Have you ever taken you car in for general service and been told you need hundreds of dollars of additional repairs? You are not alone, most of us have been down that road. It makes you wonder if you’re getting ripped off or if you actually need to have the repairs done. Here is a guide to understand the most common car repairs that will help your car stay in good working order and may help you save money down the road, by having the repairs done when they need it.
1. Brakes are one of the most common car repairs. Most cars need a new set of brake pads every 40,000 miles or less if there is a lot of stop – and – go driving. You may hear a squeak that alerts you to the problem or maybe your getting new tires and the service person that makes you aware of it. Whatever the situation have them replaced immediately , if you don’t it can lead to major repair expenses like disc, drum and rotor repairs and that is costly. The safety hazard is obviously a serious factor as well.
2. Car owners need to have the car’s oil changed on a regular basis. Experts suggest the car’s oil should be changed every four months or every few thousand miles to keep your car in the best possible running condition. Most newer cars automatically monitor oil life and alert drivers when it is time for an oil change with a dashboard light. It lengthens the life of the engine and having service records that show frequent oil changes can help the resale value of your car. Be aware that service shops might take the opportunity to get you to buy additional services like filter changes, coolant flush, or transmission serviced. Technically, these services will benefit your engine but your car may not need them so why spend the money. Consult the owners manual if you have any questions or need to know when they are needed.
3. Tires are another common repair. Tires should be replaced when they show major signs of wear. Repairs or replacements are necessary when tires are damaged. There are many ways a tire can fail perhaps the sidewall splits or it gets punctured with a sharp object like a nail. One way to prolong the life of tires is to have them rotated. The front tires often wear much more quickly than the rears because of the weight of the engine. Basically, tires wear out at different rates. By rotating tires every 5,000 miles it allows tires to wear more evenly, which prolongs the life of the tire.
4. Most of the time when cars won’t start they need a new battery. Batteries are designed to last four to six years. Batteries fail with no warning. However, there are a key things you can do to determine when to replace it so you won’t get stranded. Determine how often the battery gets used, the quality of the battery, the primary weather its used in, and the level of maintenance it’s had. This will help you know when it’s time to get the battery replaced. Batteries are fairly inexpensive so it’s better to purchase a new battery instead of trying to repair an old one.
Be diligent about having your car serviced and parts replaced or repaired when needed. This will extend the life of your engine and keep you from getting stranded.
