Have you ever felt as if you’re moving along at the speed of life and recognize the only consistency you’ve secured is that which you’ve made every effort to avoid?  For example, you’re convinced that this is the week you’re going to do a series of things that have been overlooked to this point, only to find that you’ve consistently avoided them yet again.  Sound familiar?  These patterns don’t just create themselves.  In fact, we’re responsible for either following status quo or making a dramatic shift to effect positive change.  Moral here is that without accuracy consistency can take you only so far.

The reason these questions are being considered is because we recently completed a three year review of vehicles that were brought into our shop with the assistance of a tow truck.  You’re welcome to decide for yourselves what caused these vehicles to no longer operate as designed, but for sake of simplicity we’ll just tell you that what they had in common was their owner could not physically drive them here.  What we were able to conclude from these reports was alarming.

Would you believe that not one of these vehicles in severe disrepair belonged to our existing customers?  To be clear, disrepair in this case is being used to describe a broken ball joint, tie rod end, control arm, or some other absolutely vital component of a vehicle that protects its driver from eating the road, as it were.  Can this actually be true?  Yes, and not only does this truth reveal multiple signs of negligence but also in every case amounted to a much greater repair cost.

You see, it’s not as if we don’t have our regular customers come in for replacement of these parts – no, the difference is that our proactive and comprehensive inspection process catches “warning signs” before they become a threat.  Even referring to them as warning signs may be an overstatement, actually.  They may in fact be only points of concern when documented during a routine service visit.

What this tells us, among other things, is that these vehicles likely belonged to people that developed consistency but not accuracy.  Their owners were consistently overlooking the importance of regular and proper care.  They fit into the upper right corner of the illustration above.  In some ways we suspect their consistent efforts actually felt rewarding and may have even been convincing enough for them to feel they were doing the right thing.  The condition of their vehicles would suggest otherwise.

Is it possible that these customers had all the routine services performed at another shop and we simply didn’t have records to prove it?  Possible, but highly unlikely given the consistent (there’s that word again) nature of their deterioration.  So our curiosity got the better of us and we decided to look into this matter further.  We had a feeling the difference would be significant but our discovery proved this to be the case almost tenfold.  In situations where a tie rod end or ball joint is loose the average repair cost was around $300.  However, when a vehicle came to us by way of a tow for replacement of the same part(s) that cost increased to almost $1100.  This variance can basically be summed up as severe negligence of one important part often leads to a domino effect, whereby you end up having to repair/replace several corresponding parts.  Bottom line, you pay more.  For those of you contemplating whether we mean financially or emotionally, the answer is yes.

Our customers have been coached (or advised for those who prefer academia over sports analogies) toward accuracy for the greater majority of almost 40 years.  Our partnership is just that, an equally contributing force, where you ask for our help and we develop a plan together, followed by an inquiry on our part to make sure you understand next steps.  Our desire is for you to fully identify points of accuracy (touch points of service according to your vehicle’s manufacturer) and consistently pay attention to them.  We didn’t write the book, but we know better enough than to ignore it.

To bring this full circle, those routine service visits represent the darts in the illustration above.  Our expert team can assist in helping make sure that more of yours result in a bulls-eye (or what in this case is considered the “safe” zone).  Safe doesn’t exclude necessary investment, rather it promotes systematic responsibility that often results in less individual expenses.

The concept here is simple, plan ahead for paying now, or really pay later.  Again, the answer is a resounding yes.

We’ve all done it in some form or another, made an attempt to remember something we shouldn’t overlook.  Whether it was as overt as tying a red ribbon around your finger or keeping something in your front pocket that only you knew was there, the idea behind it was the same – don’t forget.  What if somebody else attempted to simplify this process for you, would this be of particular benefit?  Do you believe the rhythm of your day would be less interrupted by not having to resort to alternative means of memory retention?  Well, even if you prefer to don a small piece of fabric on your finger or that special polished stone, we’d like to at least offer our assistance.  Therein lies the INYA.

