A lot of us have undergone the painful experience of having our car break down in the middle of nowhere, and being overwhelmed with the feeling of helplessness and worry sinks in as we are totally clueless about how to find information about nearby mechanics and auto repair services. Unless you personally know a reliable mechanic or an auto repair shop, every time you try to get your vehicle repaired can be an unsettling experience. You are uncertain and questions like whether the mechanic would treat you honestly or whether they would only repair whats wrong prop up. Mostly, the question is on how to get local knowledge about reliable mechanics and auto repair services.

Which is why we believe that you need to know the ABC of car repair, car maintenance and mostly about the auto services shop you will visit. Mentioned are basics of automobile care and some more tips on basic maintenance that will boost your knowledge, better your auto repair IQ, and aid you in making the right choices about your car.

• Synthetic Oil Facts. This is not a better option. If your car has been performing well with regular oil for years there is no reason to change. Does your car manual suggest it? If not, then why change at all. Many times, auto repair shops suggest switching over to synthetic oil for the singular motive of making more money.


• Use a soft rag dipped in alcohol to clean your car's windshield wipers. This helps in lengthening the life while also improving its performance.


• Replace your car's timing belt on regular intervals. Your car manual will tell you the time of change. Timing belts do not show symptoms of wearing out and based on the kind of engine used, it can result in a lot of internal devastation as pistons crash into valves when timing belts rupture.


• We recommend, you additionally change your serpentine belt or drive belt along with the timing belt. This way, you save a lot of cash on labor charges. Moreover, the belts need to be removed in order to finish the replacing of the timing belt.


• Learn how to check all your vehicle’s fluid levels – including engine oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, engine coolant, and washer solvent. Dropping fluid levels is an early warning sign of potential problems.


• Check your remaining brake pad life regularly. Replace the pads before they wear out and grind into the brake rotors and triple the price of your brake job.


• Each vehicle has a different interval for the replacement of the car’s spark plugs. Check your owner’s manual for your car’s interval. Dishonest mechanics may recommend replacing spark plugs every 30,000 miles, when the life expectancy of those spark plugs may be 100,000 miles to increase profits.


• Check your tire pressure regularly. Correctly inflated tires save fuel and increase tire longevity. Decreasing air pressure is an indication of a leak that should be repaired.


• Inspect your air filters. Dirty air filters decrease fuel economy and performance, and can sometimes be blown-out with a high-pressure air hose instead of replaced.


• Check your engine oil regularly. Older vehicles may begin to burn oil, and a vehicle can run dangerously low on engine oil without ever showing signs of a leak.


• Keep your battery posts clean.

For most of us however, the days of being able to work on our own vehicles are far behind us. Almost all vehicles built in the last 10 years are controlled by an array of electronic sensors and computers. The good news is that the vehicle is always making adjustments to maximize fuel economy, reduce pollution, and deliver maximum performance all by itself. The bad news is that it now requires constant specialized training, and expensive testing equipment to properly diagnose and repair vehicles.

This training and investment in special tools is necessary as without it, the do-it-your-selfer, (and even smaller shops) is left to simply “throw parts at cars” until the symptom goes away. If your mechanic recommends a part be replaced, and then explains after the replacement that a second part “also” needs to be replaced that was never mentioned initially, this is a red flag that the shop isn’t capable of diagnosing the problem effectively, and you may be paying to replace parts that are perfectly good.

This is the main reason we feel the most important decision you make in repairing your vehicle, is who you take your vehicle to. There are plenty of honest and capable mechanics out there, but there are incapable and deceptive mechanics out there too. We recommend speaking with friends and neighbors for a personal recommendation, or using a 3rd party service like AAA, the Better Business Bureau, or CompareAutoCare.com to compare information on shops in your local area, so you know what you’re getting into before you bring your car in for service.

Most of all, enjoy your ride.

This article is written by the owner of Compare Auto Care. Compare Auto Care is a one-stop portal for a comprehensive listing of automotive repair business shops online within the Chicago and Illinois area while also providing tips for car maintenance. Compare Auto Care also gives you information and user reviews of the auto repair shops.