Thursday, February 12, 2009

How to Avoid Paying Too Much for Auto Repairs


We are all aware that car repairs are not cheap. In fact, automobile breakdowns are most often the cause for financial emergencies. Fortunately though, there are some ways you can avoid paying astronomical charges during your next trip to the mechanic.

1. Don’t Avoid Any Necessary Repairs When little problems become large, the costs go up… sometimes WAY up. For example, if you avoid the fact that your brakes are making noise, the chances of them grinding into your rotors and costing a lot more become higher.

Cost Comparison: New brake pads - $210, new brake pads with rotors – around $900.

2. Maintain Maintenance Requirements Auto manufacturers recommend service checkups at regular intervals, such as every 3,000, 15,000 and 30,000 miles. By following the schedule, you’ll know your car most likely won’t leave you hanging out in the cold. Owner’s manuals list maintenance schedules and schedules can be found online at the manufacturer’s website.

Cost Comparison: Follow maintenance schedule if your car is under warranty, or you may void the coverage.

3. Change Motor Oil Motor oil lubricates the engine and removes contaminants, such as small bits of metal that can cause big damage over time. Engines do bad things when they have low or no oil.
Change the oil yourself or have it changed at the mileage suggested in the car owner’s manual – usually 3,500 miles. Check the oil level every week by pulling out the dipstick, wiping it with a clean cloth, reinserting it and pulling it out again, and checking that the oil on it comes to the “full” line. If it doesn’t, add oil a little at a time, through the oil filler hole, not the dipstick hole.
Cost Comparison: New engine, $5,000; rebuilt engine, $2,500; oil change, $18; quart of oil, $1.25.


4. Never drive with temperature gauge on hot The temperature gauge indicates when the engine is running too hot. The problem may be a faulty thermostat, which regulates the flow of coolant into the engine, or lack of coolant. The result of driving with a gauge on “H” may be a fried engine.
Instead, when the gauge goes up, pull off the road as soon as possible and call for help. Never open the hood of a car if steam is flowing from beneath it, and never remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot, because hot steam and coolant could burn you.

Cost Comparison: Cost of a new engine, see above; thermostat, $10; gallon of coolant, $10.
Source: Vehix.com

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