INYA in our corner of the world stands for Items Needing Your Attention.  We believe too often the case has been customers leaving their respective auto repair facilities with less information than they may desire, and certainly short of what they deserve.  Our observation isn’t based on any specific shop or potential competitor as much as the general culture of the customers we serve and their reaction upon receiving that initial INYA (and subsequently each time they return).

You’ve known us to use the medical analogy in previous blog posts and this is no different.  It fits equally as well.  Do you seek surface level information from a health practitioner or physical therapist when you see them?  And if you happen to be one of the less than 10% of people alive today that haven’t ever been to see one of these professionals, please replace our example with one that relates to you and privately forward us your secret.  The same point still holds true.  You not only desire detailed information but you often require it.  Why might this be?  We can’t say for certain because we’re not you but we suspect it’s because your life (or somebody with whom you have close relation) may depend on it.  Yes, your vehicle is inanimate.  As such, we will not be making any attempts to equate it with human life.  We will, however, call close attention to how your vehicle relies on proper care to operate.  That much is no longer relative but absolute fact.  Just as you and all other living creatures would perish without food and water (among other things), a vehicle simply cannot sustain itself without oil and certain fluids.  Notice we didn’t say gasoline, for we’re entering a day and age that has introduced motor vehicles dependent on electronic energy for fuel.  WOW, the times… they are a-changin’.

Do you currently view your vehicle(s) as entities worthy of the actual care they need?  Be honest.  If you don’t, you have plenty of company.  It’s not uncommon for us to take certain areas of our lives for granted, and the automobile often tends to find itself in this category.  We’re not suggesting that your mode of transportation needs to be the most important thing in your life, but we are expressing caution for allowing it to be the least.  Regardless of whether you’re one to appreciate the open road (read as car/truck enthusiast) or see your vehicle as a way to travel from point A to B, a certain level of upkeep is paramount.  Sometimes knowing and realizing this isn’t where there’s a disconnect since people to some degree assume as much, but the real challenge is knowing WHAT needs to be done and WHEN.  Once again, therein lies the INYA.

With every service visit at Community Automotive Repair our customers receive a detailed invoice, which breaks down all the services performed, recommended, and forecasted (so to speak).  In other words, we aspire to inform, educate, and engage – and each of these steps are accomplished prior to and within the INYA itself.  Let’s take a closer look at each:

*  Inform – Unless we’re asked not to by the customer, your vehicle receives a comprehensive (and complimentary) visual inspection with each visit.  This is our commitment to making you more aware of where your vehicle is in its “maintenance life.”  Without hesitance we confidently make professional recommendations concerning the care your vehicle needs (when applicable).  We’re open to discussing other items you may have questions about but it is no interest of ours to “conveniently find” extras to secure work.  We are here to serve you to the best of our abilities and while profit is necessary to sustain business, it will not be conducted at the expense of integrity.

* Educate – Often times when we reveal the result of our inspection it will raise valid questions.  After all, we don’t expect you to be the authority on your vehicle as much as we are honored to accept that responsibility.  We’ve meticulously followed trends and the latest advances in this industry for almost 40 years, which is why we attempt to teach you as much as you’re willing to learn about your vehicle, as it pertains to your specific concerns.  We’d like for you to be empowered and feel the advantages of a wise consumer.  It is also during this time where we tend to break recommendations into categories of importance, as necessary.  You have the right to know if there’s a safety concern and you’ll in effect assume responsibility for any potential harm this may cause, or you’ll also know if the condition of your vehicle is such that waiting a bit won’t introduce any additional risk.

* Engage – It isn’t uncommon for there to be a natural segue way between educating and informing because let’s face it, if we’ve done justice in explaining things clearly up to this point all that’s left is to share the resolve.  This is the point where we come alongside as a partner (ideally) for short and long term care of your vehicle.  We will develop a plan based on your needs and attempt to work within any specific constraints, which of course often amounts to time or budget.  Your options will be clearly laid out and the INYA (yes, another honorable mention) will be utilized to bring this entire process full circle.

