"The auto repair industry will never be the same with the introduction of MechanicNet," assert the founders of a Pleasanton based Internet service whose web site is described as being a place "where consumers can get all the information they need to make informed decisions about their car repair and maintenance."  Steve Liao, MechanicNet's President, says his firm will help car owners to "better understand the problems they are experiencing" while referring them to a nearby service dealer member of the MechanicNet Network.

According to Mr. Liao, his company's service "exists to bridge a gap between the car owner and mechanic."  To help motorists and service professionals communicate better, visitors to the web site will find an online "Conversational Diagnostic tool" that consumers can use to translate their "problem descriptions into information that mechanics can use."

With symptoms of a malfunctioning vehicle documented, a motorist can now schedule an appointment with a MechanicNet Network business by clicking to the shop's "branded web site."  Mr. Liao notes that "car owners are invited to review each garage as they receive repairs and voice their concerns when they are dissatisfied with the level of service they have received."  To aid its members to respond to complaints, MechanicNet has reportedly "built relationship management tools to help shops identify and resolve otherwise unknown customer issues."

MechanicNet is said to have been founded last year "by a team of veterans from the Internet and automotive aftermarket industries."  Members of the privately-held firm's board of directors include Bradley S. Scott, the former chairman and CEO of Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc., and Ken Davis, the founder and president of Quality Tune-Up Shops.

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