Helpful Facts about Car Service Repair
As great as it is to have someone to talk with, your car should be relatively quiet when it runs, but if it's not, you will want to take it to the nearest car repair service shop for some diagnostic work. But before you head out, there are some things you should know about car service repair so you're not surprised by the results. All car service repair shops are not created equal. Today's cars are run by high-tech computers that require quite a bit of training and finesse to understand.
Expect car technicians to use a machine that will give them codes to help diagnose your car's service problem. However, the difference between a technician using one of these machines versus a driver using a self-service kiosk is great. The technician will use the code to begin to diagnose the car's problem-much as a physician would use blood tests or x-rays to begin diagnosis-but they do not consider the codes the ultimate diagnosis. Don't be surprised if the technician points out that your car has a recall notice for a part. When cars are brought into shops for service, computer alerts for recalls are a routine part of the service.
Stick to a routine
maintenance schedule. Keeping tires inflated, moving
components properly lubricated and ignition and emission
systems operating properly will extend the life of your
vehicle and lessen the need for car repair.
Batteries are adversely
affected by heat as cold. If your battery dies, think
twice before you "do it yourself." It's easy to buy the
incorrect battery for your car, which wastes money and
could damage your car. Rely on a car repair service for
this replacement.
Check the hoses of your car,
extreme heat can cause hoses to dry out over time and
leak, leaving you stranded. Technicians will gladly
check your hoses for deterioration.
Technicians will give you a
list of repairs that need to be done immediately and a
list of those that can wait a few months.
Remember that
antifreeze/coolant levels are very important, especially
in extreme hot or cold weather. The technician will
check to ensure that the proper 50/50 mixture of water
and coolant is in your system.
Talk to the technician at
your car repair service shop about the driving
conditions you expect to encounter. If you are driving
in very hot temperatures or towing a heavy trailer, you
may want to take preventative measures such as switching
to motor oil with higher viscosity.
With these tips you'll able
to better understand the diagnosis and repair process
and not be surprised along the way.