Computer technology can be seen in almost all facets of life these days, including in motor vehicles. In fact, when you get your car serviced in an Orlando auto repair shop, you can expect mechanics-turned-technicians to be working on your car.
As an article Florida Weekly says:
Cars of the not-so-distant past (i.e, the 90s) were built mostly with mechanical parts and very little electronics involved. The situation has reversed with the latest models, which now practically run on on-board computers. This development has made cars more efficient than before, and has resulted in easier design and manufacture. Additionally, electronic advances have greatly enhanced safety. With these advancements, however, also came a lot of changes as far as car maintenance goes.
For one, it has become more difficult for regular drivers to know what could possibly be wrong with their cars. Often, the warning that something is amiss comes only from the little “Check engine” icon that lights up on the dashboard—and this could mean anything, from a loose gas cap to a defective fuel injector. The only way to find out for sure is to bring the car to a trusted service center, where a diagnostic of the car’s on-board computer will be run.
To cope with changes in the way cars are made, mechanics have to learn how to deal with the latest technologies, and this has given rise to the ASE-certified mechanic. ASE stands for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, a non-profit organization that qualifies and certifies service professionals.
For a mechanic to be ASE-certified, he should have at least two years’ experience, and must pass the institute’s qualifying exams. He must also specialize on certain areas, as the certifications are given out by specialties, such as car repairs, repair estimating, and school bus repairs. In choosing an Orlando, FL auto repair shop, therefore, make sure you pick one with ASE-certified mechanics, like Fast Lane Automotive, to ensure your car is being cared for by highly-qualified professionals.
The computerization of cars has also changed maintenance needs, doing away with frequent oil changes and tune ups. Unlike in old cars which you could probably fix or service on your own, however, today’s car makes demand that they are brought only to qualified technicians for servicing.
(Source: Automotive service goes increasingly high-tech, Florida Weekly, November 20, 2014)