When making out a monthly budget, do you tend to just skip over car maintenance?
Lots of people do, no judgment here, but why are most people afraid of maintenance?
Is it the time involved? The cost? The inconvenience? Or is it one of those “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” deals? Perhaps people just don’t think about it until the car acts up or that dreaded “Check Engine” light comes on.
In today’s article, we want to discuss the reasons above and why car maintenance should be embraced, not feared.
Overcoming Those Obstacles
The main reasons people avoid car maintenance can be broken down into the four areas above. Let’s take a look at each of these reasons.
1. It Costs Too Much
This might be the biggest reason most people avoid maintenance until they have no other choice. For those on a tight budget, it’s understandable that you don’t want to pay for anything you don’t have to. Avoiding maintenance, however, could mean the difference between a very costly breakdown and nothing more than maintenance costs.
For example, if you decide that you’re going to skip a certain maintenance program, it could be that the mechanic would have found that rotten lower radiator hose before it blew out. When the hose blew, you weren’t aware of any problem until the “hot” light came on your dash. By the time you pulled over, the car would barely run. Now, instead of looking at a simple maintenance bill, you need to pay for blown head gaskets AND the radiator hose that would have been found during your last inspection.
We aren’t making a case for fear-mongering, but we see cases like the above scenario all too often. Someone once said, “You can pay now or pay more later” and, unfortunately, this is very true.
2. It Takes Too Long
A majority of people have come to rely on their vehicles for almost everything. From picking up the kids from school, shopping, commuting, our vehicles play a significant part in our daily lives. This means that leaving your vehicle for the day, or even part of a day, can feel like a big hassle.
This is why My Mechanic offers a free shuttle service so you can get to work. We also offer free rides to the Elmhurst Metro station. You can also take advantage of our after-hours drop-off service. We understand that there are other things you want/need to do, so we will do our best to accommodate you, so you are inconvenienced as little as possible. We also understand that some maintenance items are multi-day repairs and My Mechanic can help with a loaner vehicle during those repairs. Our team can help you navigate the best option to keep your life moving.
Want to know what’s more inconvenient than leaving your vehicle to be serviced? A breakdown on the side of the road. Ugh. No one has time for that!
3. My Car Runs Fine/This Isn’t Really Necessary/This is Just a Way to Make Money
We’ve heard the phrases above and more. It’s always surprising to us that people understand the need to wash clothes or dishes (which could be considered maintenance) but they don’t think their vehicle requires anything until it stops working.
Every vehicle on the road undergoes some very intensive and extensive research from manufacturers. There are reasons behind their recommendations for service. Regular maintenance isn’t a way to get more cash from the consumer but rather, to keep your vehicle running at its best and prevent a breakdown.
Many car parts and fluids wear out or become less effective over time, including engine oil, filters, tires, brakes, hoses, and belts. Inspecting and/or replacing them before they stop working is the cheapest insurance you can buy to prevent a breakdown.
4. I Just Didn’t Think About It/I Forgot
With today’s busy lifestyle, it’s easy to forget about routine maintenance and your eyes quit seeing that little sticker on the windshield that should remind you about your next oil change/maintenance service.
You might want to put your cell phone calendar to use. While everyone’s driving habits are different, you might want to put a reminder on your phone every 3 months, for example, to check your mileage and see if it’s time for a service.
If you aren’t sure when your vehicle needs service, the pros at My Mechanic will be happy to tell you the mileage intervals for your vehicle or you can check your owner’s manual.
The True Price of NOT Having Your Vehicle Serviced
Again, we don’t want anyone to accuse us of scaring people into maintenance, these are simply facts and possible scenarios.
If you are involved in an accident, for example, and it’s discovered that you are partially (or completely) responsible because of a bald tire or brakes that don’t work properly, this could lead to terrible and expensive consequences.
As we mentioned above, you might also have a breakdown that not only costs you a great deal of time and inconvenience, but it could even be dangerous. Imagine what could happen if you were stranded late at night in a snowstorm with no cell phone service and a car that won’t start?
The cost of doing nothing is not always free.
Confused about Maintenance on Your Vehicle?
If you’ve skipped a few maintenance tasks on your vehicle for whatever reason, don’t be frightened.
The caring people at My Mechanic aren’t here to judge, we are here to help.
Call the experts at My Mechanic. We can tell you what maintenance your car needs, and we will be more than happy to inspect your vehicle for any repairs that might be needed.
You may even be surprised at how inexpensive peace of mind can be when you choose the trusted, local mechanics at My Mechanic.
We now have two locations to serve you, Elmhurst and Clarendon Hills. Call us today for an appointment at either location or you can make an appointment online here.
No matter what your vehicle needs are, the full-service, highly qualified professionals at My Mechanic will get your car, truck, or SUV back on the road ASAP.
Don’t be scared of car maintenance, call My Mechanic today.
