Best Money Saving Articles Online

Understanding The Operation Of Your Car’s Alternator

Oct 8, 2009 More Saving

Imagine this scenario: it’s raining outside. You’re leaving the office after a hard day and are looking forward to arriving at home. You climb into your car and crank the engine. Within a few minutes, you’re on the highway with a 30-minute trip ahead of you. The radio is keeping you company while the heater warms the cab. Fifteen minutes into your drive home, your radio begins to cut out. Soon, the heater also becomes cranky. With several miles to go, your headlights begin to dim. Before long, your engine has died. You’re still miles from home and the rain has only worsened. These are the signs of a dying alternator.

Even though this component receives little attention, it is one of the hardest-working parts under the hood. Below, I’ll explain how it works and a few factors that can end its life. I’ll also provide a few tips for finding a replacement.

How The Component Works

Most people believe the electricity that powers their vehicle comes solely from the battery. In truth, the alternator creates the electricity. It’s a common misconception, especially given that this part works so closely with the battery to produce power. While you’re driving, it keeps the battery charged so it can deliver power throughout your car. It is in constant operation. If it dies, so too, does your battery. This is why parts and systems, such as your heater, radio, headlights, and engine eventually stop working.

When Things Go Wrong

Your vehicle’s alternator is comprised of several moving parts. That makes the entire assembly vulnerable to the buildup of debris, which in turn can lead to heat, stress, and ultimately, failure. For example, the needle bearings (part of the rotor) can break down from excess heat. When this happens, you might hear a grinding sound. The alternator can also fail if you attempt to jump-start your battery after it has completely lost its charge.

In some cases, this component can start to overcharge or undercharge the system. If the system is overcharged, you’ll notice your lights failing suddenly rather than dimming. If the system is undercharged, your lights will dim, your engine will start to miss (or be sluggish when you’re cranking it), and you’ll eventually hear a fast-paced machine gun sound.

The only way to fix the problem is to buy a replacement.

Finding A Budget-Friendly Replacement

The cost of an alternator is partially dependent on your vehicle’s make and model. It is also dependent on whether you purchase a new component versus a rebuilt or remanufactured unit. Automotive experts have differing opinions regarding the pros and cons of buying a rebuilt or remanufactured unit. On the one hand, doing so is less expensive. However, there is no way to know whether a rebuilt unit will last. Many drivers have discovered that the cost savings associated with purchasing a rebuilt evaporate because they fail more quickly than a “from the box” new model.

My advice? If your alternator fails, invest the money to purchase a new or remanufactured OEM unit. It will cost a few extra dollars than a rebuilt, but you’ll have confidence that it will last for years.

Tags: automobiles, Car Maintenance, car repair, cars, More Saving

How To Perform A Maintenance Check On Your Car

Oct 8, 2009 More Saving

Here’s a bit of irony: everyone dreads the experience of flat tires, engine problems, radiator issues, transmission failures, and dead batteries. Yet, few people invest the time to inspect their vehicles on a regular basis. A lot of the parts-related problems that frustrate drivers can be prevented with a little ongoing maintenance. It doesn’t require a significant amount of time or expertise. In fact, anyone can perform a routine maintenance check within minutes.

In this article, I’ll explain the steps involved with keeping your automobile properly maintained. If you do the following tasks on a regular basis, your vehicle will last longer and perform better.

Inspect Tire Pressure And Tread Wear

Air escapes from your car’s tires constantly. As a result, they’ll lose pressure over time and need to be refilled. Adopt the habit of checking the pressure once a week. You’ll need to use a tire gauge in order to determine whether the amount of air in your tires matches the manufacturer’s recommended specs.

You should also check the depth of your treads. Even though you can get away with checking them once every few weeks, it’s convenient to do it the same time you’re checking the pressure.

Inspect Fluid Levels

Oil is arguably the most important fluid in your vehicle. If it dips below a certain level, you risk allowing your engine to overheat. If your engine overheats, the repairs can cost hundreds of dollars. The good news is that checking the oil is one of the simplest maintenance tasks you can do. If you lift your car’s hood, you’ll see a clearly-marked dipstick. Pull it out, wipe it clean, and insert it back into its slot. Then, pull it out and check the level and consistency. If it’s low, add more oil. If you see flakes, or the color is extremely dark, have it changed.

