Continuing education a part of good automotive service

Published 8:34 am Friday, March 30, 2018

LANETT — It is often assumed that once someone knows how an engine works they can operate on it. But according to Sandy Carlton, owner of Sandy’s Service Center, that is not the case.

The business is located at 105 S. Gilmer Ave., Lanett.

Carlton has been working for the tire company Goodyear since 1987 and in 2001 opened her automotive center before moving to its current location in 2006.

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“Things have been going good,” she said, noting her business sells Goodyear tires and offers complete service work on vehicles.

According to Carlton,  customers believe she is a bit more meticulous when it comes to working on their vehicles. She can’t help but agree.

“I’d definitely say I’m meticulous,” she said. “I live here [in Chambers County] and see my customers around town, so I have to do a good job.”

As a way to keep up that work, Carlton and her employees are constantly staying educated on changes to automotive technology.

“I’ve even got a class on AC [air conditioning] work tonight,” she said. “We keep up to date on all features.”

This focus on education has given Carlton a bit of insight into where vehicle features are going, noting most of the current features are geared toward convenience.

“Some of that will tear up,” she said, “and because it is interlinked there could be an issue.”

Carlton noted that while she personally prefers vehicles with fewer features, she and her crew are capable of working on most vehicles.

“If we didn’t go to school, we would be behind,” she said.

While most cars and trucks don’t give them any trouble, some do. Specifically, BMW’s and Volvo’s are “hard to deal with.”

Carlton also keeps records on all the vehicles that have been brought in.

“This way we are more accurate in our work,” she said.

All her policies and practices have paid off, Carlton noted.

“Things have been good and we still have people coming in,” she said.

For more information, call Sandy’s Service Center at 334-633-2105.

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