The upkeep of your vehicle can be quite an expense - from initial purchase to insurance to maintenance. And sometimes we get the sinking feeling that every time we need a car repair, we’re going to get taken for a ride. (pardon the pun!) Actually there are some ways to make sure you don’t get a raw deal when dealing with a local body shop.
After you get recommendations for honest mechanics, call around to check out the prices for certain jobs. It’s always smart to get a second opinion.
How about some preventative medicine? Keep your gas tank filled. This will help you avoid the gas line freezing up in cold weather. Also, driving on “fumes” allows little pieces of dirt at the bottom of your gas tank to run through the fuel lines with the last drops of gas. This debris clogs up the fuel filter and can cause carburetor damage as well.
Sometimes a problem with your car’s electrical system results from a simple blown fuse. Check to see if you have any blown fuses before investing in a tow truck!
Keep track of how much oil your car uses. A sudden change in oil consumption means you need to see a technician.
Save your brakes by having your brake fluid changed every 30,000 miles.
Check your tire pressure once a month. This simple maintenance check can add up savings at the gas pump!
Stop and go traffic causes excess wear and tear on your vehicle. Go ahead and give your car a nice twenty minute ride at 55 mph on the highway every couple weeks if you “major” in short trips.
There are other ways to save money on car expenses. Let’s look at the insurance payments.
If you’ve budgeted for possible out-of-pocket expenses in case of a car accident, you might want to consider increasing your insurance deductible to $500. This will lower the cost of your insurance.
Talk to your insurance agent. If your car is as old as the hills, you might want to drop collision coverage to save money.
Car insurance companies offer a variety of discounts. Ask your agent if the company offers reductions for driver training courses, anti-lock brakes, car alarms, air bags, mature drivers, good students or maintaining a good driving record.
Before you purchase from a dealer, ask about the dealer's return policy, get it in writing and read it carefully. Dealers are not required by law to give used car buyers a three-day right to cancel.
Visit www.fueleconomy.gov to find cars that are fuel efficient.
Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.10 per gallon for gas.
In most cases, using cruise control on the highway will save gas.
Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. This isn’t going to cost you an arm or leg either.
Do your homework when buying a car from an auction. Many vehicles that have been damaged by floods and hurricanes are going on the market. These won’t last long – leaving you with a flood of bills. Be a little concerned if the carpet looks too new, and check carefully for signs of rust.
Carfax.com shares info on inspecting a used car to make sure you get the best deal.
If you use your car for business, keep track of miles traveled so that you can use this for a tax deduction. Get more info at irs.gov.
When you consider all the ways you can save money on your current vehicle, you might be persuaded to put away the extra each month for a new car down the road!
Are you a born mechanic? I congratulate you. Personally, I drove my first car for years without even knowing how to raise the hood.
If you’re like me and have no clue about the inside workings of automobiles and such, take heart. You can actually tell a lot by what your car says.
Yep. Those squeaks, squeals, rattles, and rumbles offer valuable clues about problems and maintenance needs.
Scenario One
Your car squeals at you. A shrill, sharp noise, (mostly related to engine speed) can indicate loose or worn power steering, fan or air conditioning belt. Loose car parts are not good news. Take your car in for a look-over.
Scenario Two
Your car makes a clicking sound. In this case, you might have a loose wheel cover, or a loose or bent fan blade. Don’t try beating the dashboard to see if the problem goes away. Remember the loose car part warning above.
A clicking noise may also mean you have a stuck valve lifter or low engine oil.
Scenario Three
Your car screeches. Piercing metallic sounds can be caused by brake wear indicators to let you know it's time for maintenance. Sometimes brakes will squeal, even when they’re in okay shape. Go ahead and get it checked out, though. You want your brakes in top condition all the time.
Scenario Four
Your car makes a low rumbling noise. This could mean something’s up with your exhaust pipe, converter or muffler.
Scenario Five
Your car has a high-pitched pinging sound. This is usually caused by using gas with a lower octane rating than recommended. Check your owner's manual for the proper octane rating. If the pinging continues, engine ignition timing may be the issue.
Scenario Six
Your car has a rhythmic pounding sound. This could indicate a worn crankshaft or connecting rod bearings. Or maybe a loose transmission torque converter.
