Has your favorite auto mechanic ever told you that old saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?” I really hope he hasn’t had to say that to you because if he did it was most likely followed by a hefty price tag. But true is true. Taking a little time to care for your vehicle can save you lots of money in the long run and keep that vehicle running like new.
With the advances in the automotive industry and auto repair services most cars built after 2000 should be able to last an easy 30 years with proper care and maintenance. The technology and engineering behind new vehicles is outstanding and only gets better with time. Below or are couple tips to keep your car running like it’s 30 years new and going.
Check Engine Light
With most cars on the road today you’ll find a fairly sophisticated computer system and they all have the dreaded check engine light. Yep, that annoying light that has to go off before your car can pass inspection. The good news is that most of the time when your check engine light turns on it’s your auto computer system warning you of a failure that might happen soon if you don’t take action. That’s good news! The engineers have taken a page from NASA and want your car to be able to tell you BEFORE a major failure takes place. It may be that your oil is low, a sensor has gone out or even that tire pressure has dropped. All of these things by themselves are minor annoyances, but are actually announcing a larger problem down the road if you don’t make a correction.
Drop by your favorite auto repair shop and ask them if they can take a quick look. Every auto repair shop today has the necessary computer to scan your car quickly and let you know what’s happening. And best of all, they don’t charge for it! Well, most of them don’t.
A really good auto mechanic will be able to tell you in just a few minutes what the “check engine light” is trying to warn you of and also what the fix needs to be. Remember, low tire pressure that could mean a puncture is a simple fix compared to a tire blow out on the highway. Take your auto mechanic’s advice and get it fixed while it just costs a few dollars.
