Auto repair tends to come in two major wrench-in-your-life categories: Unexpected and Costly

A vehicle breakdown ranks high on most people's priority list of things to avoid. And for good reason--breakdowns cost you major time and money. Furthermore, they force you to completely overhaul your day while leaving you riddled with anxiety, fear and doubt about what it’s going to cost, and how you’re going to get back on the road and back to your life.

Luckily, there’s a third category—your saving grace: Preventive Vehicle Maintenance.

This is the key to avoiding unexpected and costly auto repair.

Such as health problems, a dirty house, leaky faucet, a garden full of weeds, saving for retirement or an avocado, the longer you wait--the worse it gets.

When you see, hear or smell something unusual with your car, it’s important to pay attention and to act. Problems in vehicles usually start small and then gradually digress to full-on breakdowns. So take your observation as it is--a warning sign.

The most important and effective thing you can do is ACT at the first signs of a problem with your vehicle. Imagine going weeks-on-end with a horrible pain in the side of your abdomen. It continues to get worse and you resist going to the doctor to have it checked out. Are you surprised to find out you have a major issue that now needs to be fixed? Same thing goes with your car--not finding and fixing issues early leads to unexpected and costly breakdowns and repairs down the road. It’s always best to prevent issues in the first place rather than have to sort through the broken trauma. Luckily, it takes only a little bit of diligence to prevent unexpected and costly vehicle breakdowns and repairs.

1. Get comprehensive oil change services (at least 2X/year)

This is top-of-the-list because it’s most important. Seriously, if you do ONLY this, you can almost guarantee yourself never having to go through the experience of your car breaking down! That’s a pretty amazing guarantee that’s completely within your control.

However, not all oil change services are created equal. Oftentimes an oil change service consists of nothing more than removing and replacing the oil and filter. So you need to make sure a comprehensive vehicle inspection is included in the service. Hint: most quick-lube shops don’t thoroughly inspect your vehicle because 1. they aren’t able to diagnose and repair a full spectrum of issues and 2. vehicle inspections take time and they are in the quick oil change business (i.e. you’re paying for convenience). But if you think of your oil change service with your mechanic like a semi-annual physical with your doctor, you’re well on your way to preventing unexpected and costly breakdowns and repairs.

The greatest benefits of a comprehensive oil change service

• Catch issues before they arise
• Be aware what you’re up against - so you can plan and budget for it
• Feel confident that your vehicle will get you from point A to point B
• Have fluids topped off, tire pressure checked and adjusted, and everything else you need routinely done in one stop

​2. Only take your vehicle to a reputable shop and have it inspected and repaired by a highly-trained mechanic

The value of a good mechanic cannot be overstated. A trained and experienced eye sees far more than the average eye can even imagine. You can’t put a price tag on that! A great mechanic is hard to find and when you find one, be sure to hang on for life! Great mechanics tend to save you a ton of money over the life of your vehicle. Plus, you’ll feel safe and secure knowing you always have reliable and trustworthy help with your car.

3. Have scheduled and preventive maintenance performed

Many drivers don’t know what it truly takes to keep a vehicle running.When you go to buy a car you’re not told all that is required to maintain that vehicle, and without further investigation on your part, you’re left with very little knowledge about how your car operates. Vehicle maintenance is understated and therefore the reason many cars don’t last as long as they should.

Preventive maintenance includes a variety of services for all systems of a vehicle from fluids to spark plugs and other component replacements. It is the key to a healthy and lasting vehicle--one you can truly depend on to get you to where you need to go.  

There are three basic categories of maintenance to be aware of and to budget for

• Fluids - brake, transmission, coolant, differential, oil and more
• Belts
• Hoses

More thorough inspections and services are recommended by the manufacturer based on mileage and driving habits, so the best thing to do is check your owner’s manual. Also, great auto repair shops will recommend both scheduled maintenance and services they deem necessary based on the current condition of your vehicle. Again, preventive maintenance ensures issues are caught before they get costly.

It’s easy to see that proper vehicle maintenance is well-worth-it. There’s no need to go through the shock of a gigantic repair bill or being stranded on the side of the road with places to be.

We’re here to help you with your vehicle at every turn

With a convenient location, after hour drop-off, a rewards program that includes free towing and courtesy vehicles to get you back to your work and life quickly, we are committed to providing an impeccable service to our community and keeping cars on the road, longer. By giving advice and recommendations that help you reach your goals, we go above and beyond with the auto repair and maintenance services we offer.

Dive into what it’s like to have a best friend auto mechanic—schedule your appointment today.