Scenario Seven
Your car makes a thumping sound now and again. In this case, you might be dealing with a loose shock absorber or other suspension component. There might also be a loose exhaust pipe or muffler.
Basically, if your car is saying anything other than a pleasant “hum”, you could be in hot water. Get it checked out right away. And casually ask, “I was wondering if maybe I had a loose transmission torque converter…” – just to see what look the mechanic gives you.
Want to save money on car repairs and costly emergencies?
Make it a point to schedule into your calendar a winter booster check for your car.
Keep these tips in mind for your winter travel, and you’ll have a safer winter travel season all around!
A gas tank which is kept filled helps keep moisture from forming. Make it a habit to go ahead and fill up when your tank is half empty.
Change your oil and oil filter every 3,000 miles or so if your driving is mostly stop-and-go or consists of frequent short trips. Personally, I'd change my oil every 2000 miles, regardless. It will save you loads of trouble in the long run. Go ahead. Schedule it into the planner.
Wiper blades are one of those things we usually never think about until we need them, and they're not working! Have you ever tried driving in sleet and snow with impaired visibility, thanks to dud wipers? Talk about nerve-wracking! Go ahead and replace old wiper blades. If your climate is harsh, purchase rubber-clad (winter) blades to fight ice build-up. Stock up on windshield washer solvent. You'll be surprised how much you use. And, of course, carry an ice-scraper. I keep one in the car, and one in the house – just in case my doors freeze and I can’t open them immediately.
Make sure your heater and defroster are in good working condition.
Worn tires don't help any time of year, least of all in winter weather. Examine tires for remaining tread life, uneven wearing, and cupping; check the sidewalls for cuts and nicks. It's a good idea to check tire pressures once a month. Let the tires "cool down" before checking the pressure. Don't forget to rotate your tires, too!
Make sure you have a spare and that the jack is in good condition.
Be prepared for emergencies, even if you live in a warmer climate. A winter emergency list should include gloves, boots, blankets, flares, a small shovel, sand or kitty litter, tire chains, a flash light, and a cell phone. Put a few "high-energy" snacks in your glove box. You can buy survival aids in the camping section of your sporting goods store.
It may take you less than an hour to get your car checked for winter and prepare for any emergency. That's time well spent and it can save you a giant headache this winter season!
Indeed, it could even save your life and the lives of those you love.
We often ignore them unless they're flat. But tires play a vital role in the overall condition of your car. Maintain them properly, and you'll save money on repairs and on fuel costs.
Keeping your tires properly inflated ensures that they wear longer and can prevent accidents. Your car likely has a card or sticker attached to the door edge or the inside of the glove box door. The right amount of air your tires need is specified here. In case your car doesn't have this sticker, you can check your owner's manual.
Serious accidents can happen if your tires are under-inflated or overloaded. One of my tires blew-out on me and caused an accident. Luckily I was on a little traveled country road and was going slowly. I hate to think of what might have happened if I had been in major traffic.
Buy your own quality tire gauge. You can't tell if tires are inflated properly just by looking. And the air meters at your service station may not be correct!
Ask your auto supply dealer for a tire gauge calibrated up to 80 PSI. They'll know what you mean, even if you don't.
Take a moment at the beginning of each month to check your tire pressure (don't forget the spare! Uhm, you do have a spare tire, don't you??) Check them before you get in the car to drive. Write down the actual under-inflation amount for each tire. Take this info with you to the service station.
Now measure the inflation again and record these numbers. (Don't worry, this only takes a couple minutes.) Now inflate the tires to a level that equals the warm pressure (that you just took) plus the first under-inflation amount. (called the "cold" inflation pressure)
If the above instructions sound intimidating or confusing, take your car to a shop and give them the “cold” pressure numbers. They’ll put the correct amount of air in your tires for a minimum fee – sometimes they’ll not charge you at all.
The leading cause of tire failure is under-inflation. So make a habit to check them once a month.
Overloading your vehicle can lead to tire failure, too. Just because you have a pick-up truck doesn’t mean it can carry an infinite load.
Schedule a tire check into your calendar each month and you’ll save money, save fuel, and perhaps, even save your family from a car accident.
