New Vehicle Maintenance

What should I do to maintain my car?

Vehicle maintenance is a very important part of car ownership and it's something that's often neglected because vehicles are getting much more reliable. However, they're not quite to the point of an appliance yet and they still need required and regular maintenance. Follow the oil change schedule very closely to what's suggested in the owners' manual. That doesn't mean, like your dad did, to do it every three thousand miles. In many vehicles, it's up to five or even eight thousand miles in between oil changes. Secondly, you want to make sure that the vehicle stays clean. There's a lot of things in today's environment and air pollution that can degrade the paint and finish of a vehicle much faster than years past. You want to make sure that you keep the surface clean from contaminants as much as possible. The last issue is to address small things as they come up before they turn into a much larger issue. If you notice that your fuel economy has dropped recently, if you're hearing a little noise in the front suspension, if the steering wheel doesn't quite respond the way it used to, or you feel a new shimmy when you apply the brakes, address these maintenance issues. These are the sort of things that can led to a much bigger problem. It's best to solve these <a href="http://www.videojug.com/interview/general-car-maintenance-2">car maintenance</a> issues when they're small, rather than a much larger repair.

Can I use my own car mechanic without breaching my warranty?

With regards to understanding new vehicle maintenance, using your own mechanic without breaching your warranty is one of those cases where it's very important to read the documentation that came with the vehicle. In most cases, yes you can use your local mechanic to do the work as long as they provide records that show what work was done. However, if you're using your own mechanic, it's something you need to make sure of and identify in the fine print before you make the mistake by potentially voiding the warranty. The reason why this can be a concern is if you're not using a factory-certified technician and therefore the manufacturer doesn't know to what skills or level were involved in the work was done on the vehicle, whether they were using the right parts, tools, know-how and experience with today's modern engines. These are all fair concerns and they want to make sure that you're addressing the maintenance in the best way possible.

Can I work on my new car without breaching the warranty agreement?

Before you lift the hood and do any work on your own, you want to make sure and read the fine print in your warranty, to make sure your not going to void any certain elements. I think regular maintenance will probably often be allowed if your going to be replacing the windshield wipers or putting new tires on or something like that. There is no fear there because those are wear and tear items, but if your looking at doing something to the exhaust system or fuel system, you want to make sure you are not going to violate or void any parts of your existing new car warranty.

What is an "owner's manual"?

The owner's manual is that thick book in your glove box which you probably never read. Shame on you! The owner's manual is the book that provides full information on all the different components of the vehicle: the correct way to drive it, the correct thing to do to maintain it the best. All the different parts of your relationship with the vehicle are covered there. There may be buttons or functions that you don't even know are part of the vehicle until you read the owner's manual. It's important you do that especially when the vehicle is new so that you get the most out of it over time. Most importantly, the owner's manual provides all the details or guidelines for the breaking in period. This is something that is very important when it comes to the durability, reliability and fuel efficiency of the vehicle going forward.