Category: Spotlight

Typical V Belt

Serpentine Belt Replacement


V Belt

Typical V Belt


Don’t you hate it when you hear that squeal from under the hood? It usually means there is a problem with the serpentine belt. The serpentine belt powers a lot of engine accessories. It runs the alternator-which charges the battery, the water pump-which cools the engine, the air conditioning and the power steering pump. All pretty important parts. It is called a serpentine belt because it snakes around a bunch of engine components.

Serpentine belts are especially tough. They can last for years and go for tens of thousands of miles. But, with time they wear out. If your belt breaks while you are driving, everything will come to a halt within minutes. You have to stop the car or it will overheat, potentially causing major engine damage. And it probably won’t be at a convenient time or place. You might even need to get your car towed to a Wilmington automotive service center. That is why manufacturers recommend a belt replacement on schedule. You really should get it done on schedule because a belt failure will definitely take you off the road.

If you hear a squeal when accelerating or a slow, slapping sound at idle, you should have your serpentine belt looked at. Your service technician will visually inspect your belt to see if it needs to be changed sooner than scheduled. If the belt has more than three or four cracks an inch, has deep cracks that penetrate half the depth of the belt, is frayed, is missing pieces or has a shiny glazed look, it needs to be replaced regardless of age or mileage.

Serpentine belt replacement is relatively inexpensive, especially compared with the cost and inconvenience of being stranded or getting a disabled vehicle to a service center for repairs. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

To schedule a belt inspection, call Buckley’s Auto Care at 302-999-8285.

We are located in Wilmington at 1604 E. Newport Pike.

Sep 23, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post
Buckley’s Car Care Gift Card

Buckley’s Car Care Gift Card

Everyone wants to save money and still receive the best value and the best service. Let’s face it. We all work hard for our money and in today’s economy, every penny helps. And we all know that our cars, light trucks, mini-vans and SUV’s can snatch our money right out of our budgets in a flash. A water pump on this car, a steering rack on the other car and so on and so on. This is just owning two cars. Today’s family can average three or more vehicles under one roof. That’s a lot of metal to take care of. Maintenance, insurance, fuel. It all ads up.

So, what can you do to put your vehicle budget under control? Driving less is one way that’s for sure. But when does that happen? Learning how to be a better driver and watching your speed limits always helps. Keeping up on maintenance should be on the list as well. But how do you know all of these things are being done? You certainly can’t drive more than one car at a time can you? And are you leaving it up to others to be responsible enough to keep up on the maintenance?

As parents and consumers ourselves, we know what you go through trying to make sure things are getting done and watching the budget also. So, Steve and I have come up with a plan….

WE WANT YOU TO EARN *20% ON YOUR MONEY! You might be asking How, but let us tell you about our special program..

Introducing Buckley’s Auto Care

Car Care Layaway Program!

It’s the first of it’s kind ever being offered to the motoring public. We’ve designed it to meet every family’s budget and best of all, there’s no contract, no penalties, no term limits. And we’ve partnered with Heartland Card Services, one of the nations largest credit card processors so that your transactions are recorded and GUARANTEED!

Here Are The Car Care Lay-A-Way Bonuses

  • For Every Dollar You Put Into Your Lay-A-Way Account, Buckley’s will help you earn 20% Instant Interest on your money. That’s right. If you put $100 in the account, we’ll match that with $20 Instantly! Talk about savings!
  • You’ll still be able to save even more with NAPA rebates on repairs like Brakes, Belts, Hoses, Shocks and Struts.
  • You’ll have your very own Car Care Layaway online account to check your balances and watch the savings grow!
  • NO EXPIRATION DATES
  • NO CONTRACTS
  • NO HIDDEN FEES
  • NO MEMBERSHIP DUES….EVER!

How can you use them?

  • Add to your card balance on every visit. $20, $30, $50 or $100 to keep the savings going.
  • Give one each to your family members who drive. They never have to ask you for money again!
  • Use it Just Like Cash at Buckley’s Auto Care only.
  • Give Them As Gift Cards For Holidays, Birthdays, Graduations or just to help someone out. There’s no expiration date.
  • Use the card for any service performed at Buckley’s Auto Care.
  • FLEET OPERATORS OR MANAGERS – These cards make great EMERGENCY REPAIR CARDS for your drivers. You can also include them as part of your Incentive programs or include them in your Rewards and Benefit plans. Key Associates will appreciate them.

