By Courtney Caldwell, American Woman Road & Travel Magazine
10/17/2003
You’re heading down the highway, anxious to get home. Suddenly you hear ominous noises. Your car is skipping beats and spitting liquid. Your adrenaline spews. Your only choice is to pull over on the dark freeway. Now what?
If you’re a man, this is a major inconvenience. If you’re a woman, this could be terrifying, perhaps even a life-threatening situation. Whether you work on the problem or wait for help to arrive, your time on the side of the road now makes you susceptible to the dark side of humanity.
Can this be avoided? In most cases, yes, which is why GM Goodwrench has declared October Car Care Month, an awareness campaign created to focus attention on the importance of car care and maintenance, especially for those living in states that have drastic seasonal changes.
The mission is simple. When your vehicle is properly maintained, it will last longer, run better and hold its value longer. But more importantly, it will keep you and your passengers safe and sane on the road. However, if you’re one of those people who think it will never happen to you, let’s put it in another perspective.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that neglected vehicle maintenance results in some 100,000 disabling injuries each year, from roadside accidents to personal attacks. Additionally, 12.6 percent of vehicle crashes can be attributed to mechanical defects or worn-out equipment. These debilitating setbacks cost Americans $2 billion in lost wages, medical expenses and property damage, not to mention the mental and emotional anguish reaped on victims and their families that can take months if not years from which to recover.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the leading cause of mechanical breakdown on our nation’s highways is overheating, something so easily avoidable that it’s mind-boggling to think it happens at all.
The Car Care Council recently moved its Car Care Month to April in time for spring. GM Goodwrench believes both October and April are important to proper vehicle maintenance, which is why they’re pushing for winter awareness. In many Northern states, the drastic seasonal changes can have devastating effects on a car’s performance, so preparing your ride for each season can make a difference between saving or losing money, or in a worst-case scenario, saving or losing your life.
It’s good practice to have your vehicle serviced by technicians who are experts with the brand. If you own a GM vehicle, reach out to one of the 7,000 GM Goodwrench service shops around the country. Their technicians have more than a million hours of training on GM vehicles. Think about it. Would you go to a dentist for a heart problem?
We understand it’s tough to remember when to get checkups for your car. Or sometimes it’s just not in the budget. So here are a few tips to help you remember what to do and when to do it.
First, if you’re purchasing a 2004 GM vehicle, it’ll have an oil light indicator to remind you it’s time to change your oil. Let this serve as your red flag to bring the vehicle into Mr. Goodwrench for a full checkup.
If you own an older GM model, Goodwrench will remind you each October with its Car Care Month campaign, and the Car Care Council will remind you in April with its. Since both months are the beginning of seasonal changes, it’s wise to get checkups both times. If all else fails, let Halloween serve as your October reminder, a ghoulish time of year, which could turn your life into a nightmare if you break down on some deserted road.
If budget is an issue, consider this: Isn’t $100 in preventative care far more manageable than $3,000 in repairs, replacements, tow trucks, or loss of life and limb? Car ownership is not just about monthly car payments and insurance. Costs such as gas, maintenance, tires and fluids should be included in your annual auto budget.
Develop a relationship with your Goodwrench technician. Your car is your baby. Your technician is its doctor. Quite often, technicians will offer do-it-yourself tips for between visits, which will save you time and money.
Here are a few of things that Mr. Goodwrench will check for you.
• Batteries: A weak battery can strand you at what always seems like the worst time and place. Trained technicians will test your battery to ensure it has many starts left in it.
• Tires: The wrong air pressure can compromise your vehicle’s ride and handling. So can its tread. If your tires are squealing when you turn corners, then have them looked at. The Car Care Council found that 54 percent of vehicles had improperly inflated tires.
• Brakes: An expert inspection is necessary to ensure that your brakes are functioning properly. It doesn’t matter if you have great tires and a working battery. If you can’t stop the car you’re in big trouble. Squealing, chattering and movement in the pedal are all signs that they need to be inspected immediately.
• Oil: Changing oil and filters at recommended intervals minimizes engine wear and reduces the possibilities of internal damage. If your engine seizes up from low or no oil, you’re looking at engine replacement if not total car replacement. Hmmm, let’s see: oil change, $50; engine replacement, $5,000. What should I do?
• Fluid levels: Low or high fluid levels — including coolant, power steering, transmission, brake fluid and even washer solvent — can affect vehicle performance and safety. Low fluid levels can wreak havoc on your car.
• Belts and hoses: A broken belt or ruptured hose can cause costly engine damage and travel delays. Technicians are trained and have the proper tools to find cracks and leaks that aren’t always visible to the layman’s eye.
• Headlights: Properly aimed headlamps help you see and be seen. They won’t do you much good if they’re pointing at the moon. Today’s headlights are very high-tech and shouldn’t be touched with human hands because skin oils will shorten their life. Let a trained technician keep you out of the dark in more ways than one.
To find a Mr. Goodwrench technician near you, check out www.goodwrench.com
Courtney Caldwell is editor in chief of American Woman Road & Travel Magazine. For more information, visit www.roadandtravel.