INYA (Items Needing Your Attention) – With every service your vehicle may stand in need of at the time it’s inspected, a separate line will be reserved in the INYA section of your invoice.  The INYA is always towards the bottom, following the detailed breakdown of services you had performed and/or estimated.  What’s more is that you’ll receive reminders to let you know when each of these services are due.  For example, let’s figure on you needing a brake inspection, tire rotation, and oil change.  General rule of thumb (there are many exceptions) is that your vehicle should have its motor oil and filter changed every 3000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first.  Along those same lines the tires should be rotated about every other oil change service.  In this case we’re also suggesting that your brakes aren’t quite due but should be checked in 6 months.  With all of this taken into consideration, you’d receive a reminder in about 2.5 months for the oil change and a separate one for the tire rotation/brake inspection in roughly 5.5 months.  Most of our customers receive these notices electronically (which the trees appreciate) but they are also available as snail mail for those that happen to prefer more traditional means of communication.  Bottom line, this eliminates the guesswork and all you have to do is schedule the appointment and sleep easy.

We don’t want to disrupt any creativity or other forms of self expression you may have to remind you about important events.  But we do believe in making the most of your time, and this process goes a long way if you’ll let it.  Our recommendation is to leave the yarn/string for the kids or family member that enjoys knitting and craft work, as we’re wholeheartedly committed to easing the pressure associated with memory.

Each of us have enough to remember already.  Feel free to cross the personal responsibility of auto care off your list and add it to ours.  We can handle it.

Related articles

• Factory Maintenance Schedules (communityauto.wordpress.com)

In a continuation of our “Choosing the right professional” series, we’d like to discuss the importance of not only asking the right questions but being asked them as well.  For instance, when’s the last time you visited the dentist with a toothache and they didn’t ask additional questions, to better understand the exact nature of your pain?  Has this ever happened?  Chances are if it has you may not have received the best possible service, and ultimately you invested too much for too little a return.  Isn’t the point generally to receive quality service(s) at a complete value?  Now, we realize “value” is a term that some will choose to take liberties with but we’re not doing any such thing here.  To eliminate any confusion, value is being defined in this case as the proper level of service, time to completion, and cost.  While it’s not entirely impossible to achieve great (not good, but exceptional) results with all 3 components of value, usually you’re best to decide which is most important to you and understand that could mean less priority to one or both of those remaining.

OK, so now we’ve learned that it’s not exactly a good idea to entrust anything of value (term used generically here) to another without first knowing that they have a clear understanding of your expectations.  Furthermore, we visited a very concrete model of value.  Now, we have the pleasure of marrying these two concepts.

(actual scenario) – notated in theatrical form for entertainment purposes

————–

*customer enters shop*

Service Advisor: Good morning, welcome to ________ (name omitted to protect the innocent), how may I help you?

Customer: I’m here to get my car tuned-up so it will run better.

Service Advisor: Well, no problem at all.  That service will cost _____ (insert “engine tune-up” cost here).

Customer: OK, that seems a little high but you were referred by a good friend I trust.  So… when will it be ready?

Service Advisor: We’ll have it all wrapped up for you by 2:00pm.

Customer: OK, I guess that’s fair.  Thank you, and I’ll see you later today.

*customer signs the necessary authorization and exits the shop*

STOP!!!!

How would you grade this experience, both from the perspective of the Customer and the Service Advisor?  Feel free to comment on this thread if you have any helpful suggestions.

————–

Regardless of the score you might give this, we’re likely to agree at least on this much – it could have been a lot better, right?  Yes, in fact it in most cases can be used (and is here) as “what not to do” more than anything else.  For the record, a “tune-up” is quite commonly misunderstood since it can mean very different things depending to whom you might be speaking.  A traditional tune-up (AKA Engine Tune-Up) includes but may not be limited to replacing spark plugs, spark plug wires, and fuel filter on a vehicle.  Depending on what the customer is truly seeking, this may or may not be the answer for them.  Even though cost is left to the reader’s imagination above, there was enough information provided to suggest that the customer was initially taken back by it.  This was to call attention to how the Service Advisor rushed to judgment instead of asking additional questions.  In this specific example the Service Advisor did in fact assume the customer was asking for an engine tune-up, but if you had been around to witness the actual incident you’d have picked up quickly on their mistake.  The customer in this case actually wanted a Fuel Injection Cleaning Service, which is quite different than how their request was interpreted.  The service the customer legitimately wanted was precisely in the cost range they anticipated, and not at all relative to what one would spend on an Engine Tune-Up.