We feel that this is the absolute best savings program for your car care budget we could design for you and your family members. Now, you can manage your repair bills a little easier and be prepared for when major repairs come due. It’s a great plan to cushion any repair bill.

Call us today and ask about our Car Care Lay-a-way Program. It’s easy, it’s convenient and it saves you money!

Buckley’s Auto Care
302-613-0532

*Please call us for full details. Customer must be present to activate card. **Gift Card and Car Care Layaway Plan Cards are to be protected like cash. Rules and regulations along with full terms are available here.

Heartland Gift Card Marketing Privacy Policy
Heartland Gift Card Terms Of Service
For Gift Card Balances please click here
*Card holders using Car Care Lay-A-Way are not elidgable to use any other coupon or specially priced products, parts or services. Card holders are elidgable to combine savings with national manufacturer rebates or programs.
*20% rate through December 31st, 2010. Discount rates subject to change. Prior Pre-purchases not affected by rate changes.
Aug 10, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post
The New Secure Delaware Drivers License

Getting Your New Delaware Drivers License

secure delaware license

The New Secure Delaware Drivers License

On July 1, 2010, after months of preparation, the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has started to offer the new version of secure driver licenses and identification cards to all licensed drivers in the State Of Delaware. All new drivers will be issued one as will all renewals. The next time you are in any DMV Location here in Delaware, you can expect to see several changes to the driver license and identification card issuance process.

These new rules and changes affect what you need to bring to your local DMV when applying for or renewing your driver license or identification card. Please take a moment to read about our new procedures and find out what documents you will need to COLLECT and BRING with you so you can SECURE your new driver license or identification card.

Why The Change is Necessary

New Federal Identification Standards

The 9-11 Commission, which was formed following terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001, issued several recommendations and requirements that were aimed at improving our nation’s security. One powerful and challenging requirement was the development of federal identification standards for states to follow when issuing driver licenses and identification cards. These identification standards are intended to combat terrorism, identity theft, and other crimes by strengthening the integrity and security of state-issued identification documents.
  • Certain information and security features that must be incorporated into each card
  • Source documentation must be provided for proof of identity, lawful status in the U.S., date of birth, social security number, and primary residence address (compliant DL/ID acceptable documentation list)
  • Source documentation provided by an applicant must be verified
  • Security and privacy of personal information collected when applying for a driver license or identification card must remain a top priority

What is the Delaware DMV doing?

As mentioned, as of July 1, 2010, the Delaware DMV is changing our processes in order to comply with federal identification standards. We will be:


Reversing our customer flow to allow for the driver license or identification card photo to be taken right at the beginning of the issuance process.
Updating the look and security of our driver licenses and identification cards to make them extremely difficult to replicate.
Comparing all driver license and identification card photos to our facial recognition database to ensure customers standing in front of us are who they say they are.
Producing and issuing our driver licenses and identification cards from a highly secure card production room.
Not only will this new process give the Delaware DMV the ability to offer our customers federally compliant driver licenses and identification cards, but our customer flow will be streamlined due to a reduction in the number of lines customers will have to wait in.



The biggest change for Delaware residents is the one-time revalidation of all source documentation used for obtaining a driver license or identification card. For existing driver license or identification card holders you will be presenting original source documents at the time of renewal like you did the first time you obtained your driver license or identification card. Again, this is a one-time revalidation; the only time the DMV will need to see your source documents again is if you decide to change any of the information on your driver license or identification card, such as a name change, or if your immigration documents expire. All new applicants will already be required to show this documentation so for them it will be business as usual. Below you will find a complete list of acceptable source documentation.

Some existing customers may not want or be able to bring these documents. For folks in this situation, you may obtain a non-compliant driver license or identification card. A compliant DL/ID is distinguishable by the gold star in the upper right hand corner of the DL/ID and a non-compliant card is distinguishable by the phrase “Not for Federal Identification” printed in the upper margin of the DL/ID.

You may be wondering why Delaware is going through all this trouble to change our process to comply with federal identification standards and the answer is simple-for your security and convenience. By complying with these standards, in addition to driving authority and identification, you will be able to use your driver license or identification card for domestic flights, entering federal facilities, and other official federal purposes. Without obtaining a federally compliant driver license or identification card you will be required to obtain a U.S. passport to do these things and obtaining a passport is going to be more time consuming and expensive for you.



Important Note: These requirements go into effect on July 1, 2010. However, your existing Delaware driver license or identification card will be valid for official federal purposes until December 1, 2014. There is no need to visit a DMV office before your normal renewal date to get a compliant card.

