Tips for Auto Maintenance Mountain View CA

A visit to the repair shop can feel like a visit to a foreign country if you don't have good communication with your service advisor or mechanic. You need to understand any questions they ask, as well as the details of any problems they find, in order to make appropriate decisions about what repairs to authorize on your vehicle. Here are some tips to help ensure solid communication, whether you are bringing your vehicle in for regular maintenance or a major repair.

Local Companies

Collision Auto Repair
408-774-1235
277 N Fair Oaks Ave
Sunnyvale, CA
A+ Japanese Auto Repair, Inc.
(650) 595-2277
780 Industrial Road
San Carlos, CA
A+ Japanese Auto Repair, Inc.
(650) 595-2277
780 Industrial Road
San Carlos, CA
AutoBrains
510-728-9977
25751-6 Dollar St
Hayward, CA
Fast Track Auto Center
(510) 728-9000
25425 Mission Blvd
Hayard, CA
Midas Auto Service Experts
(650) 968-9977
215 W El Camino Real
Mountain View, CA
Precision Tune Auto Care of Mv
(650) 938-0400
1932 Old Middlefield Way
Mountain View, CA
Caravan & Voyager Specialists
(650) 961-0302
2037 Old Middlefield Way
Mountain View, CA
All Vw & Japanese Shop
(408) 260-6868
2239 Old Middlefield Way
Mountain View, CA
Quality Tune-Up Shops
(650) 949-1546
2580 W El Camino Real
Mountain View, CA

A visit to the repair shop can feel like a visit to a foreign country if you don't have good communication with your service advisor or mechanic. You need to understand any questions they ask, as well as the details of any problems they find, in order to make appropriate decisions about what repairs to authorize on your vehicle. Here are some tips to help ensure solid communication, whether you are bringing your vehicle in for regular maintenance or a major repair.

The maintenance visit
Before you schedule a visit for regular maintenance, such as a 30,000-mile service, check your owner's manual to see what work is recommended by the manufacturer. Then, call your shop and ask for an estimate on that service, along with a list of the items that are included in their fee. Compare the list against what is recommended in your owner's manual.

It is sometimes common for a shop to suggest items that are above and beyond what your owner's manual lists, but this does not necessarily mean they are trying to convince you to purchase additional services. The "extras" may be important to the health of your vehicle. For example, many manufacturers recommend oil changes at 5,000-mile intervals and sometimes even longer, such as every 7,500 miles. A mechanic, however, may recommend changing the oil about 2,000 miles sooner than the manufacturer recommends. This is a realistic recommendation for some driving situations, especially if most of your driving is around town versus on the highway, or if you frequently use your vehicle for towing (both conditions fall under the heading of "severe operating conditions"). If the shop is suggesting something beyond what you think is reasonable, ask your advisor about it, then assess the costs involved before deciding if you want those services.

Click here to read the rest of the article at JDPower.com

Featured Local Company

Collision Auto Repair

408-774-1235
277 N Fair Oaks Ave
Sunnyvale, CA

Related Articles
Related Articles
Related Local Event
International Auto Show-San Jose
Dates: 1/7/2010 - 1/10/2010
Location: San Jose Convention Center, San Jose
San Jose, CA
View Details

Rss   Delicious   Digg   Add To My Yahoo   Add To My Google   Bookmark   Search Plugin

Topics:
Advertising Family Home Services Real Estate Resources
Business Services Fashion Industrial Goods & Services Retail & Consumer Services
Career Financial Services Insurance Software
Cars Food & Beverage Internet Technology
Computer Hardware Franchise Legal Telecommunications
Construction Health Miscellaneous Trade Shows
Education Holidays Nightlife Travel
Entertainment Home Appliances Online Database Weddings
Environmental Home Electronics Pets World History