Things get out of hand monetarily, and without being a trained mechanic yourself, you can never be sure that everything you need to be done is being repaired.

Finding a great auto repair shop is the best first step to solving that problem, however that’s easier said than done. There are a few things that you can do to cut down on some of the issues you may face in car repair.

Neglecting Your Vehicle

If you don’t want the cost of owning your car to skyrocket, there’s an easy way to get what you want: start giving your car the maintenance and auto repair it needs. Far too many car owners toil under the subconscious or even deliberate belief that all of those maintenance recommendations are nothing but a money grab on the part of the automotive industry.

Woefully, this couldn’t be less true. The manufacturer or auto mechanic doesn’t benefit when you decide to stretch your oil change interval to 12 months. By failing to take your car in for these small but very important services, you can severely cut down the life of your car and you will wind up having to spend thousands more in auto repair.

Letting Them Keep Your Parts

No, you’re not going to make a lot of money selling old parts on eBay or Craigslist, but letting your mechanic keep the old parts could still be a mistake. This isn’t an issue if you’ve found a shop with an excellent local reputation for honesty, but otherwise you are taking a chance. More than one mechanic has been caught charging a customer for an auto repair they didn’t complete. If you don’t know your mechanic before you agree to have the car fixed, ask them to at least show you the old parts when they are finished. This will often ensure they won’t just say they replaced something without actually doing it.

Forgetting Tire Maintenance

Don’t ever forget that your tires play a most important role in getting you from place to place. Around the country, there are probably millions of people driving on underinflated or even bald tires. This can cost tons of money in wasted gas, not to mention that it leads to the need to buying more tires more often.

The side of the tire tells you how much you should inflate them. Keep them pumped to that level and you won’t have to worry about your tires holding you back. While you can get more out of your tires by taking care of them, that doesn’t mean you should push it. When your tires start looking worn, get a new set. Your safety and the safety of other drivers depend on it.

So find a good mechanic you trust and build a relationship. Most all good mechanics you go to regularly will always work with you on the need for repair.

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It’s been a great pleasure bringing my Caravan in.  They did a great job on replacing the  transmission.  The price was right and we really enjoyed the service we got and the people were extremely knowledgeable. If I ever have any problems again this where I am bringing my car.

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Taking measures to make certain your car A/C system is working properly will give you confidence that your vehicle will keep you cool and safe when you head to your favorite summer spot. Not only are high temperatures dangerous to the human body, extreme hot temperatures can cause unnecessary wear and tear on a vehicle.

A vehicle’s heating, ventilating and air conditioning system (HVAC) keeps the interior cabin comfortable in any season by providing the right temperature and humidity level. If you think you’re car A/C  system is not working properly, the most common reason could be a small refrigerant leak in the system. If your system slowly loses refrigerant over a two-week period then a leak additive will most likely fix your problem. Typically refrigerant leaks occur in cars that are over 5 years old because the rubber O-rings that seal the different components of the system have become brittle and rigid allowing the refrigerant in the system to leak past them. An A/C technicians job requires working with electrical components, motors, compressors and even ductwork. Typical A/C service consists of the following steps:

• Service technician visually inspects hoses, lines, seals and other components for leaks as well as inspect the drive belt for cracks or damage.
• Technician checks pressures to test operation, refrigerant charge and outlet temperatures.
• If the system is found to be low on refrigerant, a leak test is performed to find the source of the leak. Keep in mind that if your vehicle is leaking refrigerant, it is damaging the ozone layer.
• Refrigerant may be added if necessary to “top off” the system, although some states do not allow “topping off.”
• A technician may also check for evidence of refrigerant cross-contamination, which is the mixing of refrigerants.
• Car A/C system service should also include a check of the compressor’s drive belt and tension.

Many problems can be avoided by simply running the car A/C system at least once a week, regardless of the season. Simply let the system run for at least five minutes a week and you’ll keep the internal parts lubricated as well as prevent the hoses from hardening.

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However, you may be surprised by just how high your costs of ownership and operation are. Think about this number… $10,000 a year according to AAA just to keep your car running. That figure is growing too. Remember this cost is on top of the purchase price and loan interest payments Generally speaking, car ownership involves four additional costs: fuel, maintenance, insurance and taxes. Problem is, these costs aren’t like your mortgage or cable bill. They can be hard to predict and aren’t due at the same time each month.