A Fresh, Secure New Look

What Documentation Do I Need to Get My Compliant Driver License?

The source documents required to prove identity, lawful status, date of birth, and social security number for a compliant driver license or identification card are documents the DMV already requires. In order to obtain a federally compliant driver license or identification card, first time Delaware applicants and existing Delaware applicants should expect to provide original source documents as proof of identity and legal presence in the United States, social security number, and Delaware residence. For existing driver license or identification card holders you will be presenting original source documents at the time of renewal like you did the first time you obtained your driver license or identification card. This one-time revalidation of your source documents will enable the DMV to ensure your identity. By planning ahead and coming prepared to the Division of Motor Vehicles, your compliant driver license or identification card request will be handled more efficiently

Review the list below to find out what documentation you’ll need to COLLECT and BRING with you so you can SECURE your new driver license or identification card.

Please provide ONE of the following proof of identity/legal presence documents:
(This document must contain proof of full legal name, date of birth, and citizenship/legal presence in the United States to be eligible to obtain a federally compliant identification document.)
  • Certificate of birth (U.S. issued). Must be original or certified copy, have a raised seal and be issued by the Bureau of Vital Statistics or State Board of Health. (If under 18, birth certificate must include birth parent(s) names)
  • Consular report of birth abroad
  • Certificate of Naturalization (N-550, N570m or N-578)
  • Certificate of Citizenship (N-560, N-561, or N-645)
  • Northern Marina Card (I-551)
  • American Indian Card (I-551)
  • U.S. Citizen Identification Card (I-179 or I-197)
  • Valid passport, U.S. If foreign, appropriate INS document also is required
  • Resident Alien Card (I-515, I-551, AR-3, or AR-103)
  • Temporary Resident Identification Card (K-688)
  • Non-Resident Alien Canadian Border Crossing Card (I-185 or I-586)
  • Record of Arrival and Departure (in a valid Foreign Passport)(I-94 or I-94W visa waiver program)
  • Record of Arrival and Departure w/attached photo stamped “Temporary Proof of Lawful Permanent Resident”(I-94)
  • Processed for I-551 stamp (in a valid Foreign Passport)
  • Permanent Resident Re-Entry Permit (I-327)
  • Refugee Travel Document (I-571)
  • Employment Authorization Card (I-688A, I-688B, I-766)
  • Canadian Immigration Record and Visa or Record of Landing (IMM 1000)
  • Federally Compliant State issued photo driver license *
  • Federally Compliant State/Province/Territory issued photo ID card *
  • Court order. Must contain full name, date of birth and court seal. Examples include: adoption document, name change document, gender document, etc. Does not include abstract of criminal or civil conviction * **
  • State issued photo driver license * **
  • State/Province/Territory issued photo ID card * **
  • Certified microfilm/copy of driver license or ID card * **
  • Official letter issued by vital statistics verifying full name and date of birth * **
  • Certified school records or transcripts verifying full name and date of birth * **
* Must be accompanied by a U.S. citizenship document or valid proof of legal presence in the United States
** Not acceptable documentation to be eligible for a federally compliant identification document; however, applicants may be eligible for a non-compliant identification document.
Please provide ONE of the following for proof of a Social Security Number:
  • Social Security Card
  • Letter from SSA verifying SSN
  • Ineligibility letter from SSA (only issued if not eligible based on legal presence status) **
** Not acceptable documentation to be eligible for a federally compliant identification document; however, applicants may be eligible for a non-compliant identification document.
Please provide TWO of the following for proof of Delaware residency:
  • Utility Bills
  • Credit Card Statement
  • Auto or Life Insurance policies
  • Voter Registration Cards
  • Bank Account Records
  • Employment Records
  • Rental Agreements
  • U.S. Postal Service change of address confirmation form/postmarked mail with forwarding address label
  • Other non-personal mail postmarked within the last 60 days
Note: Mail must be postmarked within the last 60 days. Non-business letters/cards will NOT be accepted.
Please provide ONE of the following for proof of legal name change:
  • Valid marriage license
  • Court ordered name change document
  • Finalized divorce decree stating your legal name
Note: You must change your name with the Social Security Administration first and wait 72 hours before appearing at the DMV.
Those under the following immigration statuses are not eligible to apply for
a Delaware driver license or identification document:
  • Those with invalid or expired immigration or passport documents
  • Those I-94 holders without a valid INS or USCIS stamp
  • Immigration status A-1. Ambassador, public minister, career diplomatic or consular officer and dependents are ineligible, because an “A” status may only be issued a driver’s license from the United States State Department
  • Immigration status A-2 for other foreign government officials or employees and dependents unless they are foreign military official and/or their dependents. Foreign military members and their dependents must provide a valid passport, I-94, visa, or assignment orders to be eligible
  • Immigration status B-1. Visitor for business
  • Immigration status B-2. Visitor for pleasure (tourist)
  • Immigration status C-1. Alien in transit through the United States
  • Immigration status C-2. Alien in transit to United Nations Headquarters district. Travel limited to 25 miles radius of Columbus Circle in New York
  • Immigration status C-3. Foreign government official coming to the United Nations, dependents, attendants, servants, or other personal employees of an official in transit through United States
  • Immigration status D-1. Alien crew members
  • Immigration status G-1. Resident representative of a foreign government to an international organization, plus staff and dependents
  • Immigration status WB. Visitor for business (visa waiver program.)
  • Immigration status WT. Visitor for pleasure (tourist in visa waiver (program.)
  • Attached unexpired temporary I-551 visa

