Maintening your Vehicle

Follow the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual. If your car has a "maintenance minder", use that as a guideline for service, but be sure to double-check your owner's manual as some items need to be replaced based on time rather than mileage. 
Don't forget the timing belt! Most cars need to have the timing belt replaced every 60,000 to 90,000 miles. 
It's not cheap, but it’s far less expensive than the damage it will cause if it breaks.

Be aware. Be on the lookout for new noises, strange smells or anything that just doesn’t feel right. If something seems amiss, call us at J&C Auto Service.

Ask a friend to drive. Every two or three months, ask a friend to take you for a drive in your car. Some problems appear or increase so gradually that you may not even notice them, but they'll stick out like a sore thumb to someone less familiar. And by riding in the passenger's seat, you may spot something you missed while preoccupied with driving.

Fix everything as soon as it breaks. If you're going to keep your car as long as possible, you have to want to keep it as long as possible. 
Don't ignore seemingly unimportant problems like broken trim, torn upholstery, or electrical glitches. Little annoyances add up and can begin to erode your love affair with your old car.

Keep it clean. Paint does more than make your car look good; it protects the materials underneath. Wash your car regularly. 
When water no longer beads on the paint, wax it.

Fight rust. If you live where it snows, be sure to wash the car regularly -- but only if the temperature is above freezing.  
Don't park in a heated garage; melting snow allows embedded salt to attack. 

Drive gently. There's no need to baby your car; in fact, a little foot-to-the-floor acceleration every once in a while is a good thing, but driving like a wannabe Michael Schumaker in his Formula 1 Ferrari isn't good for your car (or your nerves).

Gloat! If you enjoy the surprised looks people give you when you tell them your car has 150,000 miles on it, wait until you see their faces at 250,000. If people chide you about your old wheels, chide them about their car payments and higher insurance rates. 
Keeping your car as long as possible saves you hundreds of dollars per month; keeping it in good repair minimizes the environmental impact by ensuring that it runs cleanly and efficiently as possible. Feel free to gloat -- you and your car have earned it!

Call us at J&C Auto Service 630-968-9827

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