If you regularly drive a vehicle, you must understand quality auto repair fundamentals. Unfortunately, this is not legally required, so most people never learn these basics. This article is filled with tips that will help you take good care of your vehicle over the years.
Verify that any prospective mechanic has earned an A.S.E. certification. Mechanics can obtain the ASE certification by taking a test and having more than two years of experience. That means only the best will work on your car.
Buy a good battery charger to keep in the car. Dead batteries happen more often than you imagine, and you can help other people if you take a battery charger along in your vehicle. Make sure you learn the points on your car where the battery charger should be connected.
Know what the repair is going to cost you before handing over your keys. If a certain cost confuses you, don’t hesitate to clear this up with the mechanic before allowing him or her to make repairs to your vehicle. Being hit with additional fees is something that you don’t want to be surprised with.
Look for online reviews about your chosen body shop. This will speak volumes about their customer service abilities and their skill in solving issues. This information is useful as you search for the right shop for your needs.
When you are shopping for a repair shop, take into consideration whether they have worked on the same type of car as yours. If they have before, then they are likely going to be able to also fix your car easily enough.
Ask your mechanic if he’s worked on a vehicle similar to yours. There are many similarities between vehicles but some issues are specific to certain makes and models. If you don’t know, make sure you go to the dealer and pay them the extra money.
You may not be a mechanic, but your trunk should always have a spare tire and a jack at the very least. They are usually included when you buy a car. You’re not going to want to be paying money for being rescued by a tow truck after finding yourself stuck. It is cheaper and easier when you do it on your own.
To prevent your car from getting rusty, wash it consistently. Salt and other harmful chemicals will speed up the rusting process. If you want to avoid rust at all costs, do your best to clean the car thoroughly after contact with these substances. Utilize quality waxes to keep the paint looking new.
If you’re having serious repairs done on your vehicle, make sure to get multiple estimates. Most shops are on the up and up, but some will charge you for things that aren’t necessary. Seek out shops that are reputable and are good with your vehicle’s make and model. These types of shops will give you the best bang for your buck.
Pay attention to the condition of your car’s wiper blades. If you see that the wipers aren’t cleaning effectively, a new pair is in your future. Get new wipers blades yearly or on a more regular basis if there is often rain or snow where you live.
Keep a record of all the repairs you make on your vehicle. If you have problems later, these records can come in handy. Your car problems may be harder to find and you may have higher repair costs without the records.
Know what all the lights stand for on your dashboard and be aware of when they go off. They are located there to assist you, so use them to your advantage. If you ignore them, the problem can get worse.
Road Salt
Test out your car before paying for its repairs. A lot of people do not do this; therefore, they wind up with the same issues that existed before taking their car to the shop.
Washing your car during the winter is important to keep road salt and sand from doing corrosive damage Although you may feel like the car just gets dirty again right after cleaning it, the winter weather is harsh on your vehicle. Road salt and sand cause rust and abrasion. Take care to dry your vehicle before driving it again. You wouldn’t want ice to form.
Consider taking pictures of all areas of your vehicle before you bring it in to be repaired at an auto body shop. A lot of shops aren’t going to strip things out of your vehicle, but some will if they are trying to make more money. Be safe rather than sorry.
Make sure that you specifically request OEM parts. OEM parts means that part was produced by the manufacturer specifically for your make and model of vehicle. Generic parts might be cheaper, but they may not be good enough quality. Though you may think you are getting a deal with generic parts, in the long run, you will end up paying double than you would have if you had gotten OEM parts.
There are a few shady automotive repair shops who will replace your existing tires with old ones. They will profit off of your ignorance if they can. Prior to going there, you should put chalk on the tires so they’re marked. This can help you see if your tires have been properly rotated or switched out for older tires.
Don’t trust any claims that a part will last you a lifetime. Often, that’s their way of getting more money out of you. As an example, some vehicles come with transmission fluid marked as “lifetime”. While it’s not changed as much as typical fluid, it must be changed around every 80,000 miles.
If you do not have headlights that are shining bright enough, you may need to clean them. The roads you drive on sometimes contain greasy residues, which can get on your lights. Therefore, this will reduce the brightness of your lights. Wash them with a good glass cleaner and see as well as you should.
When you own a car, you need to make sure that it is always in good working order. Sadly, people don’t understand how to keep their car in great shape. Study the tips in this article and apply what you learn to avoid future car repair problems.