Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Some Important Automotive Diagnostic, Maintenance and Car Repair Procedures

by: Chris Lontok

The cost of auto AC repair, brakes repair, transmission repair, engine repair and all other car repair procedures can pile up into a very large sum that can drain a vehicle owner’s budget. A vehicle owner’s goal is, therefore, to find ways to minimize unnecessary and repetitive car repair. This can be accomplished through strict compliance with the proper automotive diagnostic and maintenance procedures specified by the vehicle manufacturer.


All the proper automotive diagnostic and maintenance procedures recommended by the vehicle manufacturer are contained in the vehicle’s owner’s manual. This includes all the necessary calibrations, frequencies and schedules. By observing all these instructions faithfully, the vehicle will be kept in its best running condition for the longest possible period. The vehicle owner, therefore, needs to have read the manual thoroughly as soon as the vehicle was received. The manual should also have been kept safe and accessible at all times.

Although every vehicle needs a mainstay auto service mechanic who can be relied on to know its entire service history, the vehicle owner is also expected to do certain day to day diagnostic and maintenance procedures. Your auto service mechanic can teach you how to do these checks and procedures properly. Of course, the more complicated automotive diagnostic and maintenance procedures still have to be delegated to your professional mechanic.

Despite all the proper diagnostic and maintenance procedures done in a timely fashion, normal wear and tear will still cause the need for car repair at some point. These car repair jobs are again within the scope of the expertise of your professional auto service mechanic.

You will know when to take your vehicle to your auto service mechanic if you observe it closely each day you use it. Look out for any unusual noise, unexpected odor, vibration or leak from the vehicle. Any of these can signal various vehicular problems. The vehicle owner should log these observations and give a copy to the vehicle’s mainstay mechanic. Certain signs, however, are emergency signals that need to be seen to immediately. When the vehicle owner, for example, sees smoke coming from the vehicle it should be pulled over promptly and the engine should be turned off. In this case, the vehicle should not be driven to the shop but help should be called for on the spot.

When the vehicle is in the shop for diagnostics, the vehicle owner should expect to receive an official written report from the auto service mechanic containing the problems found and recommended repair procedures, as well as an official written quotation containing the specific costs of parts and services and the time schedule for the entire job.

Of course, every vehicle will have to go through auto AC repair, brakes repair, transmission repair, engine repair and other car repair procedures. There is no way to totally avoid these. With proper automotive diagnostics and maintenance procedures, though, only the truly necessary car repair procedures have to be spent for. Make sure you are working with a truly trustworthy professional auto service shop that will take care of your best interests.