You should also check the coolant level in your radiator. If your vehicle is relatively new, you’ll notice an overflow reservoir with level markers. There’s no dipstick to remove; you can visually inspect the markers to identify whether you should add more coolant.

Check your oil and coolant levels once a week. It may be inconvenient, but it only takes a few minutes.

Inspect Your Battery

Get into the habit of checking the poles and cables of your battery each month. Corrosion accumulates and can hamper the connection. If a charge cannot travel from your battery to the connecting cables, it may be difficult (or impossible) to crank the engine. Buy a metal battery cleaner at a local auto supply store. One end fits over the poles; a few vigorous turns will clean off the corrosion. The other end fits into the cable connectors; again, a few robust twists will clean them.

If you perform the maintenance items above on the schedule I’ve recommended, you’ll help protect your car’s components from damage. In the case of checking your tire pressure and tread depth, you’ll ensure your own safety. The best news? It takes very little time and will help you save thousands of dollars in the long run.

Tags: automobiles, Car Maintenance, car repair, cars, More Saving

Introduction To The Basics Of Wheel Alignment

Oct 5, 2009 More Saving

Have you ever wondered why your vehicle seems to pull to one side? Or, do the treads on the right always wear out before those on the left? Does your gas mileage decline year after year even though your engine, fuel injectors, and sensors are in top-notch shape? The culprit may be your wheel alignment. Unlike a malfunctioning alternator or failing transmission, this problem happens gradually over thousands of miles. That makes it difficult to identify.

If left unchecked, an alignment problem can cause issues with your vehicle’s steering response, fuel efficiency, and overall drivability. I’ll explain the factors involved below and describe how caster, camber, and toe each play a role in aligning your wheels.

Caster Explained

Caster is a measurement that reflects the tilt of the steering axis. If the steering axis tilts forward and positions itself ahead of the tire (from a side view), the caster is considered negative. If the steering axis tilts backward, it is considered positive.

Caster does not influence the wear of your treads - but, it does influence handling. The more positive it is, the “heavier” your steering control will feel. This is especially true when your vehicle is moving slowly. If one tire’s caster is more positive than the other, the misalignment will cause a pull.

Camber Explained

Camber reflects the degree to which the top of a wheel tilt inward (toward the center of your car) or outward when looking at it from the front. An outward tilt is considered positive while an inward tilt is considered negative.

Camber affects tread wear. If it is too positive, the excess wear will occur on the outside portion of the tire. If the camber is too negative, the wear will occur on the inside. A misalignment will cause a pull toward the most positive camber.

Aligning The Toe

The toe of your wheels measures the amount they turn inward (again, toward the center of your car) or outward when looking at them head on. If they turn inward, the toe is considered positive. If they turn outward, it is considered negative.

Ideally, the toe will aligned as close to neutral (that is, neither positive or negative) as possible. If the toe of your tires is not aligned properly, your treads will wear down faster than normal and you’ll experience a lack of stability when steering.

Enjoying Improved Drivability

Caster, camber, and toe are the basic components that affect the alignment of your vehicle’s wheels. If they are severely misaligned, they can have a significant influence on your ability to steer effectively. They can cause excess tread wear as well as wear and tear on your suspension. Have the alignment checked annually to protect your car’s tires, suspension, and drivability.

Tags: automobiles, Car Maintenance, car repair, cars, More Saving, vehicles

Exploring Different Types Of Sporadic Engine Problems

Sep 21, 2009 More Saving

If a component fails, it’s relatively simple to locate the problem and fix or replace the part. If the problem happens sporadically, it’s far more difficult to do so. Sometimes, the issue only happens under specific driving conditions, and even then, it may not occur every time those conditions are met. In other cases, the issue may be completely unpredictable. It can happen at any instant regardless of the circumstances under which you’re driving. That makes resolving the issue problematic.

