| Cars are expensive not just to buy, but also to | | | | As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a |
| fuel, repair and maintain (and rising gas prices | | | | pound of cure. Practicing responsible driving |
| aren't helping). With labor costs typically in the | | | | techniques is a great way to protect yourself and |
| hundreds of dollars, even for simple repairs, | | | | your automotive investment. Use your turn |
| preventative measures can go a long way in | | | | signals, observe speed limits, don't tailgate, and be |
| cutting your automotive costs. There are many | | | | careful not to overburden your car with |
| simple maintenance tasks you can do yourself, | | | | excessive weight. |
| and lots of tips to help you get the best value for | | | | Get a second opinion |
| your dollar when it comes to automotive needs. | | | | Car repair is expensive, and mechanics all too |
| Read on for five simple ways you can help | | | | often take advantage of consumers trust and |
| prevent trips to the mechanic, and how you can | | | | ignorance. If you take your car into the mechanic |
| make sure you're getting your money's worth | | | | and feel that their diagnosis is overpriced, |
| when you do take your car in for repairs. | | | | excessive, or isn't sufficiently explained to you, |
| Check your fluids | | | | don't just take their word for it. Getting a second |
| Maintaining appropriate levels of various fluids like | | | | opinion is a completely reasonable thing to do just |
| brake fluid, transmission fluid, etc., is a simple way | | | | like you would with your health care provider. If |
| you can keep your car running better, longer, and | | | | costly car repairs are in fact necessary, ask |
| can save you not only in simple labor costs, but | | | | about ways to prolong the process. If you need |
| can help prevent larger, more costly repairs down | | | | several things done, for example, they may be |
| the road. Also, keep an eye out for stains under | | | | able to space the work out over several months |
| your car, as this can be a sign of an important | | | | to allow you more financial leeway. |
| fluid leak. Spotting this early on can save you big | | | | Keep your receipts |
| on repairs later. | | | | One of the biggest problems with car repair is |
| Observe warning signs | | | | when people are conned into having unnecessary |
| Car problems rarely happen overnight there are | | | | work done. One way to help prevent this is to |
| often several signs of trouble before something | | | | keep track of all past maintenance and repair, and |
| breaks down, requiring costly repairs. Keep your | | | | compare any new suggested work against the list. |
| eyes and ears peeled for telltale warning signs, like | | | | If you're brake pads were replaced last year, |
| squeaking breaks, leaking fluids, or drifting wheels, | | | | odds are you probably don't need new ones just |
| which can indicate a bigger problem under the | | | | yet. Likewise, if a problem is identified that you |
| hood. By identifying these warning signs early on, | | | | paid to have worked on previously, you may be |
| you stand a better chance of avoiding an | | | | able to get a discount on subsequent work. |
| outrageous repair bill after all, repairing a | | | | Regardless, it's important to keep track of your |
| transmission fluid leak will cost you significantly less | | | | car's history, just like you would your own medical |
| than replacing a transmission. | | | | record. |
| Drive carefully | | | | |