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| I have learned over the past 20 years that it is very important to regularly maintain my vehicles. It doesn’t matter how new they are: It is vital to keep up on maintenance. Most makes and models of cars include a routine maintenance schedule in their owner’s manual. This is a good tool to utilize. It will help prevent major breakdowns when you least expect them. A recent survey conducted by the Car Care Council found that most people stall or procrastinate when it comes to routine auto maintenance. Out of 100 cars, 54% had low tire pressure, dirty oil was found in 38% of them, and dirty air filters were found in 16% of them. As an auto owner, it is wise to be proactive rather than reactive. To make routine maintenance easier to remember, it can be grouped into tasks that need to be checked on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual basis. Weekly maintenance items are the obvious ones such as making sure all of your lights are working properly and cleaning your auto both inside and out. You will also want to check your tire air pressure and level of windshield washer fluid. At three months, air, fuel, and oil filters need to be checked, cleaned, or replaced. When you take your car in for an oil service, the mechanic will change the oil filter and ask if you would like the air filter replaced. Some newer types of air filters can be washed instead of replacing them. You will need to ask your mechanic to check your fuel filter since it is not usually part of an oil service. During this time, it is advised that you have all of the fluids checked. In addition to the ones mentioned above, you will also want to have your automatic transmission and power steering levels looked at. While your mechanic is checking fluids, he should also inspect all of the hoses under your hood. If certain fluids are low there is a reason. A main cause of any fluid loss is a faulty hose. A hole even the size of a pin can cause great distress to your power steering system. Another vital system to check at three months is your exhaust. Exhaust problems not only sound ugly, but can cause serious health issues and decrease your gas mileage. You don’t want to be able to smell any exhaust fumes in the cabin of your auto. If you do, there is an issue that needs immediate attention. Exhaust fumes are toxic and hazardous to your health. Because of this, you should not drive your auto until the repair is made. Making sure that your battery is fully charged and its cables are corrosion-free is another quarterly maintenance check. Most batteries sold today have warranties, and free or prorated replacements are normally offered. One last quarterly check to have your mechanic make is a belt inspection. Older models of vehicles use more than one belt to make the engine operate, while newer cars have only one belt. Regardless of how many your car has, it won’t run if a belt is broken. Your mechanic will look for any cracks or worn spots to determine if a belt needs replacing. A six-month check involves everything discussed above plus a chassis lubrication and wiper blade inspection. If you live in a sunny area where there is not a lot of precipitation, it is advisable to check your wipers more often. They may dry rot due to lack of use. In addition to all of the points already discussed, 12-month maintenance includes a coolant (antifreeze) check, brake inspection, and cleaning or replacement of spark plugs (if your car has them). If you own a high-end luxury vehicle, it may require a bit more maintenance than a mid-priced auto. However, you can also depend on these vehicles to last longer than others. Most luxury automakers pride themselves on the dependability and life of their products. This dependability typically comes with a price. Most repairs made on high-end autos cost more than a repair on a mid-priced one. This is partly due to the fact that their parts can’t be refurbished. This means that the parts can’t be rebuilt and then sold again. It has to be an original manufactured part or it won’t work. This translates into higher prices. Just like any other auto, maintenance on a luxury vehicle depends on how and where it is driven. It is obvious that Grandma’s Lincoln will not require as many trips to the mechanic as Junior’s Corvette will. Find a qualified mechanic to perform auto work. My best advice to you is to talk to friends and see who they use on a regular basis. There is no better advertisement than a repeat and satisfied customer. While looking around, you will also want to make sure that the shop you choose employs mechanics that are ASE (Automotive Service Excellence)-certified. This means that they have completed the courses necessary to become certified in their field. These mechanics take pride in their work and are familiar with the newest repair techniques. They also follow industry standards for how long repairs should take. Many shops display decals or placards with the ASE symbol to let customers know that their employees comply. If you don’t see an ASE symbol displayed at the shop ask the shop manager. Inquire if all of the employees are ASE-certified or just the team leaders and managers. You want to be certain that your car is in the best hands when you leave it for maintenance. If there is a moral to this story, it is: Don’t ignore your vehicle. Treat it just as you do yourself. Have it maintained regularly. This will not only prevent major breakdowns, but will also prolong its life. If your car could talk, it would tell you “thank you very much.” Sources for this story included: www.thepress.net, www.carcare.org, and www.edmunds.com. |
Proactive Routine Maintenance |
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