Now, to better illustrate this point we of course are asking you to accept that this customer chose what the Service Advisor recommended and walked out of the shop.  In reality, prior to this happening, a manager, who just happened to overhear the conversation, rose to the occasion and prevented this from becoming a major disaster.

This happened in real life.  This wasn’t our shop but it could very well have been if we either made a careless mistake or chose against what’s best for the customer in place of what’s most profitable for us.  Well, suffice it to say we’re not interested in either of those, as we’d rather take a loss in favor of the customer if we are legitimately found in error.  We’re not perfect but we’ve learned that taking our time and focusing on the questions behind the question is (as mentioned above) very critical.  Whether you know the right questions to ask, or not, we hope your experience is one that you not only find fair but also educational and professional.

This is time for a lot of things, not the least of which is reflection and introspection.

To that end, we’re reminded of the many ways our lives are enriched by having you as a part of them.

So as we prepare to put a wrap (no pun intended) on 2011, know that we are equally thrilled to usher in 2012 with all of you.

We wish each of you peace and joy.

Having the correct person to turn to when you need specific answers, that can often be the difference between efficiency and disaster.  You wouldn’t necessarily ask a lumberjack where to buy the freshest pastries in town, right?  You could but we’re not sure you’d be likely to receive the best answer.  Is it possible that particular man or woman might actually specialize in confectionery arts?  Yes.  Would your odds improve if you were to ask the same question of a baker?  Of course, and for obvious reasons.

OK, so that’s not very challenging logic.  Now, what if you were to line up five doctors left to right, all with the exact same lab coat.  Could you easily choose which one might be right for you?  Are you sure?  Tell us, which of the available factors would most determine your final choice?  What we all have available to us immediately are physical characteristics.  While those may in fact lead us in the right direction, they can also be very deceiving.  Play this out with us for a minute…

What if there were 3 females and 2 males, would you have a predisposition with choosing one over the other?  You might, or not, but do you know why?  Chances are you’ve at some point had a favorable experience with one group more than another.  That may be something you find instantly comforting and you wouldn’t be wrong for feeling this way, but would that be enough to know you’ve selected the correct person(s)?  Perhaps, but not necessarily.  What if you gravitated to one of the males in search of better answers regarding complications you’re feeling in your chest, only to find that both of the men are brain surgeons.  What are the odds that scenario would end well?  While there may be a small chance one or both of them might know enough to find their way around your heart and the surrounding area (after all, med school these days isn’t small potatoes!), having them tend to your care wouldn’t be your best choice.

OK, so you get the point… you really benefit from knowing a great deal more than what is viewable to the naked eye.  But how exactly do you acquire this additional information?  YOU ASK.  You wouldn’t trust just any run of the mill medical student with your life so why would you potentially do the equivalent with care of your vehicle(s)?  Bottom line, you wouldn’t, or at least you shouldn’t.

Just the same as you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover (yes, yet once again our parents were right), we don’t expect you to know that our automotive technicians are maintenance and repair specialists.  There isn’t any way you would reasonably conclude that’s the case unless you ASKED questions.  With that said, we encourage you to interview us.  Please ask us the questions you would like answers to because we understand the importance of making the right decision.  Why do we have such a clear idea of how significant (not to mention sensitive) an issue this can become?  Because it’s what WE DO when faced with the very same challenge, and empowering our customers to make informed decisions is what we’ve been about for over 36 years.