When your car’s engine suffers intermittent glitches, it’s frustrating for both you and your mechanic. Without being able to duplicate the glitch, it’s hard to know how to fix it. Below, we’ll take a closer look at the types of sporadic engine problems that can be difficult to resolve.

Temperature: Too Hot Or Cold

In some cases, your engine might only experience trouble when it’s too hot or cold. For example, you might notice that you have trouble turning it over after it has been sitting overnight, but you can do so easily if it has only been sitting for an hour. On the other hand, trouble might emerge only when you’re moving at cruising speed. That is, a “normal” temperature while driving is somehow triggering the snag.

Usually, when a glitch happens due to temperature, it can be isolated to one or more circuits. Heat and cold can play havoc with the connections. Connectors can lose contact due to expansion; a solenoid might short out; a circuit board can develop tiny cracks. Each of these things (as well as plenty of others) can cause an unpredictable engine problem.

When In Motion

Some glitches only happen when you’re driving. For example, you might experience trouble whenever you hit a specific speed. Or, running over rough terrain might cause your vehicle to stall. When this happens, the snag is usually due to something that has become loose. Even a single loose connector can lead to stalling. In some cases, the root cause might create a ripple effect; for example, the computer might misinterpret feedback from the chassis or exhaust system.

Moisture And Electrical Shorts

These types of issues are relatively easy to identify. Your engine might stall after you drive over a large puddle. Or, it may refuse to turn over if your vehicle has been sitting in heavy rain overnight. The issue is typically due to a short; something is shorting out due to the conducting nature of the water around it. The problem is that if the moisture hits the powertrain control module, it can do a lot of damage. If that happens, you’ll probably need to have it replaced.

Diagnosing intermittent problems with your car’s engine can be enormously frustrating. Normally, mechanics will rely partly on the circumstances under which a glitch happens in order to resolve it. If they don’t have that information, a lot of the initial testing will be based on guesswork. And that can quickly add up to a hefty repair bill.

Tags: automobiles, Car Engines, Car Maintenance, car repair, More Saving

Understanding Your Car’s Traction Control

Sep 13, 2009 More Saving

Even as car manufacturers strive to make their engines more powerful and fuel-efficient, they have also devoted enormous resources to making their vehicles safer. Popular review sources consider driver safety a priority. Those vehicles which include the latest technology to safeguard drivers, their passengers, and other motorists often score well. One of the areas in which automakers are developing more robust safety systems is with traction control (TC).

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at this safety feature. I’ll explain what it is and how multiple automotive technologies work together to keep drivers and passengers safe.

Maintaining Friction On The Road

Traction refers to the friction between your car’s tires and the road. When you accelerate, whether from a complete stop or to pass another car, your wheels maintain contact with the surface of the road. That is how you can control your vehicle during acceleration. Any elements - rain, snow, ice, etc. - that come between your tires and the road reduces the level of contact. As a result, the amount of control you have drops and a traffic accident becomes more likely.

The manner in which your TC system prevents your wheels from spinning during acceleration is based upon throttle control and brake application. To explain, suppose you have stopped at a traffic signal. The signal turns green and you step hard on your gas pedal. Your tires begin to spin as they lose contact with the surface of the road. Your TC system will identify the slip and limit the throttle while applying the brakes to the drive wheels. In doing so, your tires will regain contact.

Multiple Technologies And How They Work

Your vehicle’s traction control system also encompasses your anti-lock brakes and stability control. While the TC provides friction as you accelerate, your anti-lock brakes provide friction as you slow down. Both systems perform the same job based upon the same fundamentals. Sensors monitor the slippage and modify the level of braking force that is applied to the drive wheels.

Electronic stability control (ESC) works on the same basic principles as the TC and anti-lock brakes, but adds a number of sensors to compensate for understeer and oversteer. If the sensors identify skidding, braking power is applied to the outer wheel to prevent oversteer, or inner wheel to prevent understeer. In many cars, ESC can also reduce engine power in order to compensate.

Better Grip And Safety

Maintaining a high level of contact and friction between your vehicle’s tires and the road beneath them helps to ensure that you and your passengers remain safe while driving. For their part, car manufacturers continue to develop advanced technologies to further improve driver safety. By increasing the grip of your tires on the road, they can help prevent unnecessary traffic accidents.