We hope you’ve enjoyed these tips from our Delaware Department of Motor Vehicle. If auto service is what you’re looking for, please call us at 302-613-0532 to schedule your next appointment. Buckley’s Auto Care

Aug 03, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post
Delaware DMV Made Easy

Delaware DMV Made Easy

dmv buildingIf you’re a vehicle owner here in Wilmington, Newport, Elsmere, Newark, Hockessin or anywhere in Delaware, at some point there’s going to be a time when you’re going to have to visit the Delaware Department of Motor Vehicles to have your car inspected and registered. Why? It’s the law. Every motorized vehicle that is to driven on public roads is required to be registered, tagged and insured in order to be legally allowed to access our public roads. For all new motor vehicles, the registration period will last up to five years. Afterward, each subsequent inspection will be for a period of two years. For all used cars or new to state registrations, the period is confined to two years.

OUR ADVICE: Buy as many years as you are allowed. Why? Because it’s cheaper to buy time than to be forced to make an unexpected repair when you’re coming up on a deadline. Plus, selling a car with two years of inspection remaining is more valuable than one with only a few short months to go.

Now, here at Buckley’s Auto Care, we know the anxiety that accompanies the thought of the motor vehicle inspection process. Most of you start out by worrying about going to the lanes, being subjected to the rapid fire orders by the inspectors, “turn signals, horn, turn the wipers on, left signal, right signal, etc…” It’s enough to intimidate a seasoned drill sergeant!

But you needn’t worry about all the fuss if you’ve had your vehicle properly serviced and maintained in between your inspection periods. Here at Buckley’s Auto Care, we make sure that all of your safety items such as your lights wiper blades, headlights, tire pressures, turn signals, horn and fluids are all inspected during all service procedures and if we are to find one item that needs attention we certainly will alert you in order to take care of the matter before your stopped by that DMV inspector.

How To Speed Up Your Next Trip To The DMV.

Here are 6 Great Tips To Avoid Long Wait Times:

  1. The busiest day of the week is Wednesday in DMV opens at noon that day they close at 9 PM.
  2. Avoid the 15th and the 30th of each month those days are the days licenses and registrations expire it can be very crowded during the operating hours at the DMV on those specific dates.
  3. Check www.DMV.de.gov for all wait times at each DMV location or branch office.
  4. Be sure to check out the DMV website for all required documents for acquiring a real ID and don’t leave home without them it is very important that you have these papers with you.
  5. Don’t wait until the last minute to renew licenses and registrations.
  6. The busiest time for car inspections is near the holidays.


If you’re in need of getting your vehicle Delaware inspected, stop over for a quick and convenient Courtesy Check. We’ll check the basics of course, and if you need repairs, we can handle them that day. Maybe even while you wait! That’s our commitment to service.

Give Buckley’s Auto Care a call today at 302-613-0532 and schedule your next Preventative Maintenance Service.

You can also confirm your appointment immediately by clicking here.

Aug 03, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post
Car Theft Prevention In Wilmington Delaware

Car Theft Prevention In Wilmington Delaware

car thiefEvery car in Wilmington, Newark, Newport, New Castle, Hockessin and all of Delaware is at risk for theft. So it’s up to us to make our cars a less appealing target and more of a challenge – hopefully sending potential thieves to look elsewhere.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau recommends a layered approach to protecting vehicles:

  1. Common sense
  2. Visible and audible devices
  3. Immobilizing devices
  4. Tracking devices

Let’s review each of these. First, common sense: you would be surprised how many vehicles are stolen from Wilmington, Delaware where the keys were left in the ignition with the doors unlocked. Always take your keys, and lock the doors. In fact, in some places it’s against the law to leave a vehicle unattended with the keys in the ignition.