In the past year alone, the cost of driving climbed almost 2%, according to AAA’s annual “Your Driving Costs” study. The increase this year, to just over 60 cents a mile, is a result of changes in maintenance, fuel and insurance prices. That’s just the average cost for sedans. For an SUV or that hot little sports car you’re looking at more than 77 cents a mile.

Fuel costs are commonly the goose chase in most studies, but this year it was maintenance. Blame it on huge leaps in labor and parts prices for most models as cars are being built more and more to rely on technology, auto repair shops need to keep up with the right equipment. We do like our GPS’s, Sirius Radio’s and Movies for the kids. In fact, there has been a “major increase” in the prices of extended warranty policies; this can be blamed in part to Hurricane Sandy and other natural disasters.

Insurance rates jumped about 3% this year. However, this figure is for a low-risk driver with an immaculate driving record. Rates vary widely based on the driver, driving record, make, model and year of your car and of course what insurance company you use, and where you live.

Depreciation naturally is among the biggest annual expense of owning and operating a car, according to AAA. Thankfully, used cars have been holding their values because there are fewer of them on the road.

The best way to be prepared for the cost is to handle it just like any other irregular or unexpected costs, put something away each month for these car expenses. The trick is figuring out how much you’ll need. Then there is always the often difficult but possible option of paying cash for a car, you keep that monthly payment amount free to do other things. The average car payment is $470/mo. If you started investing $470/month now, how much will you have at retirement age?

Overall, just about every aspect of car ownership got more expensive this year, from auto insurance premiums to gas and maintenance. Think carefully before you go for that unnecessary cruise to show off your wheels.

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Either way, both drivers face the reality of resale value, and it can be either a pleasing surprise or a chilling wake-up call. Resale value is a mixed bag of a car’s age, its mileage, general condition, and equipment levels with less straightforward factors like status or supply.

How do you stay in control of your cars resale value?  Knowing how these factors affect it is a good start.

 Name Dropping:

First, you need to understand that the name of a vehicle, such as Lexus, Audi, Honda and Mercedes, will have a tremendous effect on its resale value, regardless of the condition or quality of the vehicle in question. To research before you buy consider a good used car pricing site, such as Kelley Blue Book or NADA, to research the resale history of the models that interest you.

 Options:

Some options, such as air conditioning, a sunroof and a built in navigation system can improve your car’s resale value. Other options like chrome wheels or a high-end stereo system that cost you an arm and a leg will probably not have any value at the resale point.

 Exterior:

The better your car appears to be kept up, the more it will be worth, and most people associate cleanliness with care. Washing your car regularly can keep your car in excellent shape, so can a paint correction and detailing job before you sell. Correcting any dents and dings with a dent-doctor-type service cost little compared to the added value they can bring as sale time.

 Interior:

Simple things as protecting your seats from pets or cleaning up spills can make a difference to the market value of your car. Keeping the vehicle interior clean and fresh, keeping the fuel tank full, having two sets of keys for the car and even having a full set of mats will all add value to a vehicle. You wouldn’t try to sell your home with dirt and clutter everywhere; it goes for your car. Talk about a safe driver discount. A car that has never been in an accident will gain you more then just good insurance rates.

 Service Really Matters:

Service records can be so valuable if you’re selling your car to a private buyer. A pile of receipts emphasizes the fact that your car has been well taken care of. Perceptive used car buyers will be willing to pay extra for a car with a fully documented service history, paving the way to a quick sale at a good, fair price. Recommending the auto mechanic you’ve trusted the car to will instill trust to the new buyer.

 Mileage:

Think of the mileage on your vehicle akin to the age of the roof on your house. The more years on the roof, the more discount a buyer will take off the homes value. The same reasoning goes for your car. Fewer miles directly translate into a higher resale value.

That long road trip you were planning for family vacation may be better traveled in a rental car.

Preference in Paint:

Yes, it’s true; there is a little vanity in all of us. According to vehicle valuation specialists paint color is one of the most common options people will pay extra for. The value for paint color can vary from hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the vehicle and the color in question. The most popular paint colors all around are silver, white and black. Metallic or not can make a huge difference too. Go for the hot new sunset orange or purple passion and you could be looking at not selling the vehicle at all.

