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Ever wonder what really goes on when you bring your car into service?

Good news The Talking Cars Advisor is here with some answers. 

The red light never wavers

It glows, very much like a mean red eye staring you down when you get behind the wheel. Hey… change your oil. Do it now!

The longer you ignore it, the brighter it gets, as if to tell you that your vehicle is warming up for a major breakdown. Let it get to that point, and you'll realise – there's a reason it's called an idiot light. After all, the first step to successful car maintenance is simple – do it.

The second is even easier: do it exactly as you're told to by technicians and in your owners’ manual. Simple. Easy. Yet for many people, it's an ongoing challenge, for two reasons. Admit it, you don't have the time and forget to get it done, or you're intimidated about dealing with technicians. So you put it off and create the scenario you most dread – a major repair costing hundreds of euros.

Unfortunately, fear and loathing is to be expected: we've all had at least one experience with price gouging and unnecessary repairs. It’s enough to make you learn how to change your own oil. But you don't have to get dirty to get a fair price and keep your car in top shape.

The two most important things a car owner should do is keep the car serviced as per recommended service intervals, find a trustworthy technician – and stick with them. It's important to follow the manufacturer’s service schedule because it is a good way to discover potential manufacturing defects. Part of the factory scheduled service is designed to help keep a car running correctly. But there's that trust issue – how do you know that your car's left-handed smoke sorter needs a new ball bearing? 

Consumers can protect themselves by following a few simple steps:

Get a price for the service on the phone, and write it down – if that price is different when you bring your car into the shop, ask why. Always get a signed estimate. Don’t worry about what a shop charges per hour. Understand what the job is – ask an outside source if you are not comfortable. Be aware of what the owners’ manual says, and use that knowledge. Let your service professional advise you – trust him, and don't be afraid to ask questions.

Continuity of service is important. Pick anywhere you want to have a service done, but try to get all your service done at the same place so they can keep track of your car, and maintain your records. Pretty simple advice – yet many still manage to burn out engines or grind brake pads down to the rotors. What gives? According to a recent Spanish survey by AutoViva, what gives – or, more accurately, doesn't – is time, and at times overwhelming fear of professionals wearing name badges. The survey indicated that ‘only 28% of respondents perform the factory-specified services described in the owners’ manual, and 72% perform services later than scheduled or not at all’. The survey also found that the consistent-service ideal is the exception rather than the rule. In fact, the majority (58%) of survey respondents indicated that they either take their vehicles to different garages for different repairs, or deal with different service representatives visit-to-visit. Nearly 10% said they are completely unaware of their recommended factory services schedule, and 28% had ‘no idea’ or only a ‘vague idea’ when they're supposed to schedule their next service appointment.

Today's new vehicles are considerably more dependable than ever before. For example, spark plugs used to be a 10,000 mile item, now they are a 100,000 mile item. Today's cars are more efficient, and cleaner than before. Perhaps this trend toward indestructible cars gives today's motorists a false sense of security – as if cars are still maintenance free. If so, it's a dangerous way to think. The best way to destruct an indestructible car is by ignoring the simple things, such as oil changes.

Follow these tips when it comes to car service:

Read and understand the service part of your owners manual. Always keep to a repetitive schedule. Build a relationship with your garage, and start when you make the appointment – make time to speak with the service advisor. Don't hesitate to question the technician. Know what's supposed to take place – question any variation. Listen for rattles, squeaks, and let your technician know about it. Be prepared to show the condition, and document intermittent problems. Remember that the people who work on cars are skilled technicians – not ‘mechanics’. 

Today's auto technician uses sophisticated diagnostic equipment in tough outdoor conditions, works on his feet all day in a hazardous environment – and must be versatile enough to do everything from complex repair to tyre changes.

So go ahead and abuse your car, cower in the dark, away from the auto technician who knows how to fix the problem. It's okay, as long as you understand that your car will abuse you back sooner or later but always at the wrong time.

Automóviles Espanbel S.L. Av. Comunidad Valenciana s/n (Benidorm-Altea) Parking "La Valenciana" 03503 Benidorm Alicante TEL :   96 586 87 21 FAX :   96 586 54 72