If you own a car, you know how annoying car troubles are. You have the choice of spending a lot for a to a mechanic to fix it or expend lots of time and energy doing the work yourself. Both of these strategies can be extremely frustrating; however, it is possible to reduce this frustration by utilizing the strategies found in the article below.
Check out your mechanic to see if he is A.S.E. certified before allowing him to do any work on your vehicle. That means the technician has more than two years of experience and passed a test. That way, you can have the best mechanics working on your car.
Prior to handing over your keys, be sure you have a good idea of the repair cost. If something is not clear, clarify it with the service adviser or mechanic before starting any repair on the car. Don’t be surprised with extra costs when the car has been fixed.
Get your car washed often to keep rust at bay. Although all cars rust at some point in time, it is possible to delay this from occurring by washing off salt and chemicals immediately. Wax your car often to protect the paint, as often as you can.
A great way to get a good mechanic is by asking around. You can ask anyone you trust, from your hairdresser to your family. You can gain information about prices and level of quality. Avoid the mechanics who overcharged your friends or were not honest with them.
Keep on hand all of your car’s documentation. It’s wise to keep them in your glove compartment in case you need to go to a auto repair shop on the fly. Mechanics may want to see these records. This will help to diagnose any problems.
Once a repair shop has finished with your car, go on a quick spin to make sure things are working properly. A lot of people don’t try to drive their car first and they figure out the hard way that it wasn’t repaired later on.
Spare Tire
Keep a spare tire and jack handy at all times. The majority of new cars have them automatically. Being stuck without a spare tire and jack means you will have to get your car towed. You can save a lot by doing it yourself.
It can be very dangerous to fix your own car. Don’t ever do repairs alone. Buy quality tools that are durable and reliable. This holds true particularly in the case of the tools needed for changing tires. The jack has to be strong enough to keep the car secure above you. That’s why sometimes it’s best to get a hydraulic jack that comes with jack stands that are approved.
You should check the tire pressure when you go to the gas station. Check the tires to ensure nothing has become lodged within them. If you see anything wrong with them, get the problem fixed right away. Do not take a chance by driving on damaged tires.
Self diagnosing complex problems with your vehicle is probably something you shouldn’t attempt. Be aware that you aren’t a car mechanic! Modern cars include complex computer systems, and problems that were simple in the past are no longer so easy to fix. Leave the diagnosing to your auto repair shop. Be sure that you give them all the details, such as what you heard or what occurred. By doing this, a more accurate diagnosis can be made.
There are many some unscrupulous auto body shops out there that will remove your tires and replace them with older ones. This is a quick way for them to make a profit and take advantage of you. Marking your tires with chalk before taking the tires to be rotated is a good idea. After the repair is complete, check to see that the chalk is still on your tires.
Problems seem to crop up only when the car is left with a mechanic. They often try to make you think you’re getting a great deal. Tell them you have to think about it before accepting the deal.
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. Remember this when replacing parts on your car. If you ask for OEM parts, it will look like you know what you’re talking about. Your mechanic will not try using second hand parts if you ask for OEM parts.
Have a plastic accordion file to put all auto repair receipts inside. File them by work done, or timeline order. You need a record of the car’s maintenance so you can give it to mechanics later. This information should be very valuable to you.
Written Estimate
If a mechanic hesitates about giving you a written estimate, do not use him. The written estimate will serve as proof if something goes awry.
Do not add water to the compartment for windshield washer fluid. Using water in place of windshield washing solution can damage your car’s entire window cleaning system. Check the windshield washer compartment regularly and refill it as needed. Don’t just wait for your compartment to be all of the way empty.
When you are asking for a quote from an auto shop, get them to separate the cost of the parts from the labor costs. This will help you compare estimates from two shops. It’s likely that the actual parts will not vary greatly in price, but the labor might.
Winter can really damage a car’s interior, so use heavy-duty, rubber mats for protecting the carpet. These mats will be able to protect your interior from dirt, mud, salt and any other harmful debris. These mats can benefit your car significantly during the winter.
You can make car repairs less stressful. With these tips in hand, your next auto repair experience won’t be so bad. You are going to be very pleased with the results.