Families Car Care and Maintenance

Most of us have done it dozens of times—if not more! We make a New Year’s resolution on January 1st to get healthy. We have the best of intentions and usually work really hard for the first few months. Unfortunately, by April we’re right back in the same bad habits.

What if this year was different? As important is it is to keep your body and mind healthy, it’s also critical that you keep your vehicle healthy as well. As the San Pedro car maintenance professionals, we want to help you keep your commitment to your vehicle’s health in 2010.

San Pedro Car Maintenance: The Checklist

Regular car maintenance is the easiest way to save money and time on your vehicle in the long-term. Our San Pedro car maintenance program prevents problems before they happen so you can prolong the life of your car. You spend less money on repairs and make less trips to the shop!

Our San Pedro car maintenance recommendations include the following twenty services and check-ups on a regularly scheduled basis:

Tire rotation Alignment analysis Battery service Air filter Cabin filter Fuel filter Drive belt(s) Radiator hoses Tune-up Oil change Engine cleaner and conditioner Transmission service Cooling system service Power steering service Brake fluid system service Fuel/air service Drive line service Wiper blade service Bi-annual brake system inspection Climate control service and inspection

These twenty critical maintenance services cover every major vehicle system. As your San Pedro car maintenance experts, we ensure that your vehicle is reliable, safe, and performing at its peak condition.

San Pedro Car Maintenance: The Free 40-Point Inspection

In addition to a regularly scheduled San Pedro car maintenance program, we also offer a free 40-point safety inspection of your vehicle’s systems. This proactive, comprehensive 40-point safety inspection prevents costly repairs down the road. You don’t have to do anything but trust your vehicle to the San Pedro car maintenance specialists!

Simply schedule an appointment for any service to receive the free 40-point safety inspection to evaluate your vehicle. During our inspection, we’ll also examine the twenty items on our San Pedro car maintenance checklist to determine the health of your vehicle.

We live in a hectic world. Like most people today I am often challenged to find the time to keep up with my car maintenance responsibilities. Between taking care of the kids, working, home maintenance and a myriad of other duties we all face on an every day basis, its hard to remember to get the oil changed every three thousand miles or check the air filter in the family car. Its especially overwhelming if you have several vehicles like me to do the needed car care on a regular basis.

Recently I found a wonderful product named Automotive Wolf car maintenance software that makes it very easy. It will track all your maintenance, repairs and even send you email reminders when a service item is due. You can configure your car maintenance schedule requirements in seconds and then just let it do its thing. Every time you enter a maintenance or fuel record it will also calculate how many miles you are driving per year which lets it begin to predict very accurately when a maintenance item needs to be addressed even if you have not actually used the software in months. It also tracks operating costs and compiles a parts list for you as you add maintenance records. Another awesome feature is that it will let you connect to Infotraxx Automotive Data Services to check for recalls and technical service bulletins. Basically its a total car care package and it really works great!

I have been tracking three vehicles for four months now and the cost analysis shows you clearly which vehicle costs you the most to keep on the road. The reports it produces are also very useful when you want to sell the vehicle so you can present any prospective buyer with a detailed maintenance log which can ultimately increase your cars resale value. Overall its a great car care program that save you alot of money on repairs and I highly recommend it.

Maintaining your vehicle may be a challenge in these trying times.  Many people think that by letting go of regular car maintenance they are saving.  In truth, people who let their vehicles go may end up with a whole lot of car trouble.

You don’t have to spend big bucks on maintaining your car.  Here are few tips on saving money on your car maintenance.

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If you’re going to bring your car in to a dealership or to an independent auto mechanic, ask what they charge for routine maintenance.

You won’t lose your warranty if you go to an independent mechanic instead of a dealer.  An independent mechanic, especially one you know on a personal level, will charge you less than what a dealership would.

If the mechanic or dealership wants you to have extra work done, you don’t have to.  Maintenance measures that are not included in the owner’s manual are nice but not necessary.  Don’t feel pressured into having them.

Always get quotes from dealers and car mechanics in the area.  However, consider quality of service and after sales.  You may end up paying a bit more than the lowest quote you receive but get better service and after sales.  That should also be a factor in your decision making process.

Avoid Stress

While the advice may be good for you too, this is also true for your car.  Excessive stress can damage your car.  Stressing your car will lead to a breakdown and wear your vehicle out faster.  A broken down vehicle will require more maintenance and in a worst case scenario, a replacement.

Driving well will lead to longer car life and more value when you choose to upgrade to a better model.

Promos

There are innovative ways of cutting on costs.  Did you know that a free oil change is available in certain states for individuals who meet the requirements?  

You can also get free gas if you’re a frequent traveler.  If you drive at least a thousand miles every month, you can sign up and get free gas in return for acting as a mobile advertisement.  A magnetic sign will be placed on your car and the size of the sign will determine how much free gas you will get.

Inflate Tires

Keep your tires well inflated.  Too much or too little air can damage your tires and require you to have them replaced.  You should know how much air is best for your tires.  Keep the air at that level.

Fluid Checks and Oil Changes

Gas isn’t the only fluid your car needs to operate smoothly.  You should also check that oil, transmission fluid and engine coolant are at optimum levels.  If any of these are inadequate, an engine collapse may be in the offing.

As oil is of vital importance to your car, have it changed every three thousand miles.  Regular oil changes can increase your engine’s life and performance.  Thus, you get more value from your car in the long run.

Wash and Wax Regularly

Taking care of your car’s internal components is important.  However, do not ignore the exterior.  A clean, well polished car is a source of joy to any car owner.  Regular washing and waxing can also prevent corrosion problems.  Corrosion problems can lower your car’s value.

A car is a machine and machines need proper maintenance.  Having your car maintained at regular intervals can extend the car’s life and functionality.  Regular maintenance will save you from expensive repairs and the possibility of purchasing another vehicle.

But the ultimate car maintenance money saving tip is:  do it yourself.  If you can do it properly, do the servicing yourself.