By Jamie Barrie B e careful to pay attention to that reminder phone call or email from your trusted auto service tech- nician. A recent survey by American Automobile Association (AAA) concluded that ignoring it will likely cost you money. The survey results indicate that vehicle owners who follow the prescribed maintenance schedule for their car have lower repair costs over the lifetime of the automobile. Following the recommended service lowers the average cost of a visit to the auto shop by about $100 per visit according to the AAA report. Pressure to improve the reliability and quality of automo- biles has lowered repair costs but also driven up the length of time owners are hanging onto their rides. People are driving their vehicles 26 months longer than they were in 2006 according to Aftermarket News. Their findings suggest that a significant number of cars on the road surpass the 11.6-year-old mark. A growing percentage of vehicles on the road are significantly older than decades ago. The report suggests nearly 120 million cars and trucks running on the highway range from six to 14 years old. Don’t cancel your roadside assistance plan yet. AAA noted they towed more than two million vehicles for engine failure. They also noted that nearly 600,000 cars were towed for transmission failure. The most common problems were low tire pressure and brake problems. The costs of an engine repair or transmission rebuild are
two of the highest priced items automobile owners must face. Ironically regular maintenance can detect pending issues with both areas and significantly reduce the out of pocket repair expense to owners. The issue many vehicle owners report is finding a compe- tent technician that is honest. It can be a difficult task but having a reliable maintenance plan with reputable auto service center is cheaper in the long run and worth the time it takes to find one. Quality shops will make recom- mendations on how to keep your vehicle in top working condition based on facts provided by the manufacturer of your vehicle. A classic example is the age-old notion that oil changes are required every 3000 miles. That may not be the case. Depending on the make and model, as well as your driving habits, the interval can range from 5,000 or up to 10,000 miles. Additionally, unless you live in a dusty region your air filter is good for 7500-10000 miles. Today’s cars also do a much better job of letting you know when something is going wrong. Many vehicles have a wide array of sensors designed to let you know something is malfunctioning. Unfortunately, some drivers ignore these. For instance, AAA handles millions of calls for flat tires even though most cars today have tire pressure warning systems. The old notion that when money is tight maintenance is the first thing to be cut is true but still costly. When it comes to vehicles, fixing small problems saves big headaches later.
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NOVEMBER 2016 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
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