While we don’t have the secret to acquiring fame and fortune, go.drive. has advice for making your car feel like a star.
Most cars handle harsh conditions like a champion, and most drivers might not even realize it. From constantly starting and stopping in rush-hour traffic to bouncing through potholes to powering through puddles, our vehicles are faced with varies-and sometimes treacherous-driving conditions.
Your car works hard, but you can make it feel like a pampered star. Simply, ask you service advisor about giving you vehicle an inspection on your next visit to the service department.
“Most dealerships will do a courtesy inspection with each service,” said Steven Paul, president of the “Test Drive Tech, a vehicle inspection firm. “The basic inspection usually checks items like tire wear, leaks, filters, fluid levels and vehicle warning lights.”
During the basic inspection offered by most dealerships, your mechanics will look at various parts of your vehicle to make sure everything looks OK. However, for an extra fee you can have your dealership perform a more thorough inspection-a great idea if you want the “star” treatment. A more thorough inspection will check important parts of your vehicle, such as the brakes, ball joints, tie rods, driveline, shocks and struts.
“These items are crucial to have checked every other oil change,” Paul said. “Any of them can lead to problematic circumstances such as premature tire wear, increase brake wear or even dangerous driving conditions.”
Having your dealership perform regular inspections will help extend the life of your vehicle. Think of vehicle inspections like early cancer detection. For instance, if your vehicle is shaking or shimmying as you drive, don’t be complacent. Get it checked out! If your mechanic finds a problem early, he can save you thousands of dollars in repairs.
“The earlier a problem is detected, the sooner it can be monitored or repaired,” Paul said. “Doing so will cause less damage to other areas of the vehicle. Just like with cancer, catching it early will do less harm than ignoring it and letting the damage spread.”
Getting your vehicle inspected a few times a year is an good idea, but there are other occasions when you’ll want to have a professional give your ride a once-over, as well.
“I like to recommend people get their car inspected before their warranty runs out,” Paul said. “A dealership can do this for you, and knowing what is about to go wrong on your car before it does can save you thousands of dollars in repair bills.”
Think about this example: It’s the middle of summer, and you’ve noticed that your air conditioner isn’t as cold as it used to be. You decide to have an inspection performed to determine if there is a problem. It could be the refrigerant is low-a pretty easy and inexpensive fit. There might be a leak in one of you A/C lines-something that could be repaired under your new car warranty. Or if there is not enough pressure in the A/C system, it could be a compressor problem-an expensive item that could be repaired under warranty. The best part about performing a repair under warranty is that it’s free.
“Be proactive, instead of reactive,” Paul said. “Get a problem repaired under warranty while you still can. Think of it as a preventative measure for your pocketbook.”
It’s also smart to get a vehicle inspection if you are buying a used car.
“Because some used cars can cost as much as new ones, it’s a good idea to get a pre-purchase inspection performed on any used vehicle,” Paul said. “You need to know what you are about to buy, and you need to know what it might cost you in the near future.”
“Imagine knowing a vehicle you are about to purchase needs suspension work, a set of new tires and a few new belts that ad up to $2,000.00,” Paul said. “With a pre-purchase vehicle inspection you can know what needs to be repaired on the vehicle to help make sure you don’t have problems with it.”
Complete vehicle inspections help you become an educated buyer. You will know what you have, know what you should be paying for and know what you’re buying. Plus, they’ll keep your vehicle in tip-top shape and make it feel like a star.
Why the Dealer??
Top 5 Reasons to Use a Car Dealership for Your Service and Repair Needs
1. Trained Techs:
Unlike most independent auto service facilities, dealership technicians are specifically trained on specific vehicle makes and models, making them intimately familiar with how that car works.
2. Factory Parts:
While most of aftermarket auto parts are high quality, to be absolutely certain you’re getting the best parts for your car, it makes sense to use the same parts the factory uses-or the same parts your dealership uses, in other words.
3. Recall/TSB Information:
While automakers are required to mail out information about vehicle recalls, dealerships generally have the latest information about the recall. Plus, dealerships are privy to technical service bulletins (TSBs) from automakers, giving their technicians knowledge about specific problems or issues a vehicle might be having.
4. Diagnostic and Repair Equipment:
Auto dealerships are required to have the latest and most up-to-date diagnostic equipment to service vehicles. Is it rare to hear a dealership explain that the do not have the parts or equipment to service even the newest vehicle models.
5. Customer Satisfaction:
Ever wonder why dealerships are so concerned about ensuring their service customers’ happiness? They have to be. Factories require dealerships to maintain minimum customer service scores in order to be considered for special programs and, in some cases, to even keep their franchise.
Article courtesy of go.drive. magazine issue Summer 2012, written by Tammy Neal
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