Oct 4, Frugal Car Maintenance - Keep your Car Going For As Long As Possible

Car Maintenance need not be difficult or time consuming and it could save you a lot of money in the process. taking the time to look after your car will mean that it keeps going for longer, less breakdowns and lower garage bills.

Let me introduce you to a book which has helped me look after my car and which I know has saved me lots of money over time. being a woman i never had much opportunity in my life to learn mechanics etc and i have always ended up just taking my car to the garage whenever anything needed to be done and that included the simply things too, i just didn't have the confidence or know how to attempt them myself.

"How to make your car last forever" has helped me to understand my car better. It has taught me everything I needed to know without having to go into too much detail. it is a easy book to read not like a manual at all and has lots of great pictures to help you follow along.

If you think that doing car maintenance for yourself is something just not worth the effort let me ask you to read this excerpt from the book. it will give you a great insight in what the book is all about and just why car maintenance can help save you big money.

This chapter is devoted to enlightening you on the following four topics:

•  When faced with a major repair, when do you say enough is enough and replace the vehicle?

• When your vehicle needs repair, when should you use OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts and when is it okay to use aftermarket parts?

• What are your options when making a decision on major repairs?

• What are the criteria for finding a good auto repair shop?

Many motorists find themselves in this situation. They have a car that’s perhaps 8 to 10 years old with high mileage. Their technician gives them a repair estimate for what everyone tells them is more than the car is worth. They really don’t want another car payment. Furthermore, they don’t want to spend a lot of money on a used car that might have more problems than the car they have now. The last thing they want to do is “buy someone else’s problems.”

Have a qualified technician do a complete assessment of the vehicle to determine whether or not it’s worth repairing. It’s important to have a good foundation from which to refurbish your vehicle. This type of inspection is the same as a pre-purchase inspection. The technician will closely scrutinize such things as the suspension, brakes, transmission, and engine, looking for any in-the-near-future failures. All potential problem areas should be identified, with estimated cost of repair using state inspection rules as a guideline (this way you are sure the vehicle will pass state inspection).

The technician should check over the condition of the frame and body, and I mean a thorough inspection. He or she should look at the undercarriage and frame closely for deterioration caused by rust. In addition, the technician should carefully inspect the inside of the car’s sheet metal. The front and rear fenders, bottoms of doors, cowl (base of the windshield), and floorboards should be examined closely because water wells up in these areas and accelerates rust.

You might have a car that functions well mechanically, but if the frame and body are disintegrating you may be better off shopping for another car.

Have a complete electrical and computer analysis done to detect any potential electrical failure such as wiring harnesses or alternators. In addition, a detailed electronic analysis will determine the health of the car’s electronic performance system, as well as the engine’s health.

Your ultimate goal is to determine if you have a good foundation to start with, before spending more money on the car. Look over your service history to see what has been done long-term. Repairs that fall under long-term maintenance can be defined as major engine repair, transmission replacement or overhaul, and total rebuilding of systems such as the suspension or brakes. Maybe the body had just been completely refurbished and repainted and the car has little or no rust. These are all good reasons to consider major work versus replacement.

An example of what the repair estimate might look like

Complete brake system overhaulNew rack-and-pinion unit, including alignment

Car Maintenance is definitely something for your frugal lifestyle, it saves money, is economical, prevents pollution and helps to cut down on wastage too.

So what are you waiting for, get out there now, you never know you may even find that you find car maintenance to actually be fun.

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