Do As I Say...

I spend 9 hours a day talking to people. I do my very best to educate customers on how to get the most out of their vehicles. I recommend services that will prolong the life of their cars as well as prevent unwanted break downs and costly repairs. As an expert, I routinely question why customers are reluctant or simply do not follow through on recommended services.

To answer this question, I took a long, hard look at my own family and our vehicles. It might surprise you to know that when it comes to maintenance, we too are guilty of neglecting our vehicles. Last month my wife had a low tire on the passenger side of her car. When I asked her if she had noticed the tire that morning, she replied, "why would I see the tire on that side of the car?" Please ladies don't send me hate mail or think I'm picking on my wife, I'm not. In fact, I was grateful to her for her honest answer because it got me thinking about how we as consumers view our vehicles.

After inspecting my wife's car, I determined that the tire was no longer safe to drive on and a replacement was ordered. Unfortunately, It took several weeks to get a new tire and we had to car pool until it arrived. Our cars are more than just tools. In fact, they are an integral part of our hectic lives. We are all busy and sometimes, the thought of adding even one more thing to my to do list makes me crazy. However, if I had taken my own advice and serviced the car according to a regular maintenance schedule, we would not have had to be car less for two weeks.

Full service gas stations are a thing of the past, but we can certainly learn from the service that they once provided. It takes less that five minutes to walk around your car, check the pressure in all 4 tires, wash the windshield, look at the wipers and check the wiper fluid and oil levels. All of this can be done while the gas is pumping.

My family has made a commitment to do this each and every time we fill up. In the last month alone, we have noticed and corrected 2 potential problems. One repair, had it gone unnoticed, could have caused major engine damage. If you or a family member would like more information on how to complete this mini service or need training, feel free to stop by Autobody Specialists, Monday through Friday from 8-5 and I would be more that happy to assist you.