Automobile Service and Repairs Keep Your Vehicle on the Road

Your vehicle was likely a pretty big investment, expert automobile service and repair can help to protect that investment. When you have access to expert automobile service and repair it can extend the life of your vehicle, and ensure that you have the reliable transportation that you deserve.

Every vehicle manufacturer has a suggested service schedule for each vehicle, following those recommendations can be cost savings. The right car care center can help you to maintain your vehicle to avoid costly break downs. Learning more about what type of automobile service and repair is available can help you to better care for your car.

What Type of Service Should You Be Getting Regularly?

If you are new to vehicle ownership you likely know that before you put your car on the road you will need auto insurance but you may not know what type of service you need regularly to help protect your vehicle.

There is a list of suggested vehicle services that you should have done regularly that are critical. For example, regular oil changes are an absolute necessity to avoid engine replacement. Some manufacturers recommend oil changes every 5000 miles, while some recommend you change your oil every 3000 miles. Get to know what your manufacturer recommends than stick to the schedule.

Other regular service activities at specific prescribed intervals include:

• Replacing tires
• Transmission care
• Cooling system care

Brakes, tires, and alignment restoration are common maintenance needs. Transmission tune-ups, engine tune-ups, and cooling system care are also common maintenance needs. However, these service activities are spread out, and some are a far less frequent need than others.

Working close with a trusted automobile service and repair shop can ensure that you are on time with all of your service needs. The right shop will help to keep you on schedule and provide you with inspection services to identify needed repairs before problems set in.

How Can You Save On Automobile Service and Repair?

There are ways to save on both automobile service and repair. The easiest way to keep costs under control is to make sure you are following your manufacturers suggest service schedule. Neglecting service can put undue wear and tear on your vehicle and cause breakdowns.

Some unexpected costs like windshield repair may be covered by your auto insurance plan. Some auto insurance plans will cover things like windshield repair or replacement, others will not. Check your policy or call your agent to find out if your plan covers this type of repair. Of course, any time you need this type of repair, shop around and compare pricing, it can vary widely.

As your vehicle ages past your warranty period you may find that your car’s more expensive parts start to fail. Depending on the age of your vehicle you can consider using used car motor parts for repairs.

Fully refurbished used car parts, can be tremendous savings, and often have plenty of life left in them. Some examples are:

• Alternators
• Water pumps
• Radiators

If your vehicle is over 10 years old it can be a much better deal to buy used auto parts for repairs. Of course, you will have to check with your mechanic to see how that will affect their labor warranty. Some mechanics do not feel comfortable using refurbished or used parts others do not mind.

How else can you save on automobile service and repair? Take advantage of any coupons, discounts, or specials that are being run at your local mechanic. For example, if you are just about due for an oil change and there is a special out there on oil changes, go ahead and get it done, even if you are a little early.

Form a relationship with a local shop that can get to know your vehicle so that they can quickly diagnosis it if there is an issue. Don’t be afraid to ask if there are any discounts available or if there are any ways to save on the repairs.

Having a good relationship with a trusted mechanic can help you to save money and get the services and repairs that you can depend on. You must have an expert on your side that can help you care for your vehicle. Forging that relationship can be one of the best ways to find the savings that you need.

Non-Mechanical Repairs

Not all repairs have to do with the mechanics of your vehicle, some repairs have to do with the body of your vehicle. After an auto accident, the type of automobile service and repair services that you need can include collision repair.

Luckily with the right car accident lawyer on your side, the cost of the repairs should not be charged to you. Everything from the towing service to body repairs should be covered by your insurance company, minus your deductible of course.

Body “work” is a type of automobile service and repair that restores your vehicle to like-new condition after the body of your vehicle is damaged. These type of repairs can include dent repair to get out minor dings and dents.

When you have to have these types of automobile service and repair, you take it to a specialty shop. Typically mechanics do not provide this type of automobile service and repair. Bodywork takes specialized equipment and a special skill set.

Body shops have special equipment that can ensure that the repairs are undetectable. While insurance companies do cover most of the costs of this type of automobile service and repair, some services are elective and will not be covered by your insurance company.

A good example is a new paint job. If you choose to change the color of your vehicle or repair fading paint, that will have to come out of your pocket. Typically, body repairs that are covered through your insurance company will be the result of vandalism, theft, or an accident. Your insurance will not cover the things that you choose to have done to improve the aesthetic of your vehicle.

