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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

6 Simple Steps To Avoiding Expensive Car Repairs

By Kathleen Burch


Have you ever thought that you would prefer to enter into your dentist office than in your car repair shop? Perhaps physical pain it's involved, but some car repairs can leave your wallet feeling pretty empty and you with a bad taste in your mouth. As with everything else, the best way to save money is to focus on prevention rather than treatment.

The first thing to do is to follow the maintenance schedule as outlined in your owner's manual. And, if you don't and something goes wrong with your car, you might run the risk of being unable to use your warranty for future repairs. You should follow a rigid schedule of changing fluids, filters and spark plugs as much as it is recommended by the manufacturer.

Switching to a high performance synthetic oil could definitely improve the performance of the car, and could also prevent other problems.

make sure the air in your tires is right. This is especially important because tires with too little air, or too much, can result in excessive wear and may cause a blow out. You should check the pressure in the tires every time you buy gas. You might be worried about overdoing it, but it would be a great way to keep up with your tires. This practice would ensure safety and also eliminate the cost of having to buy new tires.

And if you hear any strange sound coming from your car, make sure you check your owner's manual. Some sounds are no cause for alarm. Your owner's manual should inform you whether you need to pay a visit to the mechanic or not.

Do make sure that you only bring your car to a reputable mechanic for repairs. Check with your friends and family, and even with the Better Business Bureau, to find someone good and reliable.

Demand to have a written estimate of needed repairs before you authorize anything. A quality repair shop will be able to provide this information and should also be able to assure you that the repairs will not exceed 10% of a specific dollar amount as outlined in the estimate.

These steps will keep your car in good running order, and will save you considerable amounts of money along the way. And with gas prices rising so fast, saving any money is a wonderful gift.




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