and met nine automotive maintneance & repair shop owners. We also met Kelly Bennett, the instructor for the SmartGroup named Calvada. Although we were quite confident we were going to sparkle & shine that day, it wasn’t much into the meeting before we learned about the benchmarks we weren’t reaching and were given an overhwleming amount of information to fix them. Our sparkle dimmed and our shine needed some elbow grease. Everyone was gracious and open to sharing their ideas and they welcomed us with open arms. Although we were the only shop from Nevada in the room, we, by all means, were not the “only ones”. Everyone in the room had already experienced their very first meeting, and they came away with a lot of the same “teachings” we did.
So, onward we went. Since that time we have attended four out of town meetings where we gather in a room and talk about best practices, strategic managment and share stories. We have participated in five conference calls reviewing our progress, and our practices. There is some back patting but most of all, fanny kicking (in the kindest of ways). The “No holds barred”, “roll with the punches” communciation we share is helpful, informative and most of all motivating. As a team we put together the best of the best and change all that we can to get there (to be one of the best), if, indeed, we are not yet.
And on the “whole picture”, “industry as a whole” type thinking – we are paving the way in the automotive industry. Kelly tells us, as a group, we are above average. And Kelly has traveled the United States and Canada for over 25 years, so he has seen a great deal. It is great to be able to have the support of the group for this process. Things are changing and the service we provide our customers influences the market. Not just for maintenance & repair facilities, but for the automotive industry, as a unit. That includes automobile & parts manufacturers, the people putting our future automobiles together. Both avenues of the industry work together and influence eachother.
In less than two weeks, we welcome our fellow shop owners to Reno, Nevada. Our shop, A Master Mechanic is the “host” for the group. They will come to our shop and evaluate everything from our signage, customer waiting area, technician bays and paperwork. They review our practices and the “flow” of things. Then we go back to the meeting room to hear the results. One pat on the back, one kick in the fanny. We are looking forward to it and knowing they were coming has motivated us to get a whole lot of “TO DO’s” , “TO DONE”! So, thank you and welcome to those we now call frineds, and of course, as with everyone here at A Master Mechanic, we also call them family!
Enjoy the ride!
Has the summer heat brought out the fluids in your car? There are several fluids that need to be maintained to keep you car in it’s optimum running condition. To maintain our “fluids” we only need to make sure to drink eight glasses of water daily, but our vehicles have five “fluids” that must be maintained. We know not to let our vehicles oil go dry but what about your transmission, brake, power steering and differential fluids? And don’t forget about your anti freeze/coolant?
The health of your vehicle degrades when it is low on fluid or the velocity of the fluid has broken down over time. As a responsible car owner you need to make sure your fluids are in their “optimum condition”. We all know what happens when we run out of oil, but some fluid levels or leaks are difficult to spot. Leaks do not always show up on your driveway. For instance 2% moisture in your brake fluid can cause rust in the lines and ABS controllers, but you will never see this leak. These can be expensive to replace, so it is best to stay on top of the maintenance of your vehicle to prevent costly repairs. Good shops know how to help you keep your fluids healthy, and check them when you bring in your car for a lube, oil & filter service.
By bringing in your vehicle regularly, you allow preventative maintenance to be performed. Ultimately, every vehicle should be in the shop every 3000 – 5000 miles for it’s lube, oil and filter service. If you do not drive enough to have it in every three to four months (which is the time frame for average drivers to reach the 3000 – 5000 mile range) then plan to bring it in at the change of seasons. This way, your mechanic can check everything over to make sure your fluids are healthy and there is no evidence of any coming failure to one of the many moving, integral parts that keep you on the road.
And, if you don’t have a shop you feel comfortable trusting with this task, you need to find another shop. Your mechanic should be like your doctor – they help prevent untimely, inconvenient costly repairs that can sometimes cause a domino effect within the workings of your car (like the doctor with our bodies).
Remember, No Leaks are Good Leaks and you do not always see evidence of a leak on your driveway. Some fluids drip and leak so little that it dissipates before it hits the ground. You deserve a shop that can take care of you and your vehicle. Maintenance will ALWAYS cost less than repair and preserves the life of your vehicle!
We are excited to offer our customers access to our newly designed, interactive website. It is ready to be formally released as of tomorrow. So, we go LIVE on FRIDAY, APRIL 22nd, just in time for, what we expect to be, our busiest season yet! Please come back often to check out our blogs, new recommendations and especially, the just for you page.We also have a page to LIKE on facebook and you can follow our tweets on twitter! As always, we are here for you. Any suggestions are welcome, just email us at webmaster@amastermechanic.com!