What Are The Most Common Service Problems
A car is an important investment, and next to owning a home, it is probably one of the most important investments you will ever have. With this being the case, it is vital to understand your vehicle and its servicing needs so you can protect your investment.
Many vehicles, no matter the type, manufacturer, or even year, will have common servicing needs that will pop up over the lifetime of the car. By knowing these common ailments, you will be able to identify and fix any problems that may arise.
Check Engine Light
The check engine light is the scourge of the DIY mechanic and, well, for anyone else as well. The reason is that this little light will come on for any number of reasons no matter how minor the problem is. This makes the check engine light really discouraging for those wishing to diagnosis the problem. Many car owners will just ignore the light all together instead of going to a repair garage. As long as the check engine light is not accompanied by other problem lights, strange smells, or odd noises, ignoring it should not cause any further damage. However, you can never be sure of that.
What Are The Driver’s Responsibility When It Comes To Servicing Cars?
As owner of a car, you have certain responsibilities to the vehicle. These responsibilities primarily come with the maintenance and upkeep of the car for the safety of you, your passengers, and other drivers on the road. It is up to you to make sure that your car is in proper working order.
Servicing your car is relatively easy as long as you follow the maintenance guidelines that come with every vehicle. Of course, some repairs are far beyond that of the casual car owners. In instances such as this, you will have to take the car to a repair garage which presents a whole other set of responsibilities.
At Home Service
When performing car repair at home you need to have a rather detailed knowledge of your car and of the standard servicing practices. Many car owners are able to do at least a few of the more standard servicing needs.
Understanding Auto Repair Abbreviations
Like any specialized field, auto repair has its own unique set of abbreviations. Used by professionals, the abbreviations can seem to create a completely different language. This can be frustrating for car owners who may not understand what’s being said and who find themselves too embarrassed to ask questions on their meaning.
While you should always ask any question that pops in your head especially when dealing with something as important as auto repair, you can ease the embarrassment by studying up on some of the more common auto repair abbreviations.
Now many car owners will encounter only specific abbreviations, usually ones dealing with parts. These abbreviations will probably be used when discussing the replacement of damaged items of your car and may even show up on your bill.
OEM- Original Equipment Manufacturer. This simply means that the part is certified new by the manufacturer of the car. This is important for those owners wanting only new parts and that need an assurance of that fact.
Understand Your Warranty Concerning Car Repair. What Does It Cover?
Car warranties are as different as the type of cars they are meant to cover. So it is important to understand what the warranty covers and what it does not. Too often, car owners neglect reading their warranties until they find themselves needing it. When this happens, many car owners find that the warranty has expired or does not cover the system or part in need of repair.
It is not surprising that car owners are guilty of doing this. Warranties can be confusing, especially car warranties which intimidates owners who would rather wait and see if they need it rather then being proactive.
That car warranty is very important and by understanding what is covered and what is not owners can save themselves some time and money. The car warranty is in place to cover any auto repair that may happen within a set amount of time.
Usually the length of the warranty will be expressed like this:
Servicing Hybrid Cars
In an effort to help protect Mother Nature, and to offset rising fuel cost, hybrid cars are becoming more and more popular. With so many drivers switching over to these environmentally friendly vehicles issues are beginning to arise not only with owners, but with mechanics and garages as well. These issues center on the servicing of the cars which can be so different yet similar to the more traditional fuel based vehicles.
Many garages are training their mechanics to deal with hybrids and how to properly service them. However, many owners may still be unsure how to handle the hybrid’s unique needs when it comes to maintenance. This is why owners and potential owners of hybrid cars should look into the servicing needs of their new cars.
Before, with the traditional vehicles, owners were able to do many of the more routine maintenance in their own home garage. Changing the oil, checking the break pads and replacing the battery were common enough occurrences and posed little risk. Hybrid cars on the other hand are a whole different story and many do it yourselfers are better to let experienced and trained professionals take a look at their vehicles. Often mishandling of the Hybrid car’s engine components can lead to serious if not fatal accidents.
Now the reason for this is that the Hybrid is more than an internal combustion engine, it is houses a complex electrical system that many, including seasoned mechanics, are just not aware of. It is this high voltage and power system that many are finding problematic when service on the car is required.
Repairing With New VS Old Parts
Car repair is never an easy or even affordable event to go through. More then likely that damaged car is the only source of transportation you have so this can be especially frustrating. You will be faced with many decisions as you strive to get your beloved car serviced and one of those will be using new parts or old parts.
While you may want to jump to the new and shiny equipment first, a comparison should really be made. Often times, going with something else will save you hundreds of dollars while providing the same, if not better performance. First, let us take a look at these “new parts”
Original Equipment Material or OEM is used far more often by mechanics instead of just saying new parts. OEM parts and equipment are not necessarily built by the company that constructed the car, but by the company that created the parts in that car. Many find OEMs preferable without giving any real thought to why. Often times, Aftermarket equipment will run far less then OEMs in price range and may even provide a higher quality product. Aftermarket materials are created by other companies and are still considered new.
On the other hand, “old” parts and material will be much more affordable then either OEMs or Aftermarkets but due to the stigma attached to these parts they are overlooked or rejected. These old parts are recycled or remanufactured from previously owned vehicles. These parts and materials are called Like Kind Quality, or LKQs. The LKQs will come from a vehicle that is the same year, model, and make as yours and have the same quality as OEMs. The only difference between this and other types are that LKQs are not new and have been previously used and restored. Since LKQs were previously owned and used there may be minor visual blemishes or differences.