Getting a new car thrills and excites. Sometimes it’s easy to get carried away in our initial response to a car. No matter how much you like a certain vehicle, take it for a long, serious test drive.
You should first plan on spending as long as possible on your test drive. Fifteen minutes isn’t enough time. You want to thoroughly examine the car and definitely have a mechanic check it out.
Take a look at the vehicle overall. Do the body parts line up? Does the paint match? Will doors open and close easily? Do the tires look like they wear evenly?
Check under the hood. You may not know exactly what you’re looking at, but that’s okay. Look for leaky hoses, worn belts, and dirty oil. Ask the dealer to show you the automatic transmission fluid. Smell it. If there’s a “burned” odor, steer clear. The fluid should be clear and reddish. Transmission repair costs are not pretty.
Have someone show you the radiator water. It should have a light yellow or green color.
Make sure all of the warning lights and gauges work. Start the car and check all lights and functions. And here’s a no-brainer - make sure no warning lights remain lit on the dashboard.
Look at the airbag indicator lights. If these lights don’t illuminate as you start the car, or if they stay lit after the car is running, they’re not working correctly.
Try on the seat belt. Test the vehicle in the early evening to determine the headlight visibility. If you already have a child safety seat, go ahead and install it. Not all seats are compatible with all cars.
Accelerate up to 35-40 MPH. Is shifting smooth and steering straight? When braking, a pull to the left or the right could indicate a problem.
If you buy via the classifieds, make sure to check the name on the title and match it to the name on the seller's driver's license. Just to be safe.
It’d be nice to find the little lady’s almost new car that wasn’t driven more than 15,000 miles a year. Of course, low miles on the odometer would be a big plus, too. Even then, you can't assume that a low-mileage car is necessarily in great shape.
One major concern is odometer tampering. So do your homework. Ask for a detailed service history report. If records weren’t kept, you can check things out for yourself with the vehicle identification number. Provide this VIN number to your state vehicle history company to get a record of the car’s former life.
Remember, no matter how in love you are with a car, think twice before purchasing one that’s been wrecked. You don’t need anyone else’s problems. There are dozens of other cars you could enjoy just as much.
So test drive more than one car. You’ll never regret a wise, well-thought out purchase.
I have always purchased my cars used. And each time, I got a great deal. Don't think I counted on luck, though - no siree. There are a few "musts" for making sure you don't end up drinking "lemon"-ade.
Spending a little time now may save you serious money later. Check Consumer Reports on the safest cars out there. Looks are one thing, but don't ignore safety.
Go to a reputable car repair shop and ask if you can bring the vehicle by for a look-over. While you're there, ask what cars they have to repair most often. Take heed. Also, ask what the inspection includes, how long it takes, and the price. Always get this information in writing - just to be safe.
Once the vehicle has been inspected, ask the mechanic for a written report with a cost estimate for all necessary repairs. Be sure the report includes the vehicle’s make, model and VIN. Go over it with a fine-toothed comb and make sure you understand every item. If you decide to make an offer to the dealer after approving the inspection, you can use the estimated repair costs to negotiate the price of the vehicle.
Are you going to purchase from an individual?
Remember, private sellers generally are not covered by the Used Car Rule and don’t have to use the Buyers Guide. However, you can use the Guide’s list of an auto’s major systems as a shopping tool. You also can ask the seller if you can have the vehicle inspected by your mechanic. If he/she says no... beware. No matter how nice the car appears, something fishy is going on.
Now, a private sale likely will be on an "as is" basis, unless your purchase agreement with the seller specifically states otherwise. If you have a written contract, the seller has to live up to the contract. The car also may be covered by a manufacturer’s warranty or a separately purchased service contract. But that doesn't mean that the warranty and service contract are transferable. Plus, other limits or costs may apply. Before you buy the car, ask if it's still under warranty or service contract, and review that baby carefully.
Some states will require vehicle sellers to pass a vehicle inspection before a sale is made. That's not always the case, though. To find out what your state requires, contact your state Attorney General's office or a local consumer protection agency. Hey, it's just a phone call. And it could save you a real headache later!
Whether you end up buying a used car from a dealer, a co-worker, or a neighbor, follow these tips to learn as much as you can about the car: