New or Used Car

You do not have much on your car? Your car is out 24 / 7, 365 days a year in extreme weather conditions. You drive regularly at speeds exceeding 70 mph. You stop, start, stop, start through city traffic. You sit idling in traffic jams day after day. Yet you expect your car every time you turn the key in and start.
The best thing you can do to prolong life of your car, and possibly save yourself a lot of money, is to have your car on a regular basis. All car manufacturers have a list of recommended services for each vehicle they sell. Follow the schedule. The best place to do work on a new vehicle, still under warranty, the dealer.

It is a bit different when you have an old car warranty. At this point you can decide to proceed with the dealer for service, or you find a local mechanic.

The first rule is to have oil in your car changed every 3000 miles. This is the simplest and most important part of routine maintenance for your car. At this point, if you go to a “speedy” oil change business or your mechanic, a technician will look at the overall condition of your engine. They’ll check belts and hoses and fluid levels in your transmission and brakes. It will make your air cleaner and the condition of your tires. Some of these drive-through services also offer add as engine cleaning and radiator flushes. If they think they see something that could potentially be serious, they will tell you about this and encourage you to take your car to a mechanic.
Cars have really changed over the years and most technicians use computers to diagnose problems. You will be able to describe the problem to the technician. They will need to know things like when you first noticed the problem and exactly what state. T happen when the car is cold or after warming up? Does it happen when idle or when you accelerate? If you do not use the same mechanic have a copy of the record of your car with you, so that the technician can see what the maintenance is done in the past. It is better to find a mechanic that you are comfortable and stay with him. Knowledge of the history of your car can go a long way to diagnose and solve a problem.

Learn to listen to your car. If you hear an unusual sound, a change in performance or handling take to your mechanic.