Auto Repair Service - San Francisco

AAA-Approved Auto Repair Standards

In order to earn a AAA-Approved Auto Repairs™ designation, an auto repair facility or service center must abide by our stringent AAA standards. Automotive repair and service facilities are judged on the following criteria:

Scope of service and repairs

The facility must provide services in the following areas:

Engine tune-up
Minor engine repair
Brakes
Electrical systems

In addition, a facility may provide the following optional services:

Tires, steering, suspension
Major engine repairs
Automatic transmission
Heating, air conditioning
Manual transmission, rear axle

Customer service

Clean, safe and comfortable customer facilities are required.
Visible identification must be worn by all reception staff.
All service staff must be qualified, courteous and efficient.
The facility must receive a favorable response of 90% or better in each rating category of the AAA Auto Repair Service Questionnaire returned by the facility's customers.

Facility appearance

The facility must be clean, tidy and attractive inside and out.

Staff qualifications and training

The facility must have a National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified mechanic or equivalent for each area of service which the facility offers.

A garage supervisor must be available during all hours of service operation for member contact and quality control purposes.
The facility must have an effective quality control program in existence.

The facility must have a formal training system for keeping employees up-to-date on new automotive systems.
The facility must have technically competent service reception personnel who are trained to advise customers regarding repairs and service.

Community reputation

The facility must have an acceptable community reputation as determined by reviews and analysis of:
Dun and Bradstreet or bank financial or equivalent reports
Consumer Protection Agency report
Inquiries of past customers randomly selected by AAA

Insurance

The facility must have prescribed limits of commercial general or garage liability insurance, including bodily injury and property damage coverage and garage keeper's legal liability insurance.

Equipment requirements

General equipment

• Vehicle lifts, hoists or lifting jacks
• Lubrication equipment
• Parts cleaner
• Safety stands
• Technical service manuals (up-to-date) or electronic access
• Torque wrench set (inch/foot)
• Vernier caliper
• Welding equipment
• Micrometer 0"-1"
• Headlight alignment tester

Engine tune-up

• Engine analyzer with display
• Digital voltmeter, ammeter, ohmmeter, dwellmeter, tachometer
• Timing light
• Vacuum/pressure gauge
• Compression tester, cylinder leak down tester
• Exhaust gas analyzer
• Fuel injection test equipment
• Injector pulse tester

Minor engine repair

• Hand-held tools only
• Brakes
• Brake drum and disc lathe
• Dial indicators
• Brake disc micrometer
• Brake drum gauge

Electrical

• Digital voltmeter
• Digital ohmmeter
• Digital ammeter
• Battery load tester
• Battery charger
• Alternator, regulator, starting circuit tester

Tires, steering, suspension

• Alignment rack/tables
• Wheel balancer, spin or bubble
• Coil spring compressor
• Tire changer

Heating and air conditioning

• Radiator and cap pressure tester
• A/C recharging station
• A/C leak detector
• Vacuum pump
• Manifold gauge set
• Freon recovery system

Major engine repair

• Engine repair stand
• Engine floor crane
• Outside micrometer 0"-4"
• Valve refacer, valve seat cutter
• Cylinder hone/deglazer
• Cylinder bore gauge or inside micrometer 0"-4"

Automatic transmission

• Related special tools
• Pressure gauge (300) psi
• 30-inc.asph hp. vacuum gauge
• Transmission jack

Manual transmission and rear axle

• Gear puller, axle puller
• Arbor/hydraulic press
• Clutch aligning tools

Customer response

In addition to meeting the facility approval criteria, applicants must receive a favorable response of 90% or better in each rating category of the Auto Repair Service Questionnaire returned by the applicant's customers.

Approximately 100 questionnaires are mailed out. A minimum of 25 must be returned to make a complete file. If response is less than that, the facility is rejected.

California State Automobile Association
150 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102
Web: www.csaa.com