When to take the car to the repair shop
For a lot of people, a car is not only an essential tool they rely on in their daily life, but it can also hold a great deal of special memories. That’s why, as its owner, it’s up to you to keep it in the best shape possible.
Keeping a vehicle properly maintained will make it less of a hassle to drive, and can even save you money. Proper maintenance helps you avoid the cost of having to make serious repairs when you first own your car. For a thing every other person owns, very few of us actually understand the inner workings of our vehicles. How do we keep our cars healthy? When do we know it’s time to take the car to the repair ship?
Listen to your vehicle
The most important step to good car health is actually paying attention to what’s going on. To make that easier for non-experts, automakers have designed cars to monitor, diagnose themselves, and inform the driver of any issues via the dashboard. In many cars, that means a standardized set of gauges and symbols that light up when there’s something you should be aware of.
Consult your owner’s manual or the web for a full explanation of what each symbol means, and know which ones are serious enough to require an immediate trip to the shop for car repair. The manual is also where you should check to know how often you need to service your car. Follow your manual’s service schedule to avoid being hosed by big oil change chains or dealerships.
When to skip the shop
Believe it or not, there’s a lot you can do for your car even if you aren’t a mechanic. Save money on car maintenance costs by managing your car’s care on your own. The Internet is your friend. It’s not hard to find easy how-to guides for performing basic car care.
You may need to invest in some tools and time to recognize the parts of your car, but it can pay off over the years, as you will be able to do things like replace worn out parts and diagnose potential issues on your own.
When in doubt call the experts
Even if you get comfortable taking care of your car's minor problems, you will eventually run into a few things you don’t have the facilities to deal with. For these problems, a trip to the car repair shop is necessary.
Finding a good car repair shop can be tough. Look for a place that offers fair and transparent prices, and that can explain your car issues in a clear way. One of the biggest decisions you’ll make is whether to choose a dealership garage or an independent mechanic. Every garage is different and there’s no hard and fast rule guaranteeing better service from one or the other.
Do your research and don’t be afraid to shop around for quotes from different shops before committing your car.