Car repairs biggest complaint iy LOUISE COOK Automotive Service Councils, Inc., a trade association Check to see If the repair shop is a member of the AtMdiM Preu Writer representing about 5,000 of the nation's 240,000 auto repair Automotive Service Council which sets standards for its Americans spend nearly 15» billion • year to repair and shops. members and runs an Informal complaint-handling service. maintain their cart and many of them complain that they Randall said that the growth of sell-service gasoline Look for the emblem of the National Institute for Automo- aren't getting their money's worth. operations have made preventive maintenance more im- tive Service Excellence. The Institute, set up six years ago Just over M percent of all the complaints received by portant than ever. "Don't let oil change Intervals slip by," by the U.S. auto manufacturers and dealers, runs a volun- the federal Office of Consumer Attain In the first eight he added. tary testing and certification program. months of 1178 related to automobiles. Many of the com- Don't wait until you need a mechanic to find a repair Note: Be careful about refusing payment if you are not plaints concerned high prices for new cars, but many also shop. "Hike the selection before you break down and are satisfied. Most states have what is known as a "mechanic's dealt with the frustrations and problems of getting old ones captive of the nearest garage," Randall said. lien law." If you refuse to pay your bill, even it It is fixed. outrageous, the shop can keep your car. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Why are there so many complaints about cars? has estimated that up to $M billion is wasted annually on One reason, said Randall, Is the number of automobiles poor, needless or fraudulent repairs. Associated Press and the amount of money spent on them Industry officials argue that fraud is Involved In only a Statistics compiled by the American Transportation small percentage ol cases, but they concede that, rightly or Association show that Americans spent $174 billion on wrongly, consumers are concerned about the quality of Consumer report passenger costs associated with automobiles last year, auto repairs. Randall said. Cars accounted tor 00 percent of the passen- In most areas, auto mechanics need not be licensed to ger miles traveled in 1977. practice. Repair shops do not have to register or meet any Among the things to keep In mind when comparing Randall said there were 137 million motor vehicles on typ* °' government standard. Certification and testing garages are the facility's reputation, convenience and the road last year; each one visited a repair facility an programs generally are voluntary rather than mandatory. appearance. Does the place look reasonably clean? Are average of two times; three separate operations were The American Automobile Association has attempted, there parts lying all over the floor? Does the shop have performed during each visit. "That's more than 800 million through its Appoved Auto Repair Program, to identify power tools and a lift to raise the car off the floor? operations in a year. That's why it's so visible," Randall shops which provide high quality service, but the program Ask whether the shop gives written estimates. In some said. FUN RUN WINNER- Ricky Sample of Colts Is limited so far to parts of lour states and the District of states, estimates are required by law; in others they are He also said that the Increasing complexity of automo- Neck crosses the finish line first to win the "fun Columbia. voluntary. Mandatory or voluntary, the estimate will help biles has made it difficult for mechanics to keep up with run" section of the racing events sponsored by How can you avoid problems? you avoid what Randall explained Is known in the business new develpments He urged the federal goverment to the Children's Psychiatric Center/Community Start by reading the owner's manual that comes with as the "sundown surprise" — the big and unexpected bill provide increased support for diagnostic centers to help Mental Health Center at Brookdale Community your car, advises Donald A. Randall, a spokesman for the you're handed when you go to pick up your car. mechanics. College, Llncroft, yesterday. For details and other photos see page 11. The Daily Register VOL.101 NO. 112 SHREWSBURY, N.J. