Owning a car can be an overwhelming task for many drivers and having to go to a repair garage can be intimidating. If you have ever felt this way, rest easy. In fact, it may be comforting to know that most car owners don’t know anything more than how to put gas in their car and how to take it in for an oil change… and that is OK. We at Sam’s Service Center are here to help you.
While we will take care of your car maintenance, here are 5 things to help you feel more confident as a car owner.
- Year, make and model
Above all, the first thing you should know about your car is the year it was built, the make of the car, and the specific model. For example, a 2012 Ford Escape. This seems like a complete no-brainer, but you would be surprised at the amount of people who do not know this information. This information is very important as vehicle models change parts from year to year so this will ensure the correct parts and fluids are used.
2. VIN
Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is your car’s social security number. This 17-digit number identifies your car’s manufacture date, place, make, model, engine size, etc. It can also be useful in tracking the history of a car, recalls, etc. The VIN stays with the car throughout its life. You need to know where to find this number, but you don’t need to memorize it. You can typically find this number on the lower corner of the windshield on the drivers side.
3. Maintenance schedule
Your best bet for keeping your car on the road running well is staying on top of a maintenance schedule. Some basic car maintenance such as oil changes, fluid checks, and tire rotations can go a long way when dealing with the life of a car.
4. Tire pressure
If you are lucky your car alerts you when tire pressure is low. But is many cars this is not the case. Maintaining proper tire pressure is one of the most overlooked maintenance functions of car ownership. Underinflated tires can create multiple problems which include everything from decreasing the life of the tire to flat tires or blowouts. A properly inflated tire also makes the car perform better and get better gas mileage.
5. Engine light
Engine lights provide insight into our car’s health. Pay attention when a dashboard light comes on but don’t panic… it doesn’t necessarily mean an expensive repair. Your owner’s manual will tell you what your dashboard lights mean. This doesn’t mean ignore the lights, they are there for a reason. Come in and let us check it out to make sure it doesn’t lead to a costly repair. But don’t panic, it’s not the end of the world.
We hope paying attention to these 5 items will help give you more confidence as a car owner. And as always, if you have any questions or concerns don’t hesitate to give us a call! We are always here to help.