And don’t leave spare keys in the car or hide them outside – because a thief will find them. Try to park in well-lit areas that have a lot of foot traffic. If possible, park near the end of a row and near a light. Back your car into a parking space or your driveway to make your car more visible to passersby and harder for a thief to work under the hood without being seen.

Remember to roll up your windows completely and avoid leaving your car in public lots for a long time. If you park in a lot that has an attendant, only give them the ignition key.

Keep valuables out of sight: purses, wallets, cell phones, clothes and even change are attractive “smash-and-grab” targets. And pay to have your Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, etched into your windows – it makes your car less attractive to a thief who wants to send your car to a chop shop.

There are lots of visible and audible devices available. A steering wheel lock is highly visible and will deter some thieves. Loud alarms can alert you and others that your vehicle is being tampered with. But if your alarm does go off, be careful. Observe what’s going on; get descriptions of suspicious people and vehicles, including license plate numbers.

Now, if you catch a thief in the act, call 911 but don’t approach the person. Your safety is more important than the car.

And here’s a great one – immobilizing devices. They actually shut off your car’s electrical or fuel supply. So without a key, or knowing where the hidden switch is located, a thief can’t drive your car away.

Finally, you can also get a tracking device that allows police to track your car down and recover it quickly.

Remember, where you live, work and drive around Wilmington Delaware has a great impact on your decisions. If you’re in an area with high theft rates, you may want to spend more money on security systems. And check with your Wilmington Delaware auto insurance company to see if they offer discounts for adding any of these items.

Of course, the common sense suggestions from Buckley’s Auto Care don’t cost anything and go a long way toward keeping your car safe from thieves.

Come see us for practical advice on keeping your vehicle safe.
Buckley’s Auto Care
1604 E. Newport Pike, Wilmington, Delaware 19804
Call us at 302-613-0532

Jul 09, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post
Emergency Items For Your Next Trip

Emergency Items For Your Next Trip

first aid kitLocal roadside emergencies in and around Wilmington, Newport, Hockessin or Newark can range from a flat tire downtown to being stranded in a snowy ravine for three days. So you may want to consider a basic emergency kit to keep in the car at all times and a travel kit tailored to a specific trip.

Your close-to-home kit for around the Wilmington area would have some basic items to work on your car: everything you need to change a tire, gloves, a couple quarts of oil, some antifreeze and water. A can of tire inflator is a great temporary fix for minor flats. You’ll also want jumper cables or a booster box, flares, a flashlight and some basic hand tools.

Now for your comfort and safety: a first aid kit, drinkable water, high calorie food (like energy bars), blankets, toilet paper, cell phone, towel, hat and boots. Keep some change for a pay phone, emergency cash and a credit card.

People who live in areas with frequent severe weather or earthquakes may want to carry provisions for longer emergencies.

For trips away from home, consider the weather and geography as you assemble your emergency supplies. You’ll need to have a source of light and heat and will want to provide protection against the elements as well as adequate food and water for everyone in the car.

Always tell people where you are going and have a plan for checking in at waypoints. Then if you run into trouble, you can be reported missing as soon as possible and rescuers will be able to narrow the search area.

The key to safe travel is to keep your vehicle properly maintained, plan ahead, and let others know your itinerary.

Remember: Drive Safe. Drive Smart

Heading Out On A Get-A-Way or Vacation? Stop in and get a Quick Trip Check. We’ll check your fluids, tire pressure and give your vehicle a walk around inspection BEFORE you go. All at NO CHARGE! Safe is better than Sorry..

Call Buckley’s Auto Care at 302-613-0532 today

Jul 07, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post
Trip Inspection

Trip Inspection

North Americans love their cars. And nothing goes with cars better than the road trip. Freedom from daily schedules, new sights and the open road – it’s great! But there’s nothing like car trouble to bring the fun to a grinding halt.

Now you can’t always avoid problems, but you can take steps to reduce the probability of getting sidelined on your trip. The first step is to look at your trip plan from your vehicle’s perspective. What kind of roads will you be traveling – winding byways or super-highways? Mountains or plains? What weather conditions are you likely to encounter? How many miles will you travel? How much weight will you be hauling – passengers and luggage? Lugging a trailer or roof top carrier? Will it be dusty?