Some bodywork can be vital to the safety of your vehicle. For example, a loose mud flap can quickly become a road hazard to you and other drivers. Faulty fenders, broken glass, any part of the vehicle body that is loose or damaged can be a danger and should be addressed.

How Can You Do Your Part

An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure when it comes to keeping your vehicle on the road and reliable. Expert automobile service and repair is only part of the equation when it comes to preventing some of the most common automobile problems.

Around 6 million cars are sold in the US each year, and it is estimated that about 40% of those vehicles do not get the care that they need. You do not want to be in that 40%. Of course, professional automobile service and repair is vital to the health of your car but there are things you should be doing as well to protect your investment.

Some of the things that you can do to protect your vehicle are pretty simple, other things do require a bit of effort on your part. Let’s take a look at what you can do to protect your vehicle and prevent problems.

Let’s start with the exterior of your vehicle. Keeping your vehicle clean can be an easy way to protect the paint on your vehicle. Your vehicle is exposed to pollutants and other debris that can wear away the finish on your vehicle. Going through a brushless car wash at least once a week can help to preserve the paint and the coating.

You do want to be careful with the type of cleaning agents that you use. Anything to caustic can be damaging to your vehicle. Clean windows, tires, and other areas with cleaning agents that are made specifically for automotive use. While you are cleaning things up you can do a brief inspection to see if any damage or issues need to be addressed. Acting quickly to get any repairs done will ensure that the problem does not get any worse.

If you have a garage use it to keep your vehicle stored it can help to preserve the exterior of your vehicle. A lot of people use their garage for household storage while their vehicle sits in the driveway in the elements. Sun, rain, snow, and ice can all wear away your vehicle’s exterior finish prematurely.

The interior of your vehicle should also be cleaned and vacuumed at least once a week to keep it in top condition. If you have leather seats use a special leather cleaner and conditioner made for automotive use.

Keep your driveway in top condition by considering driveway seal coating. A bumpy driveway with potholes is not good for your vehicle and can result in suspension damage, wheel damage, and tire damage. It can be worth the investment to have your driveway repaired and maintained to protect your vehicle. Of course, it is also good for the aesthetics of your home.

Here are some other things you should do to protect your vehicle and keep automobile service and repair costs down:

• Don’t wait on automobile service and repair. It can be a hassle to take your vehicle in as soon as you notice that funny sound, especially when it seems to be doing okay, but it can be one of the best ways to protect your vehicle. After driving your vehicle for a little while, you will get used to the sounds that it makes. A “funny” noise can be the first sign that your vehicle is in trouble. Don’t ignore funny noises or you may wind up broken down on the side of the road. The sooner you get the automobile service and repair that you need the better.
• Check out your vehicle regularly to get familiar with it. Check your oil, transmission fluid, windshield wiper fluid, and other fluids in between regularly scheduled automobile service and repair appointments. The outside temperature can affect how these fluids evaporate and are used by your vehicle. Get familiar with what to look for and how to check your fluids to ensure that you do not run low or even worse run out.
• Be sure not to void your manufacturer’s warranty. Get familiar with your manufacturer’s warranty information. Some modifications can void the warranty and leave you holding the bag if something goes wrong. Before you make any modifications sure that those modifications do not interfere you’re your warranty coverage.

Vehicle ownership takes some work, but of course, the effort is well worth it. Having reliable transportation is critical to most people’s lifestyles. Doing your part to keep your vehicle up and running is important.

Minimizing Damage

One of the key ways to ensure that your vehicle stays on the road and reliable is to address issues before they have time to spread. For example, a vehicle that “runs hot” likely has a problem with the coolant system, like a leaky hose. This can be a very affordable fix, but when it is not fixed, it can cause expensive engine damage.

Every system in your vehicle is designed to work with another system. When you neglect automobile service and repair, the minimal system problem can easily affect other systems, which can turn into very costly problems.

If your vehicle seems to be having issues, and you cannot afford to fix the problem right now, continuing to drive it will only drive up the cost of repairs. Either park the vehicle until you can afford the simple less costly repairs or consider figuring out how to raise the funds for the repairs.

You must take the steps to minimize further damage to your vehicle. Of course, if you get on board with regularly scheduled automobile service and repair options, you can avoid most of the major vehicle problems. It is always best to make repairs for faulty parts on your terms. The right shop can help you to monitor things like belts, brakes, hoses, and more and replace them before they completely fail.

Taking care of your vehicle with preventive practices, and addressing issues as soon as they crop up is the best way to keep your vehicle on the road and avoid those high-cost repairs.