Rolling into any service centre and saying, 'There's a noise in my car when I drive' is like setting yourself up to be taken advantage of. You've made yourself an easy mark for unscrupulous operators. However, there are steps you can take to make yourself a better consumer.

Take a basic auto maintenance course. Many schools and recreation programs have courses designed for women so they can understand the basic elements. Then you can speak intelligently and with confidence to the professionals you encounter. Think of the first time you had your hair coloured and how you weren't sure what your stylist was doing. Now think of the last time, you were much more relaxed, comfortable and aware of options. That's what a basic maintenance course can do!

Ask for referrals from friends of both genders. They will tell you who they have found to be good, bad and just downright ugly. Referrals as some of the best advertising businesses can get. When you approach the mechanic tell him you were referred and by who. Better yet, ask your friend to call ahead and tell the shop you are coming on his recommendation. They won't want to lose two clients and will do their best to help you.

When you go to a mechanic for the first time, make it for a service call. Oil changes or seasonal tune-ups are good choices. Ask for explanations about anything that is found to be in need of repair. If you feel more comfortable, ask a friend to come with you while you go over the report. Try never to go to a new shop when you have a major problem. It puts you at a disadvantage.

When you walk into a new shop for the first time, take a good look around. Would you want to have your hair done in a shop where the tools looked unclean, the floor was littered with hair and the shelves were dusty and dirty? You don't want to patronise a service centre that doesn't meet certain standards. The level of cleanliness, obviously, will not be the same as that in a salon, but, the tools should look well cared for, the waiting area should be relatively clean and organized and the paperwork should be legible and available for everything that was done.

Don't expect the mechanics to be pristinely clean; they are called grease monkeys for a reason. You can also judge a mechanic by how he cares for his tools. Well-cared for tools indicate a person cares about his work. That translates into the potential for a good mechanical experience.

An organized and tidy waiting area indicates they shop thinks about their customers. Ideally, there are windows to allow you to see what is happening in the shop area. Access to good coffee is a benefit.

Paperwork about your vehicle should be filled out prior to any work being done on your car. You should be given the estimated cost of the service being done. Any changes should be marked clearly on the sheet and presented to you, if you are waiting on site, or phoned to you before additional work is started. All changes should be noted on the sheet. Check it over before you sign off.

Tell them before any work is done that you want to see any parts they replace. If they don't want to, you may want to reconsider getting work done at that shop. Mechanics should have no problem showing you what they have done.

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