We don’t have medical degrees, nor should we if we’re working on vehicles.  But make no mistake about it, we approach this science with the same amount of passion, commitment, and focus as new and veteran health professionals alike.  It’s what we do and who we are, and the reason for that is because it’s also what we LOVE doing.

It makes perfect sense that you might be preoccupied with comparison and weighing pros and cons of doing business with one party over another.  We get that, but we just want to make certain that you’re asking qualifying questions so the service centers you’re considering can be measured equally, and that includes but is not limited to proper discovery of specialties.  If a specific practitioner (in the example above) has chosen to emphasize and target one area of their practice, wouldn’t you want to know that?  Yes, and not only would this be valuable information but it might immediately eliminate other potential candidates for whom you felt may be equally qualified.

We’ll come back to this theme on the next blog entry, where we’d like to point out some of the noticeable differences between a team that approaches challenges with the mentality of a technician, as opposed to that of a specialist.  We believe you’ll better understand (and hopefully appreciate) the tireless dedication and standards we hold ourselves to on a regular basis.  It isn’t easy but we’ve accepted to make the necessary sacrifices for your benefit.  It’s what we believe you not only deserve but should also expect.

Stay tuned…

As always, in the meantime we’re available via web, facebook, e-mail, or phone (616.774.7048).  You decide what medium works best for you and we’ll be here when you need us.

Sometimes it seems we live in such a disposable society. It’s amazing all the things we throw away.

“New and improved” comes out so fast, we just toss the old and move on to the next thing.  It seems like when we were kids, our parents were real sticklers about taking care of our belongings.  You know, hang up your clothes, polish your shoes, put away your toys.  If something got lost or ruined by neglect – tough, we had to do without it.

We couldn’t afford new vehicles very often, so we tried to make them last as long as we could.  It’s a good thing that vehicles (generally speaking) are more reliable these days.  They just don’t break down as often.  And the good news for us penny pinchers is that a modern car can easily go 200,000 miles with proper care.  The engineering’s there and so is the manufacturing quality.  The missing ingredient is us making sure we follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule.

Is it really that bad to get off schedule?  Well, it all adds up and can you really afford to replace a smaller expense with a potentially larger one?  That becomes the real question worth considering.  Every time you go a couple thousand extra miles between oil changes, you’ve created an opportunity for sludge to form and clog passages.  Then some parts don’t get oiled and they start to wear out faster.

Skip a cooling system service, and the corrosion inhibitors become depleted, and the radiator starts being damaged – one step closer to a failure.  The same thing is true for transmission service, power brakes, fuel system cleaning – really everything on your schedule.

It’s also even more important for older vehicles.  Those engines and other systems have had more time to get dirty, so they’re a bit more stressed anyway.  But it’s never too late to get back on track with your maintenance and to hold off further damage.

It’s just another example of our parents being right. (Surprising how often that happens, isn’t it?)  And it really does start with the oil change service just like Dad said.  When you get a full service oil change we top off all your fluids and check for other items that are on your maintenance schedule.  That’s like your safety net; go in for oil changes on time, and let our service experts help you keep track of the rest.

Of course, it’s inevitable that some things are going to wear out along the way, like alternators, water pumps and such.  But those are often cheaper than a new car payment.  And taking care of problems early means they have less time to cause other potential problems.  It’s like having high cholesterol; you don’t want to wait for a heart attack before you address it.  Make better sense?

In the table above there’s an example of a 2003 Volkswagen Jetta recommended maintenance schedule.  Yours may look similar, or not, but almost always it’s found in the back section of your vehicle’s owners manual.  If you haven’t already familiarized yourself with this resource, there’s no better time than the present.  Among other things, it will help better acquaint you with all the different elements of your vehicle.  You will also thank yourself in the event you ever need to recall this information on a moment’s notice.

Bottom line, we’re not saying we can predict your vehicle will fail if you ignore the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule but we ARE intending to convey that you GREATLY increase the likelihood of necessary repairs, which in turn are often met with higher associated cost.  We’re here to help you stay on track and make your investment one that you not only enjoy but also feel good about in terms of overall cost of ownership.  Time and again it has been proven that keeping up with your service intervals is the answer.

