Your vehicle is an important possession and you should take good care of it. You might not know as much about cars as you’d like to know. This article is intended to help provide a little more confidence in your abilities and teach you the basics of simple auto-maintenance.
Referrals can be helpful for finding an auto mechanic. Ask the people you know and trust who they take their vehicles to. Ask about the quality of the work, what it cost and what perks were offered. Avoid the mechanics who overcharged your friends or were not honest with them.
Go over your owner’s manual and dog ear the most useful pages. When you do have to deal with a mechanic, you can show him the copy of the manual, which can help him. What you think may be an issue, may not be at all according to the manual.
Keep your car records on hand. It is a good idea to leave these in the glove compartment because you never know when your car has to go to the shop suddenly. Any mechanic who works on your car is going to want to see them. They help them figure out what’s wrong quickly.
Each time you get your vehicle repaired, no matter what the reason, be sure you have a record of it. If you have more problems later, other mechanics can decipher why. If you do not have the records, you might end up paying more for the mechanic to poke around trying to find the source of the trouble.
Do not leave any items in your vehicle if you are taking it to be repaired. Your personal items can get in the mechanics way, and they may have to move them. Everything needs to be taken out of your trunk too.
Before you bring your car to a repair shop, try to determine what is wrong with your car. Identifying the problem yourself can save you some money, and it can prevent you from being taken by a dishonest mechanic. Unreliable mechanics might lie about the issue so they can charge you for additional repairs.
Understand the risks involved with DIY auto repairs. Don’t ever do repairs alone. If you buy good quality tools, they will last a long time. This is very true for things such as tire changing tools. The jack must hold the vehicle securely and safely. Do you really want to get under your car with a poorly made or faulty jack? A hydraulic floor jack featuring approved stands is best for these situations.
Whenever you fill your gas tank, check the pressure of your tires. Closely inspect your tires to ensure nothing is wrong with them. It is important to get your tires fixed right away if there is something wrong. Don’t drive with bad tires on your car.
Don’t believe a mechanic who tries to tell you that you need to get your engine flushed as a part of a routine maintenance. This service is costly, and it is not really needed unless you haven’t been taking good care of your engine.
If someone claims the parts they sell last a lifetime, run away. This is usually a ploy to get more money from you. A good example of this is transmission fluid that has a “lifetime guarantee”. This does not mean you never have to change your fluids. They should still be changed at least every 80,000 miles.
OEM is the Manufacturer’s Original Equipment. Ask for OEM parts if you need some new parts for your vehicle. When you tell your mechanic that OEM parts are what you want, you sound like you have some knowledge. They will be less likely to place used parts in your automobile.
Going to the dealership can be costly, however it is usually the best option. Service technicians at dealerships tend to specialize in your make and model. They have rapid diagnostic tools and are used to handling common problems with your specific vehicle. They also stay up to date with training.
As this article said to you before, you really must be sure to take care of your vehicle. Even if you only learn to do a few easy maintenance tasks, you can save a lot compared to what a mechanic would charge you. Use the tips here and keep them in mind when your car acts strangely or you are worried about a minor problem with your car.