Armed with the answers to these questions, you can start a trip inspection to help you prepare your Wilmington vehicle for your big adventure. A lot of our Wilmington customers prefer to go through this exercise with an automotive service advisor at Buckley’s Auto Care to get their input and make sure they haven’t left anything out.

A great place to start is with the tires. Inspect them for tread wear and proper inflation. Is it time to rotate your tires? Replace them? Are they up to the job – you wouldn’t want to drive regular highway tires on a muddy off-road adventure.

Shocks and struts play a major role in both driving comfort and safety. If they need to be replaced, you’ll really be glad you did once you hit the road. Is it time for a wheel alignment? Fighting a car that’s pulling to one side all day can be tiring and dangerous.

And don’t forget your brakes. Any strange noises, grabbing, soft or hard peddle feel? If there is any doubt, get a brake inspection before you leave.

Moving under the hood, have your belts and hoses inspected. If something is excessively worn or near failure, the stress of a long road trip might just be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

Your engine air filter will be important. For every gallon of gas you burn, your car will filter and use 12,000 gallons of air. If the filter needs to be changed, you’ll notice the fuel savings on your trip.

How close are you to your next oil change? Will you be able to complete your trip before it’s due? If not, just get it taken care of before you go so that you don’t need to interrupt your trip. In fact, a full service oil change is a great idea because they will top off all your fluids and check to see if any other maintenance items are due, such as transmission or cooling system service.

Do you notice any unusual odors in your vehicle? If so, it could as harmless as a dirty cabin air filter. But if it’s an exhaust leak it could be fatal on a long trip. Of course you’ll want to be comfortable, so get an air conditioning service if you aren’t getting the cold air you used to.

” Traveling by car this season? Then let Buckley’s Auto Care give your car the attention that it deserves BEFORE you head our on that trip to the beach, the shore, or the mountains. Call us today at 302-999-8285 or schedule your appointment online right here“

Are you wiper blades still working well? If not, that is quick and inexpensive to fix. Headlamps are often overlooked when planning for a trip. If you haven’t changed the bulb in six months or so, replacement bulbs will really light up the night on your trip.

All the items mentioned are part of any good vehicle maintenance plan. These are things that you want to take care of anyway, but they all come into focus as you plan for your trip.

They will always save you money in the long run and may prevent inconvenient delays on your trip. After all, you wouldn’t want to miss the world’s largest ball of string, would you?

Jun 15, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post
Make Your Car Last!

How To Live A Long Life Together!

Let's Hit The Road!

As reports are starting to confirm, buying or leasing a new car every two years is a trend that has all but disappeared for most car owners. Between the scare of a manufacturer going bankrupt, the credit crunch, or the thought of taking on another debt payment, the smart money (a.k.a. the smart owner) is going towards maintenance for the long haul. Do you know that cars are averaging close to 14 years before they are retired? True, most vehicles today can easily survive the dreaded 100,000 mile curse if properly maintained. I always say, “you’ll get tired of driving it, before it gets tired of driving you.” But what the reports don’t tell you is that this is the first time in a long time that owners are having to maintain or repair the vehicle outside of the warranty period. Meaning, that repairs and maintenance are coming “out of pocket.” To some, this is a HUGE eye opener and the thought of actually having to take care of a piece of machinery puts quite a scare in to them.

But, maintaining a vehicle with a proper schedule doesn’t have to break the budget. A goal for you and any qualified repair shop should be to manage your maintenance through a period of time. Those of us in the bays do realize that money doesn’t grow on trees and there’s no Car Health Insurance to subsidize the repair bills.

But what can you do to help save money on repairs and maintenance? The first (and easiest) thing is to become a better driver. Keep the tires at a proper level, keep an eye on the fluids, don’t do “jack rabbit starts” and stay the speed limit by using cruise control. Second, sit down and have a consultation with your shop. Don’t be afraid to ask your service writer, tech or even the shop owner (they may be all three) what they think your car will need over the next year or so in terms of maintenance. Let them help you plan for maintenance by making suggestions as to what you should do now and what items or services can be completed at another time. You may also wish to ask what type of failures are inherent to your make and model, and when do they start to occur. (NOTE: Every make, model and manufacturer has pattern failures that happen around certain mileage marks or during certain climates and environments. These patterns should be understood and are not necessarily a result of poor design, but that the part simply wears out.) By taking the time to discuss your vehicle budget and maintenance plan, it let’s us know that you are interested in maintaining it as well as we are. That’s a great partnership for you, your vehicle and us.

Jun 08, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post
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