So, next time somebody may ask you to share the secret (provided you’ve done your part and your vehicle is running exactly as it should), you now have the answer: routine maintenance

Filed under: Service Tagged: auto care schedule, grand rapids, manufacturer's recommendations, recommended maintenance, service intervals ]]> http://communityauto.wordpress.com/2011/11/10/factory-maintenance-schedules/feed/ 0 communityauto VW Maintenance Schedule http://communityauto.wordpress.com/2011/10/14/rain-in-october/ http://communityauto.wordpress.com/2011/10/14/rain-in-october/#comments Fri, 14 Oct 2011 13:57:05 +0000 communityauto http://communityauto.wordpress.com/?p=328 ]]> …becoming ice in November.  It’s much easier to navigate the roads when you’re prepared.  This time of year that begins with selecting the correct wiper blades for your vehicle.

If you’re gonna drive, bottom line, you’ve got to be able to see!  As this educational piece (generously provided by Rain-X) explains further, having a good pair of windshield wipers is extremely important. We’ve all experienced the frustration and fear of not being able to view the traffic in front of and around us during a storm, it’s beyond frustrating!

It seems like your wiper blades are always at their worst when you need them the most. But windshield wipers are like most other vehicle parts– they require regular attention in order to work their best.

You really ought to replace your wiper blades twice a year; in the spring and the fall.  If it’s going to be a particularly harsh winter in Grand Rapids, you may even want to get special winter blades in the fall. Winter blades are designed to resist freezing.  There’s not much you can do about ice besides prolong the life of your blades by preparing ahead of time.  Vision is one of the most important elements of safe driving.

Speaking of winter and freezing conditions, if your car has been sitting for a long time and the windshield becomes frozen, don’t use your wipers to clear off snow and ice. That’ll just tear up the blades and cause them to wear out more quickly.  Worse yet, it may even damage the wiper motor.

Over time, wiper blades become hard and brittle, and then tear. They also lose their flexibility and just don’t cover the windshield effectively.  Worn wiper blades aren’t just a safety hazard; they can also scratch your windshield. That may require replacing the entire windshield; a big cost for such a little part.  Replace worn blades right away.

Of course you also need washer fluid to help your blades do their work.  It is a good idea to have some extra fluid at home, or in the car if you are on a long trip.   Only use straight windshield washer fluid.   Plain water, even that fancy bottled water, may freeze in the fluid reservoir or on the windshield itself, making things worse.  Besides, water doesn’t do a good job of cleaning your windows.  Also, remember that some vehicles have two reservoirs: one for the windshield and one for the back window – which may be under the hood or somewhere in the back.

Keep your eyes on the road and be sure to contact us if you have any questions.  Community Automotive Repair – 616.774.7048

“I used to have a car for no more than 100,000 miles and then trade it in, regardless of how well it might have been running – but I now realize I was stepping into a new risk each time.”

And then, the refrain changes… as they continue with “The first couple times I did this I ended up in the clear but the last two have left me with lemons… sour, bitter lemons.”

First point: Previous results do not always dictate future results.  Said another way, just because you may have had an amazing experience with something doesn’t guarantee the same will happen with the next thing, even if the one to follow is identical to the first.

Of course, as with most things in life, you should focus on what you can control.  Sometimes Lady Luck may seem on your side, while on other days you’d rather kick her in the shin.  Regardless, you shouldn’t ever place stock in things outside your control without understanding the risk(s) involved.

Final point: Unless you’ve been living underground, you must have heard by now that you get what you give.

When was the last time you neglected to properly care for something?  Anything at all?  Did you happen to notice the amount of time it took for said thing to stop working to its designed specifications?  Vehicle care is definitely NO exception.  While you may get lucky on occasion common sense will tell you that you must pay attention to the small details, unless of course you enjoy the potentially expensive gamble.  Do you prefer life on the edge?  Are you what most would consider a risk-taker?  In either event, don’t depend on us to help you find reasons to see misuse/abuse as a wise investment.