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Tags: autos, Car Maintenance, car repair, Driving A Car, More Saving, vehicles

Your Muffler: The Key To Quieting A Noisy Vehicle

Aug 30, 2009 More Saving

If your vehicle is loud enough to jolt people several streets away, your muffler may need to be replaced. It is a sophisticated part of your car’s exhaust system that is often misunderstood by motorists. Most people think this component’s job is limited to reducing the noise level made by the engine. However, its responsibilities expand further.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at your car’s muffler and its place within the exhaust system. I’ll describe its role and a few factors that can affect its ability to perform it. I’ll also clarify whether you should have the part replaced at a dealership or at a local repair garage.

Understanding Its Role

To say your engine makes noise is an oversimplification. The sound is actually generated as the result of pressure waves. High-pressure molecules within gas mix with low-pressure molecules, which create alternating pulses. Those pulses form the pressure waves. There are tubes within your car’s muffler that are designed to push the resulting sound waves against each other. That cancels them out and thereby, reduces the noise.

The component performs a critical role as part of your exhaust system. Besides reducing the noise level, it helps to expel hydrocarbons and other chemicals that would otherwise be harmful to you and your passengers.

Factors That Cause A Problem

Under normal circumstances, your muffler should last for years. In fact, it’s not uncommon for drivers to sell their vehicles after many years of ownership without having to replace it. Having said that, there are a few factors that can impact its integrity.

For example, in states that receive a heavy volume of snow or ice, chemicals such as sodium and rock salt are used to clear away the roads. The problem is that these chemicals, when combined with magnesium chloride, can begin to corrode the metal of your muffler. Also, when you start your engine cold, a blast of exhaust shoots through the system. Because the pipes are cold, the hot exhaust creates condensation, which can lead to rust. If corrosion or rust set in, you’ll eventually need to replace the part.

Should You Visit The Dealership?

You should visit your dealership if your car is still under the factory warranty. The dealer’s technicians will install an OEM replacement. Also, if you’re driving a foreign performance vehicle (for example, a Maserati or Lamborghini), take it to your dealer. Those cars often have exhaust systems that are specially calibrated; you should only trust it with a pro who has the right tools. Aside from those circumstances, you can feel comfortable having a local mechanic do the job. You can even do it yourself if you have the right equipment (and patience).

The important thing to remember is that your muffler is an important part of the larger exhaust system. If it suffers corrosion, rust, or other damage, have it replaced as soon as possible.

Tags: automobiles, Car Maintenance, car repair, cars, More Saving, Mufflers

How to Change Your Car’s Engine Oil Filter

Jul 17, 2009 More Saving

The most difficult side of driving is not everyone can be a car mechanic.

Cars like people have personalities, too: they often have problems not identical to others that negatively affect the way they run “or not run”. Since a car is a complex of mechanical actions and operations each related to some others, allow just a few failures in this complexity and the car breaks down. As such, the engine oil gets much importance because it is the lubricant that keeps the internal mechanical parts of the engine working smoothly. Take out the clean engine oil and something will soon wear down or seize up and the engine stops completely. But the engine oil will not function properly without a good filter which keeps out the impurities. This is something very vital in high-performance cars like those raced. They even use specific proprietary filters of the highest quality.

Changing the engine oil filter is projected to be easy, and that anyone can do it, even the non-mechanically oriented like the rest of us. In fact, the filter is said to be replaceable by hand, and it would not be far from the truth except when the filter is slick and slippery with oil — and most car owners do not know how.

Thus filters often cannot be loosened by hand, but there are special filter wrenches that may be used. They come in two general types: the jointed pincer style and handle-and-chain style. Either is a handy tool to unscrew an oil filter, a task extremely difficult to do even when using latex gloves. At any rate, work gloves of leather, denim or latex are recommended when using filter wrenches as they minimize the metal’s bite on the hand when applying pressure to unscrew the filter. They also protect the hand from oil spills, a good thing for those who are allergic or averse to oil on their skin.

