Category: car repair

When Car Maintenance Needs a Mechanic?

This is one of the more broad topics that most people find intuitive. The world has become so hyper-specialized that people rely on professionals for just about every item they own.

Long gone are the days that you could take a car apart and put it back together on a Saturday afternoon. The technology has become too complicated for that anymore.

Consequently, many people ditch the idea of doing their own maintenance for the help of a more experienced professional. For those that want to do everything themselves though, this is a good list to help you make the decision to seek the professional help of someone that does this work every day.

First up is the transmission fluid and filter. As easy as this may seem, you want to get a professional to help make sure everything goes right.

The transmission fluid is the hydraulic system that helps an automatic transmission work the way it’s supposed to. This fluid and its respective filter should be changed every 15,000 to 18,000 miles (every year or year and a half for most drivers).

Second is to come in for a tune up. A tune up can find and fix a bad spark plug.

When a spark plug goes foul, your engine can’t work at its maximum efficiency. In fact, it can hurt your efficiency by up to 30 percent.

A regular tune up will catch those every time. With the help of the mechanic, they will become a non-issue throughout the life of your vehicle.

Third is the suspension system. Have it checked out pretty regularly as well.

Along with creating a comfortable and smooth ride for passengers, a good suspension system equates to better control for the driver. Not only does the car feel better, but it responds better to you in rough situations.

Ask your mechanic to check out the suspension to see if he notices any irregularities. He’ll let you know where you need to go from there.

Fourth, be sure to ask your mechanic to also replace the fuel filter every 10,000 miles or so. The fuel filter prevents rust, dirt, and other impurities from finding their way into your fuel.

The less pure your fuel, the less gas mileage you get. Impurities also have a nasty habit of slowly ruining everything they touch.

When they get into your engine, they make it worse too. Hence, the oil and fuel filters are designed to stop them from getting into these highly important areas.

Like the air filter though, they can only work for so long before they become too dirty to function properly. The fuel filter needs to be replaced about once a year to ensure your fuel runs clean to the engine.

Certain things you can take care of at home. Sometimes you just have to concede to the better equipment and knowledge that comes from the professionals.

 

Five Basic Car Care Tips To Help You Achieve A Longer Lifespan For Your Car

The hard economic times and limited financial options have meant that fewer consumers can afford to buy new cars. Most drivers are hanging onto their cars for a long time and this means car owners who have to make repairs that are more regular on their vehicles. Many consumers are tackling most of the basic repairs and maintenance themselves in an attempt to save costs.

By carrying out these basic car care tips, you can ensure that your car remains in good condition for a long time. It is, however, important to make sure that you take your car to the mechanic once or twice in a year depending on your usage. The expert will be able to handle problems that are beyond your expertise.

•    Make sure that you have your owner’s manual before you start making any repairs. The manual offers a comprehensive care guide, which will offer you guidance during the service. The manufacturer will also recommend the tasks that are best left to experts.

•    While regular gasoline is adequate for most cars, if you have a luxury car, you should always make sure that you use the gas that is recommended by the manufacturers. In most cases, they will recommend a premium gasoline. Using gasoline that is not recommended will affect the cars performance negatively.

•    By avoiding aggressive driving, you will ensure that your brakes experience less wear and tear. Sudden braking will lead to a high cost of repairs. You can replace or change the brake pads yourself which will save you more than what it will cost you to have a mechanic do the job. You will, however, need to invest in the right tools to get the job done successfully.

•    Check your tires regularly to make sure they are in good condition. You should invest in a tire pressure gauge, which will help you to check the air in your tires. Make sure that you buy good quality tires for your car. You can find out where to buy tires from various sources such as the internet or from car magazines.

•     Check your car air filter to make sure it is not clogged with dust or dirt. Replacing the filter is a simple task you can accomplish yourself and it will help to ensure that the car runs efficiently. If the car wipers are leaving streaks on the windshield, you should replace them.

Before you carry out repairs on your car, you need to determine if it is actually cheaper to do it yourself, or to take the car to a mechanic.