Systematic care of your vehicle doesn’t have to be an expensive endeavor.  Use your owner’s manual as a guide for what the manufacturer suggests and plan accordingly so your financial commitment doesn’t need to be one you feel in your pocketbook months later.  Any one of our team of trained professionals would be happy to assist this planning process.  Each of us here at Community Automotive Repair already make it a point to inform you regularly of what service(s) your vehicle may need, but we welcome any additional questions you may have, too.

This is Back To School time (we sent a courtesy reminder that it was coming) so all of us should become astute vehicle owners and keep these two very valuable lessons in mind.  Once again, most things come FULL CIRCLE but don’t depend on it entirely and be aware that you GET WHAT YOU GIVE.

Enjoy the fall colors!

Come Celebrate West Michigan’s 100 Year Old Love Affair with the Automobile!

Summer is here but fading fast.  You may find it hard to believe given our latest heat wave, but it’s true – August is right around the corner.  Before long you might be ushering your young ones to school or child care, stopping on low traffic side streets to take in the majestic colors of the season, and dare we say it – grabbing your sweaters and overcoats in preparation for that other season (of which we won’t mention by name) that immediately follows.  Bottom line, if you were to close your eyes for too long you might find the need to shift that thermostat from C to H.  Don’t worry, for everyone’s sake, we’re also hoping those temperatures stay at bay for as long as possible in 2011/12.

What does all this mean?  Among other things it’s meant to illustrate just how much time passes before you may have even realized it.  We understand some of you are planners and as such may find yourself immersed in a well designed agenda for each day you face.  For the less than 10% of you that manage this way, we salute you!  We believe you may have a thing or two to teach us.  To the remainder of us who have a seemingly endless flow of projects, assignments (some of which are time sensitive), interruptions, distractions, etc.  – we may wake up one morning feeling as if it’s still July and August will have invited itself into the fold.

Do you find yourself absent minded when it comes to proper auto care?  Wouldn’t it be just as easy to put off or completely forget to routinely service your vehicle?  The answer we hear the most (and it’s rather unanimous) is YES.  What might be the consequences for overlooking important work that’s needed?  The short answer is we have no specific way of knowing, but we can say history has shown time and again that failure to maintain a vehicle may lead to more necessary repairs, and of course that often means a significantly higher expense.

To close this entry, we’d like to focus on the important difference (there’s more than one but we believe you’ll understand our point) between repair and maintenance.  The former is most commonly associated with something happening that requires service to your vehicle.  We’ll refer to this as reactive.  The latter, however, generally consists of measures you’ve taken to keep your vehicle running smoothly before a major problem arises.  This approach is definitely proactive.  It has been our experience and we have twenty or more (and counting) detailed accounts from long-time loyal customers to substantiate that “$200 now is far better than $2,000 later.”  Of course, there’s a chance (however small it may be) your vehicle will survive just the same even when neglecting to properly care for it over time, which is why we have no intention or desire to use this information as a scare tactic.  No, that’s not where our heart is at all.  We simply wish to make certain that you understand the gamble you’re taking.

Ask yourself what risk you’re willing to take and how much is too much when it comes to potential problems.  Your vehicle’s manufacturer has gone to the extra effort to spell out (some more than others) what suggested service intervals will keep your vehicle operating as designed, just locate your owner’s manual.  We understand these are read and paid attention to quite infrequently but we’re not willing to passively accept this fact, nor do we encourage anyone to write them off as unhelpful.  Fact of the matter here is nobody knows that vehicle better than the company that’s responsible for its production, period.  If for one reason or another you take a pass on our advice, we would at the very least recommend you listen to them.

If you may be due for any specific services or have questions about routine maintenance, we’re here to help.  We love what we do and we’re committed to doing it right the first time.  Feel free to call (616.774.7048) for an appointment, or take full advantage of our online scheduling.  You can even do this right from our facebook page if you wish.  Either way, we look forward to serving you soon.