Since many of our customers at Ponder Auto Repair in Johnson City are keeping their cars longer, here’s How to Maximize the Life of Your Car, Part 1. It’s more common now for cars to be reaching the 100,000-mile mark and beyond. Our experts are dedicated to keeping these vehicles running well for their owners. According to a Kiplinger article, there are some things you can do to help get the most out of your car, including regular maintenance and paying attention to any strange sights, sounds or smells.
Regular Maintenance
If you make sure your car receives regular maintenance it will last longer and keep running great even past 100,000 miles. Look at the car manufacturer’s maintenance schedule in the owner’s manual for a list of services you should be doing. Our technicians can help you build a schedule of appropriate car maintenance because there may be some considerations that are not addressed in the owner’s manual dealing with a car that has over 150,000 miles.
Strange Odors
A smell coming from your car can tell you a lot. For example, if you check your oil and smell something burned, it could be a sign that your engine is running too lean, which means it is not using enough fuel. If you tell us, we can fix the problem early and possibly save you from a costly expense of rebuilding your engine. If your automatic transmission fluid has a bad, burned smell, please let us know because you may have a problem that needs repair.
Visual Inspection
You should always do a visual inspection, from the wear on your car tires to the look of things under the hood. Looking the car over for things that need to be fixed can save you time, money, and avoid bigger problems, even dangerous situations in the future. Even if you don’t know anything about cars, one key way to inspect it for issues is to always check for fluid leaks. Some people park on cardboard to see if there are any drips. If so, you should bring the car into the shop for and have any issues takes care of right away.
Listen for Sounds
If you hear sounds you’ve never heard before, like if something is clunking, bumping or squeaking, it is probably a sign that there is a problem. The louder, the more urgent, especially when paired with any drivability issues. Listen to any sounds that are out of the ordinary or indicate something is wrong. Bring it into Ponder Auto Repair and describe the sound. It will give a great clue to our technicians about what might be the problem. We can check it out before you need a tow or the problem becomes more expensive.
At Ponder Auto Repair in Johnson City, we’re an honest garage with the experience and expertise necessary to take care of your vehicle. We hope this quick guide, How to Maximize the Life of Your Car, Part 1, was helpful. If you want to get the most out of your car, staying up-to-date with regular maintenance can help, so let us create a maintenance schedule that’s specific to your car’s needs. Of course, if anything looks, smells or sounds weird, bring your car in right away so we can take care of any issues and get you back on the road.