Don't Let The Bad Economy Get You Down!
Mar 24, 2009 5:56 pm US/Eastern
A Little Car Care Will Take You A Long Way
DORAL, Fla. (CBS4) ―
'An ounce of prevention is worth a pound a cure.' It's a phrase many live by when it comes to our health; but what about other aspects of our lives? In these these tough economy times, experts say the same thinking applies to car care.
"I'm not hesitant to fix the car," said Scott Rude. His eight-year old Toyota Corolla needs new brakes and between the prospects of trying to afford a new car and paying for a set of brakes, the answer is quite obvious. Rude's one of a growing number of drivers who are looking to squeeze every mile they can out of their present car.
"Now they're coming in getting, doing bigger repairs, getting their car up to date, doing all the services and repairs so they can keep it another three, four, five years down the road," said certified mechanic David Perez. He works at Beacon Auto Care in Doral and said he is seeing more and more customers like Rude.
But before you pull into an auto shop, Perez said make sure it's ASE certified and go in armed with knowledge about your car and how it works. He said that fluid levels like engine oil, transmission, coolant, brake, and power steering should all be checked regularly. He also recommends checking air and fuel filters on a regular basis.
In addition, he said it's key to not forget about tire pressure. Perez said you should check it once a month or once every other month to prevent wear and tear. Keeping your tires properly inflated will also increase your fuel economy.
If you are in the market for a new or used vehicle, Consumer Reports just released its list of the best and worst used cars for 2009. The magazine also featured an article on maintenance, warning motorists to guard against service rip-offs such as: flushing the engine or transmission, paying for maintenance other than what the car's manual recommends, frequently replacing different parts, replacing the same part over and over again, and being told only a dealership can service your vehicle.
"With maintenance or as with every other part of car ownership, it's important to go in informed, do your homework," said Consumer Reports spokesman Jonathan Linkov said.
If you're not sure when to have your car serviced, just check the service maintenance guide that comes with your car.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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