Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

It happens to all of us; our vehicle breaks down or is just not running properly. You know that it needs repairs. But, what does it take to get these repairs done the right way. Whether you will be doing the repairs yourself or you will bring it to a shop, you need to know certain things, which is the point of the following article.






<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RSmYH0KLZdA/TYMlJc5iG1I/AAAAAAAAAjQ/XCb08Yza_44/s1600/Gemballa%2BAvalache-25.jpg" />

When you run into car problems, you should first turn to the Internet to learn what the problem could be. You may find that it is an easy to repair problem that you can do on your own. This could save you hundreds of dollars in labor fees if you had to take it to a shop.



Read as much of your auto manual as you can, marking anything that is important. When you need to go to an auto repair shop, the professionals you are dealing with will want to know certain information regarding your car. You could even find the answer to a problem in your car manual and fix the problem yourself.











The Automotive Service Excellence logo is a sign that you have found a good mechanic. Mechanics have to successfully pass an exam and maintain an excellent record to receive this logo. Not all good mechanics get this certification but you should still try finding a mechanic who is ASE certified.



If you are worried about an auto body shop puffing up the amount of work that needs to be done, go and get free diagnostics from somewhere else. Since there is no guarantee you will get work done by them, they have no reason to claim there is more needed than necessary.



Don't neglect your regular maintenance. These scheduled visits are not there just to get more money from you. They are designed to make sure maintenance is done on specific components before you end up stranded on the side of the road. While you might be able to skip one or two and be okay, the damage will shorten the life of your car.



Try figuring out the issue prior to going to get repairs. Being able to diagnose the problem, even if you can't fix it, can help you from being fleeced by an unscrupulous mechanic. You probably already know that certain mechanics will come with lies to charge more money.



Don't ignore small annoying sounds or problems. These tiny annoyances, such as noisy brakes, are usually cheap to fix. If ignored, however, they can usually lead to much more extensive problems and expensive repairs. Replacing worn brake pads now is much cheaper than having to replace the pads, rotors, brake lines, and calipers later.



Always exercise the highest level of caution when working with your car's fuel system. Never work around fuel tanks, fuel lines or pumps with sources of ignition such as cigarettes or anything that could produce a spark. Wipe up any fuel spills immediately, and protect yourself by wearing fuel-resistant gloves and eyewear.



If you need to fix Read Even more or paint over an area, make sure you select the right color. Check the owner's manual to see if you can find a code for the color of your car or look for a sticker located under the hood or on the driver's side front door to find the color code.



Many auto repair shops will tell you that you need your fuel injectors replaced when you do not. This is a way to get some more money from you. The proper time to replace them is after every 35,000 miles of driving. If anyone tells you that it needs to be done sooner, look for someone else to do your auto repairs.



Find out how often you should perform a tune up on your vehicle. You should find this information in your owner's manual. You have probably heard that you need to tune up your vehicle every 100,000 miles but this really depends on the make an model of the vehicle you have.



Find out how often you should perform a tune up on your vehicle. You should find this information in your owner's manual. You have probably heard that you need to tune up your vehicle every 100,000 miles but this really depends on the make an model of the vehicle you have.



If you need to find a good mechanic, ask them how much experience they have with the brand and make of your vehicle. Driving a popular and affordable vehicle will make your job easier. It might be best to find a dealership if you do not drive a popular brand.



If you are looking to extend your car's life, do not accelerate too quickly immediately after starting it up. Especially in cold weather, racing the engine of your car will result in it deteriorating more quickly and contributing to accelerated wear and tear. Rather, accelerate slowly when you begin to drive.



When you have work done on your car, have the mechanic give you the old parts when they are finished. If the mechanic is unwilling to do this, it may mean they aren't going to do the work but charge you anyway. Ask your mechanic for an explanation if you notice this red flag.



Keep an accordion file in the car to keep receipts. Have them divided by the kind of repairs done or put them in chronological order, with the newest receipts first. Keeping a detailed record of all the repairs made is very useful and can help your mechanic diagnose recurring issues very quickly. This can be priceless.



Keeping your car in proper running order is a necessary chore of life for most people. Not everyone really knows how to find the best mechanic services in town, nor do they know how to actually perform the needed repairs by themselves. Refer back to this article so that you can keep your car running properly at supplemental resources .