When you access the oil filter, you may well find that it is screwed on pretty tightly. With the aforementioned oil making for a lack of purchase, you would be well advised to wipe it with a rag before you ever take a wrench to it.

After the filter is loosened, twist it off by hand as using the wrench will be more cumbersome. You should have a container to catch the oil that will spill from the filter’s opening as you remove it, while turning it upside down will also prevent further spills. Place it in the container with the opening on top to avoid spilling more oil.

Before putting in the new filter, wipe off its nozzle free of dirt or other particles with a new fresh rag. Also smear some oil on the rubber gasket to ensure air tightness, as well as make it easier to twist in. Use clean oil if possible, but oil from the old filter will do as well. A few drops will do: just wet the threaded area and the rubber surface that will touch the engine.

Turn the filter by hand when it begins to thread in but do not force it at the start: you might damage the thread and the filter will not seat perfectly, causing leaks. It is good practice to turn it counterclockwise first (as if loosening it) a few turns to find the entry thread before turning it the other way to thread it in. This way you can be assured of a good thread-in. Hand-tighten it to a good fit and youre done.

Tags: a, automobile, automobile;truck, b, Buy Car, c, car filter, Car Maintenance, car oil filter, cars, More Saving, s, Sell Car, u, used cars, v, vehicles

Your Ride - Car Cleaning

Jul 8, 2009 More Saving

Let’s face it everyone loves their car, car cleaning… not so much. Cars are a depreciating asset everyone knows that, but that is no reason not to take the time and effort to lessen those falling values. A well-maintained car will fetch a lot more money at resale than one that has just been used with wild abandon. Keeping your car sparking clean and well maintained says that you cared about your car while you owned it and that any subsequent owner can expect a good deal that is worth paying a little more for.

Car cleaning is something that should be left up to the professionals. Why? Because they know exactly how to clean every inch of your car from bumper to bumper and what products to use in order to best clean and protect your vehicle. This is important because not all the products that you see at the store are good to use on your car and it is important to remember that some products are definitely model specific. You don’t want to use cheap leather condition on your Maserati for instance.

Car cleaning without the knowledge of products can be harmful. For example, let’s talk about wheels. Clean wheels can make or break the way a car looks especially as some of the metals used in rims these days can be scratched by cheap cleaners. All too often someone sprays a cleaner on their rims only to find out that they have ruined them. That can be a costly mistake.

Car cleaning isn’t limited to just the exterior and interior of a car. A lot of car cleaners can also clean your boot space, engine and the under carriage. These are some minor things that you probably didn’t think about but are just as crucial. Over time, dirt can accumulate and cause heat and heat can be an engines worst nightmare. A clean engine not only looks but sounds good to a prospective buyer.

Let’s not forget that car cleaning is not only great for when you go to sell it on, but it’s also good for you as the current owner. Nothing beats driving a fresh, clean car on a sunny day. Once you have your car professionally cleaned, it’s hard to go back!

Tags: a, automobile, automobile maintenance, automobile;truck, c, car, Car Care, Car Cleaning, Car Maintenance, car polish, car wax, cars, e, More Saving, v, vehicle cleaning, vehicles

Huge Repair Bills - A Big Dent In Your Pocket

Jul 5, 2009 More Saving

Consider these numbers: $1500 for an insignificant scratch on the bodywork; $3500 for a new exhaust valve; at least $150 for a new trunk-release switch cover. These aren’t figures from the realm of fantasy, but actual repair expenses that drivers have provided to AOL Autos after having coughed up these amounts for repair jobs that only seemed small. The alternative is to do the job yourself, or buy a new car. That seems extreme, right? So just pay up like a good citizen and suffer in silence, seems to be the mantra.