Although resale value is an important consideration for most of when buying a new car, that’s not always the case. If you’re the type to keep a car until the wheels fall off, resale value will have little influence for you so buy what makes you happy!

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Researchers studied nationwide databases of auto repair trends, compiled by a network of affiliated technicians who uploaded details from vehicles’ onboard diagnostics ports when they were brought in for repairs. They found that repair costs were up 10 percent in 2012, the biggest jump in six years. While it was the first time, the cost of  auto repair increased in the past six years, the cost of fixing a car is still well below the 2007 average of $422.

One of the reasons for the increase is our cars are getting older – the average car is 11 years old.

The Negatives

The worst news for car owners is that repair costs are on the upswing. Parts were up a modest 8%, while labor surged 19%. Drivers were affected differently, depending on where they lived. Costs in the Northeast jumped 11.66%, with the South following closely behind at 11.02%. In the Midwest, prices climbed 8.98%, and the West got off easy, with hikes averaging 6.53%.

The 15 most expensive vehicle repairs — things like replacement of transmissions and catalytic converters occurred 24% more often in 2012 than in 2011. Problems with batteries and charging systems are becoming common problems. The increase is partly due to vehicle computerization, which is better able to track failing batteries, meaning that they’re replaced more often. Record high temperatures in 2012, which was the hottest year ever recorded in the U.S., has wreaked havoc on certain vehicle parts, especially batteries.

The Positives

There was a time when the average vehicle could be expected to go wrong on a regular basis. That’s not the case these days, and in general, cars are more reliable than ever even if repair costs are increasing.

Although costs for auto repair jumped in 2012, the number of visits to mechanics due to check-engine lights actually fell. This is in part because today’s cars are better made than their forerunners, and also because drivers have become better at fixing minor problems on their own. Although the frequency of expensive car repairs jumped in 2012, the most expensive auto repair remain extremely rare in terms of percentage of occurrence.

Repairs that are more frequent can be directly related to the age of cars on the road today. With the economy as it has been, we are holding on much longer to our trusty steeds which is great for quality minded buyers however, it also means that when things go wrong, they can go very, very wrong.

It is not bad all the way around. Hybrid auto repair costs are dropping, thanks to the growing number of hybrids in use and the increasing number of shops that are qualified to service them. However, things like replacing hybrid inverter assemblies remain costly at just under $4,000 and that sum will continue to drop thanks to economies of scale.

Is it time you considered that upgrade you have been talking about?

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What should be included in the six-point vehicle maintenance check are the brakes, the tires, wiper blades, coolant, battery and the oil.

The brake pads thickness and brake pad operation on all 4 tires. Brake Rotor inspection. Check the brake lights and brake fluid check.

As for the tires, check the tires tread depth; tire balance check, shock checks on all four tires and the alignment of the tires.

A simple test of your windshield washers will tell you if the wiper blades need to be replaced. If the wipers streak, chatter or fail to cleanly remove the wiper fluid, the wiper blades should be replaced. This test will also show you if the fluid nozzle is clogged or if the nozzle needs to be adjusted to ensure the fluid hits the windshield in the correct place.

For the coolant, make a visual check of the cooling system. There should be no debris or unnecessary elements on it. The radiator and the hose surrounding it should not seem damaged. Check, the reserve container to be sure the level measures at full. Also, look in the radiator to know the coolant level.

Now it’s time to check the battery. Disconnect the battery cables and clean off powdery deposits on the positive and negative terminals. Dry everything with a clean, disposable, lint-free rag. Examine the battery cables and clamps to see whether they’re frayed or corroded. Check the battery case and the terminals for cracks and leaks. When reconnecting the terminals back onto the battery, replace the positive cable first and the negative cable last.

The last of the 6-point Vehicle Maintenance Inspection is the oil. Oil is the lifeblood of your car. Without it, you wouldn’t make it two miles. Have your car on level ground. It is best to check the oil with the engine cool. Remove the dipstick and see a minimum and a maximum line on the stick. If the oil level is between these two marks, you are good to go. If it is low open the oil cap and add oil. Give it enough time to settle before checking again.

Now you are ready for the your road trips during the hot months of the summer.

