How to Be a Better Auto Owner
Most auto owners are in similar predicaments. When you first purchased your vehicle, you vowed to keep it in mint condition. As the years have gone by, however, maintaining your vehicle gets pushed further down your list of priorities. Now, you know you’re not maintaining your vehicle as you should, but you don’t know where to begin!
Keeping close tabs on your vehicle’s maintenance and condition can not only give you peace of mind of knowing you’ve done your part to prevent breakdowns – they can also significantly extend the lifetime of your vehicle. A well maintained vehicle is likely to run well past the expected lifetime indicated by the manufacturer.
Modern cars, light trucks and SUVs are equipped with technology that is lightyears beyond last decade’s vehicles. Digital dashboards, oxygen sensors, electronic computers and unibody construction help today’s vehicles run better, longer and more efficiently than yesterday’s autos. The need for routine maintenance, however, hasn’t changed.
Whether your vehicle was made in 1970 or 2010, the following tips will help you to become a better vehicle owner.
Do your homework. Before bringing your vehicle in for repairs or service, read the owner’s manual to learn about the systems, components and maintenance requirements which are unique to your vehicle. Use the manual to learn your vehicle’s recommended maintenance schedules. Knowing this information will help you make more informed decisions when discussing maintenance or repairs with an auto technician.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to keep a log of all past repairs and services performed on the vehicle. Just as doctors rely on medical histories of their patients, auto technicians rely on past service information to guide their maintenance and repair recommendations. Having this information readily accessible will help you receive more accurate service.
Listen to your car. You know your vehicle better than anyone else, so you’re the one best equipped to tell whether or not something is amiss. More often than not, vehicles provide warning signals of some kind or another before they break down, so don’t ignore irregularities in sound or performance. During your everyday driving routine, pay attention to the following:
unusual sounds, smells, drips, leaks, smoke, warning lights or gauge reading
change in acceleration speed, engine performance, gas mileage or fluid levels
worn tires, belts or hoses
problems with handling, braking or steering
excessive vibrations and/or road noise.
Communicate thoroughly with your auto service provider. The more you can tell us about what is wrong with your car, the easier it will be for us to locate and fix the problem. Bring a written list of symptoms with you to your auto appointment, and be prepared to answer the following questions:
is the problem constant or periodic?
does it occur when the vehicle is cold, or after the engine has warmed?
does it happen at all speeds or only under certain circumstances, such as acceleration, braking or shifting?
when did the problem first begin?
Resist the urge to suggest a specific course of action (this is especially true for men!). Would you recommend a form of treatment to your physician? Just as you would with a medical doctor, tell us where it hurts and how long it’s been that way, then let your auto technician make a diagnosis and recommend treatment.
Ask questions. At Muskegon Brake, our philosophy is that an educated customer is the best kind of customer. It’s important that you understand the basics of how your vehicle works, what its problems are and how they will be fixed. Being educated about your auto’s systems and needs allows you to make more educated decisions – decisions that are right for you.
Ask the technician. Ask as many questions as you need, and be sure to ask for clarification or lay definitions if there’s something you don’t understand. Don’t rush your technician to make a diagnosis on the spot; accurate diagnoses usually take time, so be patient, and if necessary, wait for the technician to call you and discuss his or her findings with you (so be sure to leave your phone number).
Last but not least, be sure to clarify costs so there aren’t any surprises down the road. Before you leave, be sure you understand shop policies on labor rates, guarantees and methods of payment.