Beyond the Bumper

Deana May has seen first hand what lies ahead for the customers who bring their car with just a surface scratch or an abrasion at Los Angeles-based AC Auto finishing. “It’s a scary thing — looks can be deceiving. You can do an estimate on a front bumper then take it off and behind it there are all kinds of damage. Low-profile cars with low-profile tires go over a bump or up a driveway, they don’t take an angle, often they need a whole new front end. May says that this is a common affair at her shop and explains it with an example. Last month a Lotus driver was quoted a cool $5,400 to get his car repaired though the car did not look as though it needed so many repairs. She says there is always a danger of the customers getting erroneous quotes for repairs with high-performance parts such as AMG or Brabus for a Mercedes. Some standard or stock components are put in place instead of these high-performance parts.

Up in Your grille

Willy Stroppe, president of automotive engineering firm Bill Stroppe & Sons in Paramount, California, says he once looked at what seemed like insignificant damage to the front of a Ford pickup truck that ultimately became a huge repair bill. It looked like the front plastic grille was broken by a light hit, but when we got into it the housing behind the grille was cracked and broken all the way up. Replacing everything from the fenders, to the headlight vessels, to a new front end, it all adds up. In many cases you gotta pull out the radiator. That’s not something you can do in a couple hours. Stroppes seen similar problems on a Ford Explorer ” he works mainly with Fords ” and the pickups repair bill crossed $1200. Its not like the old days when everything was steel, he adds. He also says that second hand car buyers should beware of a practice hes seen plenty of in nearly 50 years in the car business ” a repair shop buys a car whose frame and shell seem fine but whose inside needs a lot of work, for example, on its suspension. Often, says Stroppe, an unscrupulous shop will make the car roadworthy with a substandard repair job, and then sell it on to an unknowing buyer, leaving room for a huge future repair bill.

$150 Cover Up

Mark Essig, a writer in a small town in North Carolina, says he was shocked when a local technician charged him $150 to replace a missing cover for the trunk-release switch in his ten-year-old Mercedes 320 CLK. And while Essig was expecting a reasonably expensive repair bill given that he owned an upscale European make, he was certainly not expecting a $150-add on to a $2,000 repair bill, particularly since it came as an additional cost that was not included in the original estimate. He says: It was part of a $2000 repair bill that included valve cleaning and brake work, and I was so sick to my stomach that I couldn’t quibble over $150. Best part was, I didn’t ask him to do it. Meanwhile, Michael Russell, an AOL Autos friend who owns a Porsche 944, found out to his dismay that an old-school German car could cost more than he had budgeted for. A $15 exhaust valve replacement eventually cost him $3,500 once labor had been factored in. Essentially, he says, they had to take out the engine to reach the valve, which had burned out, a common failing in older performance vehicles. But without the repair, he says, he had no way of traveling to work.

Air Wear

It is advised to search out a second opinion, and always review general system reliability as you decide to replace individual parts on older-model cars. Look into this story to know the brutal truth of car repair: I found this to my cost when I took my wife’s 1995 Nissan 240SX S-ER to my local mechanic’s last week to fix the air conditioning. I’d already taken it into the shop the week before, where they’d diagnosed a leaking gasket that had depressurized the system. So they duly fixed the gasket, re-filled the system with Freon coolant and pressurized it. Bill: $300. Not bad for an AC fix, I thought, until two days later the system again began blowing hot. So it was back into the shop, where they took a second look at it before telling me another seal had broken, this time in a hard-to-reach spot, meaning extra labor. Estimated cost: $800. When I pointed out that the original fix was under warranty, my mechanic agreed but argued that a different component had malfunctioned and therefore the additional repair was not under warranty. Many more attempts at bargaining failed. Result: I’m $300 out of pocket, and my wife has a long, hot summer to look forward to (unless she nabs my car, which is likely).

