The freedom that comes with owning a car can be exhilarating. You’re able to go to places that are further away and don’t have to wait for a ride. This also means that it may break down at inconvenient times and leave you stranded somewhere. Use the following tips to get up and running again.
Before giving your car keys to the service department, make sure you know what the cost for the repair will be. If a certain cost confuses you, don’t hesitate to clear this up with the mechanic before allowing him or her to make repairs to your vehicle. Don’t end up surprised by extra fees.
You don’t always need a mechanic when you have trouble with your car. Many things are able to be fixed easily. If you are game, then check online to research the problem. If it is not a very difficult job, you can save some money by doing the repairs yourself.
Getting a good referral is the ideal way to discover a great auto technician. Talk to your relatives, friends and co-workers to get some recommendations. Ask about how much they paid, the quality of the repairs and the customer service. People will let you know what kind of things they had to deal with and if the person was honest.
Understand your manual and mark important pages. Any auto professional with a good reputation will need to know all he can about your car. The issue may be very simple to fix, saving you time and money.
Don’t leave anything of value in your car when it’s being repaired. To get the job done, mechanics may have to remove your things and if something should end up missing, they cannot be held responsible. Also, be sure to remove everything from the trunk.
Assemble an auto repair kit and put it inside of your trunk. Basic tools that should be included are tire changing tools. A car jack and a lug wrench are essential tools to have. You should have a Phillips and flat head screwdriver and several types of wrenches. You don’t want to settle for buying cheap tools. Get high quality tools that will be able to withstand the test of time.
A mechanic who has his own shop is worth considering. You want to make sure the person is qualified, of course, but home mechanics can save you money on labor costs. You’ll be able to save quite a bit of money and will help them a little bit because you won’t be dealing with a big place.
Before going with a particular shop, get auto repair feedback from your friends. Personal recommendations are usually honest and forthright. You should still always do some research on the person they tell you about. You should at least look for the company on the Internet so you can figure out how other people have felt about their services.
You should not have a lot of heavy items on your keychain. Your car ignition shouldn’t have to hold so much weight. If your keys stick, take off some of the charms!
Washing your car during the winter is important to keep road salt and sand from doing corrosive damage While you may not see the need, winter is by far the harshest season for cars. Sand and salt is something that can cause rust and abrasions. Just be sure that you’re drying your car off before you start to drive around so that ice doesn’t form.
Keep in mind that any DIY auto repairs can be dangerous. Should something happen, be sure someone else is around. Buy good quality tools that will not break easily. This is very true for things such as tire changing tools. Remember that you need a jack that can hold the vehicle up especially when you need to get under it. This is why you should get a high quality hydraulic jack with stands.
Whenever you fill your gas tank, check the pressure of your tires. Look over your tires to be sure nothing has become embedded in them. Any problems should be fixed immediately. You never want to drive on bad tires.
Be certain your technician is properly certified. These certifications can make you feel comfortable when you are getting your repair. This also will help you feel confident that the quality of your repair will be up to par.
There is a good way to save money if you are willing to take a risk. Instead of taking your car to a repair shop, take it to the local vocational school. Students can do car repairs under the guidance of their licensed mechanic/instructor, and you can save a lot money having your car fixed there.
You should be consistent with where you get your car repaired. Stay with an auto repair shop you have trust in instead of seeing different people all the time. If you continue going to different shops, you will pay more in the long run. Prices will also vary, which can lead to a higher overall cost for car repairs.
Having AAA on your side when it comes to auto repairs can be extremely beneficial. Become an AAA member if you want to save on repairs or on getting your vehicle towed. Also, they often have discounts that can save you money.
Just because you have a car that isn’t working, doesn’t mean it will cost you quite a bit of money to repair it. DIY fixes are often simple and cheap. Have your car working again by using this advice.