The Basic Principles Of Effective Auto Repair
If you own a car, you know that auto repairs are a fact of life. If you take the time to learn a little more, you can save a lot of money and unneeded stress. Use the terrific auto repair guidance found in this piece. It will come in handy the next time your car breaks down.
Your car owners manual is actually a valuable guide to the workings of your car. That means that you should not trash it as soon as you leave the dealer. It can tell you everything from what that light on your dash means, to how to perform basic maintenance on your particular model.
If you feel pressured by the garage or dealership you visit to get your car maintained or repaired, do not hesitate to leave. Reliable mechanics will not put any pressure on their customers and will focus on providing quality service. Follow your gut feeling and stay away from the mechanics who do not seem trustworthy.
Learn about your car so you can determine the problem in advance and save money. A bit of money can be saved in this way, and you may stay away from fraudulent people. It's an unfortunate fact that there are dishonest mechanics who will tell you your car has issues when it doesn't.
Follow your car's tune up schedule. Each car is different, and that means each has different needs. A tune up schedule for one will not be the same for another. Look into your car manual for details on a proper tune-up schedule for your model. Otherwise, you could have more problems in the future.
You ought to always have a spare and a jack in the car. Many cars will come with these straight off of the dealership's floor. You never want to be without them, as you could end up having to pay for an expensive tow. It's less of a headache and cheaper to do it by yourself.
Don't get sucked into to the lure of aftermarket parts for new cars. You want your baby to run as well as possible for as long as possible, and that means spending the extra to get parts that match the ones already in your car. Trying to get that clunker to run just a few more miles? Save the money and take the aftermarket versions.
Pay attention to any fluids that pool under you car when parked. Small spots may not mean very much, but take note of what the fluid is. Plain water is usually just condensation that builds up on a car naturally. But bright green or orange fluid is the cooling system. Oily fluids are those like engine oil, or transmission fluid. These are warning signs.
After working on your brakes and prior to a test drive, bleed the brakes. Once done, give the brake fluid a pump. Test to make sure that you don't have any leaks. You are then ready to test drive your car on roads that don't have a lot of traffic. Start slowly so you can make sure your repairs went well.
Listen to your gut. If you bring your car into the shop and the technician doesn't seem to be on the up and up, consider going somewhere else. At the very least, the person probably doesn't care that much about you and your car, and you deserve better service than that.
Keep detailed records of all the repairs you did on your vehicle and ask the previous owners if they can provide you with their records. If you need to have a mechanic diagnose a problem, show them your records. Your mechanic will recognize recurring issues and know not to waste time on parts that have been replaced recently.
Find out about labor rates before you let a mechanic work on your car. You should have your mechanic diagnose the issues and assess how much work will be needed. Make sure you understand how the mechanic will bill you and have a manager give you an estimate of how much labor time is needed instead of trusting a technician who is not responsible for giving quotes.
If your key "sticks" when you put it in the ignition, you will most likely need a new ignition switch as soon as possible. Having your key stick usually indicates that the switch is failing. If that switch is not fixed in a timely fashion, you could get stranded somewhere.
Ask your mechanic if he can wait a few hours for you to think about getting your car fixed after getting a diagnosis and a quote. You can check with other mechanics, or do some research on the Internet to get a better idea of how much it should cost. If there is a cheaper price elsewhere, then you need to go to that shop.
Car problems can become very frustrating. They can also be very costly. Keep reading for some tips on getting your car fixed with minimal damage to your wallet and stress level.