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Feb 10, 2012

Auto Repair for Road Trip Fanatics

Every car owner fulfills a dream when they purchase their first car. Owning and driving the car is the easy part. Caring for the vehicle and having regular maintenance is the harder task. Regular service sessions, frequent wash & waxing, protecting the body from hot sunny weather and cold snowy temperatures are the best practices every car owner embraces.
A popular myth for car owners is that "driving is the easy part, where as maintenance is the serious part." Many people would agree, but this is none the less a myth. Actually, car maintenance is not such a herculean task, all that matters is keeping the car in top condition and performing consistently. Keeping this in mind you can take care of most of the maintenance needs of the vehicle by your self. Over time you can learn to service the basic needs of the car manually, once the functions are clear.
When you get your car serviced or repaired, do not compromise on quality spare parts and a good mechanic. Always use original auto parts and never use a cheap substitute, consider that it's cheap for a certain reason. Cheap auto parts will harmfully affect the performance of your vehicle especially in the long run. You should take care of minor issues immediately before they evolve into a major issue.
It's vital to clean or replace the air filter to keep the car's airflow functioning at optimum levels. There are multiple types of junk and particles that flies into the engine compartment, these can significantly affect on road performance. When the air filter is nearly clogged and dirty, a "check engine" light will glow up on the car's meter. It's best to replace the air filter if it hasn't been changed in a while, whereas, newer filter can be washed and re used.
When cleaning the engine, many people use water, which could have negative effects on the engine. It's not good to give the engine a shower with any kind of liquid. Water can get into the distributor cap which can cause ignition problems. If you are going to clean the engine by yourself then use proper instructions given by the company or simply use a mechanic.
Generally, you can worry less about the suspension and unless there are rattling sounds indicating worn out parts there is no need to go to a mechanic. A car that pulls to one side while driving is a clear cut signals that the suspension needs immediate calibration. Tire pressure and tire wear & tear are also very important since, deflated tires have an adverse effect on the performance making the engine haul the car with more power. Uneven tire wear & tear is a good indicator that the alignment and suspension needs repairs. Prescott alignment services provide computerized chassis and tire maintenance ensuring a complete formula to your car's foundation.
One last feature for minimizing maintenance and repairs is adopting good driving habits. Keep steady control on the accelerator, brake and clutch. Properly accelerating and braking coupled with proper gear timing has a direct effect on the mileage. You should make sure not to carry additional heavy items in the car, as time passes irrelevant items are accumulated in the trunk. You should remove any additional weight from the car that may cause the mileage to go down since the car is pulling more weight.