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13,1978 15 CENTS * Mideast peace talks deadlocked WASHINGTON (AP) - Mideast peace talks remained further if compromises were not struck soon on the Palestinians inaudibly. He said "problems" remained but that Israel still Vance told reporters the talks would continue In Washing- deadlocked over the Palestinian issue today despite a concerted and on details of Israel's transfer of Sinai oil fields to Egyptian hopes for a settlement. ton. But U.S. officials said no talks Involving Vance were U.S. effort to keep a partially completed treaty between Egypt control On the Palestinian issue, Begin reiterated Israel's commit- scheduled today and Israel from unraveling. But Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance, after a late Sunday ment to negotiate with Egypt on the disposition of the West Sadat, through his negotiators, introduced demands last President Carter's personal Intervention with President session with Begin at Kennedy Airport in New York, refused to Bank of the Jordan River and the Gaza district — but apart Thursday that the treaty package contain specific commit- Anwar Sadat and Prime Minister Menachem Begin and a abandon hope of completing the accord, which only a week ago from the current treaty negotiations. ments - including a timetable - from Israel for setting up a compromise American proposal on the Palestinians Sunday appeared within grasp. "There was never any doubt," he said, that Israel will Palestinian authority to govern the West Bank and Gaza failed to bring a quick end to the impasse. "I believe," he said, "that peace can be achieved between follow through on its commitment. Israel has promised full After long sessions with Israeli negotiators over the week- And there were indications other provisions of the historic the parties. I believe that they both sincerely want peace, that autonomy to the 1.1 million Palestinians living in the territories. end — the one Saturday night lasted past midnight — Vance agreement that had seemed nailed doWn were becoming em- people of both their nations want peace. But he refused, in responding to reporters' questions, to presented a compromise proposal to Begin. While the details broiled In the controversy that was focused principally on "That being the case," Vance said, "I believe that peace accept any "linkage" between the treaty and the second round were not disclosed, it was known to be language intended for the whether the treaty should be tied to future negotiations over the can be achieved." . of negotiations or to agree that the commitment should appear treaty's preamble. Palestinains. A tired Begin, standing at Vance's side in an airport lounge in the treaty itself. There was no indication from Begin or Vance that the This raised the possibility that the agreement could unravel crammed with reporters and television cameras, spoke almost "It has not yet been decided," Begin said. See Mideast, page 2 Red Bank school dedicated Dream becomes a reality RED BANK - "What entation and acceptance of Ing for funds to remodel the building is outstanding. We get began as a burden and a prob- keys, several speeches and a school. use out of the multi-purpose lem became a challenge and a benediction. '-'Their foresight will pro- room, the video tape, the li- dream, and Is now a reality," At the ceremony, Stephen vide a beautiful setting for brary." slid Dr. Joan Abrams, super- Popper, president of the Red learning and growth for many Various comments by the intendent of the Red Bank Bank Board of Education, decades to come." she added children were favorable also. Public Schools, at the dedi- made a welcoming address. "This is critical to the con- "This beats Catholic school, cation of the new Red Bank Mr. Edmund H. Gaunt, a tinued vitality and growth of Insisted Nancy Mastic, a sev- Middle School building yester- principal architect In the the town," Mrs. Beth Finan, enth grader. Her friend, Kathy day. project, presented the keys to president of the Parent Teach- Covington, interrupted, "Its "It took a tremendous ef- the school. er's Association, said. "It is a got really nice lockers and a fort on the part of all con- "We're very happy with the desire to do right for the chil- gymnasium." cerned." way it came out," he said. dren, but also displays deep Seventh grader, Audra Dr. Abrams was speaking Later, he noted, "For this commitment to Red Bank. Gutridge, who was standing In about the renovation of the old type of project, there were "Our schools were working the high ceilinged. brightly Red Bank High School into a minimum complications. We against us," she added. painted, newly remodeled bright, modernized building even had spare money to do After the dedication, at- home. designed tor students In grades additional work and the con- tended by approximately 250 "Home economics room 5 to 8. tractors worked very well to- people. Including students, pointed out that the the old The building,- which gether." alumni of the high school, school wasn't this big and we openned in September, was of- In accepting the keys, Dr. teachers, parents and school never had a multi-purpose ficially dedicated yesterday In Abrams mentioned the names board personnel, student room." a ceremony that lasted ap- of those members of the Board guides led visitors around the The new building was re- proximately 45 minutes, and of Education who originally re- school.