Coolant Chills

Ken Lavacot, working in online mechanics 2carpros.com, says that as a small vapor that appears out of a car might look trivial, but sometimes it indicates serious future repair bills. He says: “Coolant is used to cool the engine during normal operation. If coolant is allowed to enter the combustion chamber, the engine will burn the coolant creating white smoke and steam.” He says various pricey solutions contain gasket replacement. “If the gasket that seals the intake manifold to the cylinder head fails it can allow coolant to enter the intake port and then the combustion chamber. To check for this condition the intake manifold will need to be removed.” Most of the money in such a case is spent to reach the gasket and bring together the parts after replacement. If coolant is present in the combustion chamber and the gasket is working, Lavacot says the engine should be split. He adds: “This can be tricky because it is difficult to tell which is causing the problem. For example: A repair shop has told you the cylinder head is cracked, and as they start disassembly they can discover it was the intake manifold gasket that has failed. It’s up to the honesty of the repair shop to alert the customer the repair will be less. Or the opposite can happen. A repair shop has told you your engine has a blown head gasket, once the disassembly is complete they inform you the head gasket is OK, and the cylinder has been pressure checked and is OK. This only leaves the engine block as the failure and must be replaced to repair the problem, and that can be costly.”

Paintwork Blues

My brother-in-law lent his Jaguar convertible to a family member a couple of years back. But disaster struck when the car was returned with a scratch in the back panel on the driver’s side. Big deal, you must be thinking, any decent repair or bodywork shop can polish out a scratch at very low cost, but the Jaguar XK8 has an aluminum shell, which required a costly adhesive to be used to fix the scratch and not allow further damage or warping of the car’s monocoque shell. Cost: a whopping $1500. The body shop guy told him that had the scratch been deeper or in another part of the car, the repair bill would have doubled or tripled, which is now increasingly common as more luxury European carmakers, including Audi, Mercedes and BMW, use the aluminum-shell technology (owing to its increased strength and lighter weight). Solution? Get several estimates for the paintwork. Oh, and do not make your Jaguar thus accessible.

Tags: auto, auto mechanic, auto repair, car, Car Maintenance, car repair, More Saving, vehicle repair

The Basics Of Keeping Your Car Well-Maintained

Jun 20, 2009 More Saving

One day, our vehicles may be self-sustaining, able to take care of themselves rather than our having to do it for them. Until then, we’ll need to have the oil changed, tires rotated, and filters swapped out periodically. The fact is, if you want your car to run smoothly over the long haul, you’ll need to have routine maintenance performed.

Fortunately, your owner’s manual will spell out every maintenance item your automobile needs. It will even provide details regarding when you should have certain types of work performed. In this article, we’ll explore a few common questions that drivers have about maintaining their vehicles.

The Owner’s Manual Versus Your Mechanic

Why is it that your mechanic or auto technician recommends servicing that your owner’s manual does not? The reason is simple: revenue. At an independent repair garage, mechanics often try to persuade customers to agree to work that may be unnecessary. While they probably won’t suggest a new engine (unless you need one), they may recommend a brake job before your pads are fully worn. Or, they might suggest a transmission flush even though your car doesn’t need one.

At a dealership, the service advisor will usually recommend a number of maintenance items that you don’t need. It’s important to realize that he gets compensated partly through commissions. The more he sells, the more money he makes. He might ask the mileage on your odometer, but that’s usually because he has a list of services to recommend at each mile marker.

Your safest bet is to rely on your owner’s manual. Not only does the car manufacturer know how to keep your vehicle running well, but it’s in their best interest to make the most appropriate recommendations.

Doesn’t A Warranty Cover Maintenance?

Auto warranties are a natural part of car ownership, yet many motorists don’t know how far the coverage extends. Major parts, like the engine, transmission, and axles are covered. However, routine maintenance items like oil and air filters, oil changes, and rotating the tires are not. A lot of drivers visit the dealership thinking standard services are covered under the warranty. Then, when they arrive on the lot, the service advisor begins recommending unnecessary work. Read your warranty and learn what it covers.

Package Deals At The Dealership

The service department at your dealership will often create maintenance packages that bundle multiple services together for a single price. For example, they might offer an oil change, brake job, and filter changes for $100. Is it a bargain? First, determine which services you actually need. It may be time to change the oil, but do your brakes require changing? It does little good to save money on work that is unnecessary. Second, itemize the individual prices for each job being performed. Assuming your vehicle needs everything listed in the package, it is the only way to know whether the price is a good one.

Keeping your car well-maintained doesn’t have to be expensive. The key is to follow your owner’s manual and don’t be easily swayed by your mechanic’s recommendations. That way, you can be sure that your car will remain in good condition without breaking the bank.

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