Things You Need to Know About Your Car

It's no secret that vehicle *maintenance* is cheaper than vehicle *repairs*. Without proper maintenance of the vehicle, a car will quickly start to break down and start to suffer from mechanical issues. Moreover, neglecting your car can affect your personal safety, your passenger's personal safety, and the safety of other motorists on the road.

Some questions to ask yourself:

Do you change your oil at least every 5000-6000 miles? Are you checking your air filter and PVC valve at this time, to make sure they are still in good condition?

Do you use a gas treatment with every oil change, such as Valvoline synthetic fuel system cleaner? (Add it on your next fill-up, put the additive in then fill-up the vehicle.)

Are you changing your transmission fluid (and filter) at least every 30,000 miles, or as your manufacturer recommends?

Do you change your fuel filter every 15,000 miles, or when your manufacturer recommends?

Do you change your spark plugs every 40,000 miles, or when the manufacturer recommends? (Platinum plugs should last 100,000 miles, so check manufacturer guidelines on this.)

Do you check your plug wires to make sure they are still in good condition? (There should be no cracks in the rubber, with the metal tips still in good condition.)

Do you have your shock, struts, tie-rods, cv-joints, and springs checked at least once a year? (Most places offer this service free.)

Have you checked your charging system in the fall to make sure your alternator and battery are still in good standing before winter?

Have you changed the timing belt at about 90,000-100,000 miles? (Many of these belts don't last long after 100,000 miles, and you will be in a WORLD OF TROUBLE if that belt snaps, and it causes your engine to cease. Much better to pay to replace the timing belt, rather than pay for new valves, or worse, a whole new or rebuilt engine.)

Do you put your vehicle put on a diagnostic machine once a year? (This normally costs about $40.)

Have you checked your tire pressure every month?

Have you checked your belts and hoses every three months to make sure they don't have any cracks, and are still in good condition?

Have you had your brakes and braking system checked at least once a year, to make sure they still have decent pad on them and everything is working properly? (Again, many places offer this service free.)

Do you rotate your tires about every 6000 miles, or when your manufacturer recommends? (Hydroplaning begins at 5/32" of tire tread or less, and at 2/32" the tires are VERY dangerous.)

And speaking of tires, the most important part of your vehicle:

Do you check for any bubbles, cuts, divots, etc. in the sidewall (where the letters are)? (If there are noticeable cuts or divots, the tire should be replaced.)

Are you checking to see if the sidewall showing signs of cracking? Does the rubber appear to have lines from age? (You may want to turn the steering wheel to get a view of the tread.)

Do you check the tread to make sure that it's even all the way around? (Uneven tread may be caused by a problem in suspension parts and/or alignment wear. Get the front end inspected and have the alignment checked. Depending upon the severity of the wear, the tires may need to be replaced.)

Do you check to see if the tread bar indicators (small rubber pieces that extend above 2/32") are showing? (If so, the tires are dangerous. Replace them.)

Do the tires appear cupped (random "bumps" in the tread)? (This may be an indication of your car bouncing on the road. Have the shocks/struts checked and/or replaced.)

Best ways to waste money on your car:

• 3000 mile oil changes.
• Changing your antifreeze every winter.
• Going to any old repair shop.
• Letting a brake squeal turn into a brake job.
• Not changing the fuel filter.
• Not keeping records.
• Not keeping your tires properly inflated.
• Not replacing your air filter and wiper blades yourself.
• Premium gas instead of regular.
• Replacing tires when you should be replacing shocks.
• Using a dealer for major services.
• Using a dealer for oil changes.
• Using the dealer’s maintenance schedule instead of the factory’s.

Keep the actual cost of these parts in mind when considering a $59.95 tune-up at the shop (even more at the dealership):

• Spark plugs - $1.28 each
• Rotor cap - $5.00
• Air filter - $ 10.00
• Distributor cap - $15.00
• Spark plug wires - $ 20.00

Check with your local Better Business Bureau to get the lowdown on a specific auto body shop. There's a reason why the auto body industry gets the worst ratings for customer satisfaction. Just being "ASE Certified" (Automotive Service Excellence) is not enough.