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Hi my name is Tony Pascarelli and I brought my Chevy to a mechanic and he wanted $800 for a new air intake, which wasn’t even 2 years old. Instead of that I brought it to Ron and it ended up being an O-ring for the oil pump so instead of an $800 job in which I didn’t need it was $237 and I really appreciate that. Now I brought my Saab down and I was afraid that I had 4 mail seals put in and I thought it was leaking and Ron checked it out and found out it was the axle seal and he is going to fix it at a very good price. I am very happy, I’ve come all the way from Long Boat Key and it is about 30 miles to bring it here. I just love the way they do the work and they got top technicians.

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Foremost, EDRs were intended to help researchers and automakers make refinements to the systems proposed to keep cars from crashing and people from dying. Soon after, it was discovered that these little devices could help authorities figure out what a driver was doing in the moments just before a crash.

Whether they were applying cosmetics, eating, or forbid anyone still not getting it, talking or texting on the cell phone is not an intended function. Previously, before EDRs, interpreting accident facts required autopsies, along with a series of educated guesses based on things like skid marks and area of impact on the vehicle.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) over 85 percent of new vehicles will come equipped with black boxes and many already do have them. However, the average driver has no idea that in the event of a crash, data stored in the box details how the car was being driven in the moments before impact.

The Senate bill passed in March that calls for mandatory event data recorders to be installed in all new passenger motor vehicles, starting with the 2015 models

These black boxes are not GPS devices, and do not track where you’ve been or where you’re going. Consequently, sneaking off to an illicit affair and all your other secret habits are still safe, as long as you don’t get in a car wreck while practicing those habits.  What they are permitted to record according to the new law is a long list that thus far avoids the invasion of your privacy.

Currently, EDR’s may record, pre-crash vehicle dynamics and system status, driver inputs, vehicle crash signature, restraint usage/deployment status and post-crash data such as the activation of an Automatic Collision Notification (ACN) system. NHTSA requires that EDR’s must record 15 data elements at a minimum in a standardized format. A complete list is contained in the NHTSA regulations.

In most states, the current vehicle owner, or their legal representative, can give or withhold permission to download EDR data. The fact that the data is your property will also prevent it from being used by advertisers and/or dealerships and law enforcement agencies will normally need a warrant to get the data. Courts can subpoena EDR data through court orders.

As it stands now, with cable-based retrieval, you can have a reasonable degree of assurance that your data is safe. However, we are not far, with current and future technology for wireless transmission of this sort of data, to schedule maintenance and alert dealerships of service needs. If this becomes more common, preservation of such data integrity will become a much more difficult issue.

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Here are some things you should consider before you let anyone work on your car: 

• Is the auto repair shop neat and well organized?

• Does it have modern equipment?

• Is their policy regarding labor rates, guarantees and methods of payment,

clearly posted?

• Is the staff qualified and the shop certified by AAA, the Automotive Service

Council or the Better Business Bureau?

• Is the manager willing to answer any questions you may have.

• Do they specialize in any particular vehicles such as foreign cars or farm

equipment?

Once you’ve picked a auto repair shop and need their services, you need to get an estimate and know your rights. An estimate should be given in person if it costs more than $100. Once you have received your estimate, the repairs cannot cost over 10% of the estimate without your prior approval. Please do understand that what is wrong with your car, may not always be visible to the mechanic until they get into the repair.

In most cases, the repair shop can keep your car until you pay your bill. However, you can take your car if the following things have happened: if during the face-to-face contact there wasn’t a written estimate given, if the charges were more than 10% without your approval, and if the repair shop did not post a sign stating “your customer rights.” If all these requirements were met, then you must pay your bill before you can receive your car.

Once the repair shop has fixed your car, you should know exactly what work was actually done. You will receive a bill called an invoice. This will have many items listed on it including the cost of the repairs. By law, it must contain a description of the work they did on your car. It also must have a list of all the parts that were replaced. It must state if the parts were new, remanufactured or new. It should also give the price of each part. Lastly, the invoice will contain the charge for labor and the total cost for the repairs.

What happens if some of these requirements were not met? That is a violation of the law! First and always, try to work it out with the repair shop, though there are some legitimately bad auto repair shops out there, most are honest and want to do a good job for their customers. Then, if this does not work, contact the Automotive Service Council or Better Business Bureau, because you may be eligible to receive compensation for up to three times the amount of the damages to your car.

Now you know what to look for in a auto repair shop, what should be on an invoice, and what to ask the customer service manager. Happy and Safe driving!

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