Where do you go when you don’t feel well? To the doctor, right? The doctor then tells you what to do to get better, take better care of your body, avoid doing things that damage your health etc.
Well, similar to human doctors, when your car is not “well”, you take it to the car doctor aka the mechanic. A mechanic will help you get to the bottom of the problem and fix it, but in order for your car to be up to par, it is important that you bring your own contribution. This means there are things you should do and things you shouldn’t do to your car.
You can do easy maintenance stuff such as regular oil changes or spark plug replacements, but other than that, unless you’re Tony Stark, it’s best that you leave the complicated repairs to the mechanic. That being said, read on to find out what car-related activities your mechanic wants you to stop doing. Leave it to the professionals!
Not verifying the check engine and other warning lights
Many drivers often don’t take any check engine lights seriously, thinking it must be something related to emissions. That might have been the case back in 1980s when the On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) engine computers showed the emissions. But after the OBD II was created in 1996, the warning lights indicated various problems regarding the oil, cooling system, engine, transmission, brakes, electrical accessories etc.
Ignoring the dash messages or warning lights can lead to serious engine or transmission problems which will be much more expensive to fix. Mechanics recommend paying them a visit whenever you see something off with the warning lights.
Postponing routine maintenance as long as possible
Just like you should do routine checkups with your doctor, the same thing needs to be done with your car. You need to take it for routine maintenance to avoid potential problems that might cause your vehicle to break down when you least expect it. As basic as oil and fluid changes might seem to you, they are essential to your car.
If you want to postpone routine maintenance because of money, just think that not verifying your car at the right moment can turn out way more costly. Mechanics can’t stand it when car owners bring their cars years after their last routine check and are surprised that the vehicle has all sorts of unaddressed problems.
Ignoring strange noises
If your vehicle is working properly, it should not make any strange noises, screeching, rumbling or clunking sounds. According to mechanics, squealing sounds can indicate a drive belt issue; metallic sounds might be caused by a damaged pump or engine bearing; clicking might be caused by a problem with the velocity joints and so on.
The idea is that every sound can indicate an underlying issue. This is why it is important to pay attention to everything you hear and it something sounds off, don’t hesitate in getting your car checked by a mechanic. Expecting for the problem to solve by itself will not work in this case.
Read also: 7 Important Things You Shouldn’t Do in Your Car (but You Do)
Ignoring unusual smells
Similar to sounds, a functional car will not emanate unusual odors (unless you forgot yesterday’s lunch inside). Joking aside, oily burning smells can indicate oil or fluid leaks.
Most likely, when the smell becomes noticeable, the fluid level is already low enough to cause problems. Low fluid levels can damage the engine, transmission or power steering. To add insult to injury, the burning fluid can cause fire under the hood and damage your car for good.
A burning rubber smell can indicate a drive-belt system failure. If you sense a burning smell, it might be your brakes malfunctioning. Trust your nose and do not ignore any of these smells unless you want to pay for way more damage.
You might be interested in finding out more about these 10 Car Cleaning Mistakes You Should NEVER Make.
Telling them what to repair
One of the things mechanics would like customers to top doing is telling them how to do their job. Some car owners bring their cars to the repair shop and start telling mechanics what operation to perform on their car, what parts to replace and what the problem is.
Don’t be that guy. Inform the professional about the problem you’ve noticed and let them do their job. No one is getting richer at your expense. Besides, auto shops do not want bad reviews for not charging a diagnostic fee or for doing repairs that haven’t fixed the real problem. In order for the situation to be a win-win, allow the mechanics to do what they’re supposed to do; this way, you will be happy that they managed to fix your car and they’ll be satisfied that they’ve solved yet another problem and got paid accordingly.
Coming with a dirty car
Your car might not be the cleanest and most organized car in the world, but this doesn’t mean it should look like a bomb exploded inside. Mechanics might have to search for a spare part and digging through piles of junk or fast-food trash would not be in anyone’s interest.
Make sure your car is in a suitable condition when taking it to the auto shop. Mechanics see enough dirt; they don’t need another reason to get even dirtier. See also: Top 11 Essential Car Items for Every Driver
Not providing complete information
When you go to a car repair shop, you should bear in mind that mechanics are there to help you identify the problem and fix it for you. If you’re not telling them everything there is to know about the “problem”, fixing your vehicle might take longer.
For you to be able to help out, you need to provide all the relevant details associated to the matter at hand. Write things down if you don’t think you can remember everything, but make sure you don’t leave anything out as it can be essential to getting to the bottom of things and having your car fixed as fast as possible.
Insisting on getting lower repair prices
Whether you opt to bring your car to an independent mechanic or a dealership, what they perform on your car will be priced accordingly. There’s no way out of paying, regardless of the volume of work mechanics will need to do to fix your vehicle.
Car repairs, especially major ones, require time and experienced people. If you start negotiating instead of allowing the professionals to do their job and get your car up and running sooner rather than later, is a no-win situation.
Calling repeatedly for updates
Patience is a virtue but many customers find it hard to sit and wait for the auto shop representatives to call them and inform them about the status of their car repair. Calling every couple of hours will not get your car mended faster. On the contrary, the mechanic will have to constantly interrupt their work in order to talk to you.
You might also like:12 Popular Car Modifications That Are Illegal in the United States
Not using your car at all
Cars have been created for a purpose: to be driven on the streets and take us from point A to point B. If you think you’re preserving your car by keeping it in the garage and not using it for longer periods of time, think again. You’re actually doing it more harm than good.
As explained by mechanics, cars need to be driven every day, even for just a few miles, to keep all its part active and running. Just like the human body. When left unattended, car parts such as the brakes or rotors may rust. Not to mention that your car battery might die. One way to prevent this problem is by using a trickle charger, which will provide power to the battery even when it is not used.