How To Avoid Repair Rip-offs
Let’s face it, not everyone is as honest as we would like. What’s more, those individuals who are in a position to have trust them blindly are often the ones to lie to us so boldly. Now, this isn’t to say that everyone is a liar and a thief, but it pays to be cautious.
When it comes to car repairs, many new drivers or those inexperienced in dealing with garages will find the entire process frustrating and even confusing. Mechanics will often assume that drivers will know the components of their cars and how it all goes together. Doctors are often guilty of this as well. In most cases, the mechanic is not attempting to rip the vehicle owner off, to them it is common knowledge and sometimes they do forget that not everyone is as well versed as they are.
However, there a hand full of unscrupulous repair shops that uses such talk to their advantage. When you place your car in the care of a repair shop you have no choice but to take their word as gospel concerning your car. After all, they are in a position of authority and are trained in car repair. Knowing this shady mechanics will use fast talk and technical terms to their advantage to charge you for items that you either did not need or that simply do not exist.
That is why having even a rudimentary knowledge about your car is so important. Many automobile types will have common ailments which you can easily search for online. Other car repairs are common for all types and are usually the result of the same problem. This way you can, hopefully, spot when an unscrupulous mechanic is trying to take you for a ride.
How Does Servicing A Car Affect The Resale Value?
Resale value is a very important factor for many car owners. Many car owners do not plan to own just one vehicle throughout their entire lifetime. Often times, an owner will keep a car for a year or two, or until the car loan is paid off and then trade in that vehicle for something new. Resale values effect trade-ins as well as traditional sales.
Many factors affect the resale value. For one, the resale value of the car diminishes as soon as you drive it off the lot. This is unavoidable and owners will try to offset that loss by cosmetic improvements and changes. Another factor that may or may not be unavoidable is accidents.
The diminished value due to a car accident varies car to car all due to the damage incurred. There are several reasons why an accident diminishes the car’s value; the most obvious is the damage. Of course, if the owner does not repair the exterior and the interior damage of the vehicle it will not be nearly as much as it was once worth. However, should the owner have the car in for servicing they may be in for a shock.
After an accident, the car will loose considerable amount of its resale value. Even if the owner or the Insurance company pays for top of the line parts for the car repair. This is because future buyers will see that accident as a black mark and even though everything was repaired, they will still be very wary of it.
What Is The Value Of An Extended Warranty?
There are several vital questions that arise when one goes out to purchase a new car and though the dilemma of fuel consumption and leather interior is easily solved, potential buyers are usually stumped when the subject of extended warranty arises. The extended warranty will come up during the paperwork phase of any car purchase as the subject usually causes trepidation while still standing in the lot itself next to that ‘must-have’ car. The value of any extended warranty primarily depends upon the value the buyer puts into it. There are a few considerations to think about before agreeing to that extended warranty that will ultimately result in how much the extended warranty will really mean down the road.
An extended warranty can mean a lot, or very little depending upon what kind of car and how often the purchaser uses it. Research is the key in deciding if, at all, an extended warranty will be needed. Essentially, an extended warranty offers coverage after the initial manufacturers warranty expires. An extended warranty includes repair coverage for items such as the transmission and even smaller issues involving windows or doors. It is important to consider how long the car will remain in the ownership of the purchaser and for what use the car will be used for. It may not be a good idea to buy an extended warranty if the car will be traded in for a newer model in a few short years. However, if the purchaser is going to rely on the car for several years the peace of mind that an extended warranty will provide will be the way to go. Know what is covered with the extended warranty and understand what common mechanical issues the car may encounter. If the model of the car has been known to have trouble with the transmission, make sure the extended warranty covers any transmission problems. Some extended warranties dictate that the purchaser will be charged per visit or per issue a fixed rate and that only the original dealership or an outside mechanic can look at the car for the visit to be covered so be aware of this as well.
An extended warranty does not have to be bought at the dealership. Since this warranty goes into effect after the initial warranty expires, it can be bought afterwards at the same dealership that sold the car or at another dealership. One of the only benefits of buying an extended warranty at the dealership as the car is being purchased is that the dealership may include the extended warranty in the financing. Other than that, the extended warranty can be put off until a later date and depending upon the time frame or the mileage the surcharge may be waived depending upon the make, model and car dealership.
Home Maintenance Tips: What Should You Do To Keep Your Car In Working Order
It is surprising how many car owners allow their vehicles to fall into disrepair even though the car is their only mode of transportation, as well as a huge purchase. Being neglectful of the car causes some rather large problems and often times results in the purchase of a new one as repairs can get far too costly. Keeping the car, not just in working order, but in good working order, is just plain smart and healthy for all parties involved.
The thing is, a car that runs well is just a smart idea. The potential for accidents, breakdowns, and major mechanical failure is drastically reduced when the car is in good condition. Not only is this so, but a car in good condition easy on the eyes, ears, and the passengers. Simply put, a car that is sputtering and vibrating is far less desirable than one with a smooth ride and a quiet purr. The task of maintaining the car in good working order may seem a daunting one, but most of it is just common sense and practical steps that any owner should implement.
The first step is done even before the car is in your possession. Buy a car that has a record for reliability and dependability. Understand that all cars are not created equal and if you have specialized needs and performance requirements, purchase a car that can meet or exceed these. Research and ask questions before putting down the money for that car. A car with a good record will pretty much guarantee, but not all the time, that few repairs will be needed as long as the car is kept tuned and in check which brings us to another way to keep the car running well.
Service the car as often as required or as needed. Whenever a problem does arise do not hesitate in taking care of the problem. Some issues can be addressed by the owner while some, unfortunately, need the attention of a mechanic. The Owner’s Manual is a great resource that allows you to know when and what needs to be replaced or looked at.