Products & Services Your Car Does Not Need

Posted on October 24, 2012 by randrinc

Three products your car doesn’t need

Just as there are cosmetics that are useless, there are car products that are useless, too. While none of these are big-ticket items, those nickels and dimes add up.

Oil additives. Your engine needs the correct oil, changed regularly. Oil additives not only don’t work, but can be harmful.
Gas-savers. The EPA has tested them all, and they don’t work. Some can even lower engine performance.
Nitrogen fill of tires. Don’t do it, unless you just enjoy burning cash.

Four services your car doesn’t need

No matter what that service manager says, your car does not need the following procedures:

Engine flush. What your engine does need are regular oil changes.
Fuel-injection cleaning. This unnecessary service could set you back as much as $200.
Transmission flush. Flushing the transmission can stir up sediment that can then travel into small passages, such as precision valves, and affect the shifting quality of the transmission. If anything, R&R would recommend an alternate procedure, a drain and refill, which minimizes the chances of agitating sediment. You don’t really need a drain and refill, either, but if you decide you like the idea, do it regularly or not at all to minimize the chances of transmission damage. We recently encountered a customer whose transmission was destroyed in the aftermath of a dealer-advised transmission flush.
Power steering flush. In our experience, this is unnecessary unless a failed steering component is being replaced.

Eight Steps to Take When You Need Emergency Car Care

Posted on October 24, 2012 by randrinc

Eight steps to take when you need emergency car care

Most repair shops are honest, but an “overzealous” mechanic can spot the client who isn’t armed with information. The temptation to bamboozle you could be tough to resist when you’re a one-time customer in an emergency situation. Here are our best tips to avoid paying for unnecessary work:

Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints lodged against the repair shop you are considering.
Ask about certification and experience. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence certifies mechanics in eight different specialties, including electrical systems, steering and suspension, engines, brakes, and heating and air conditioning. A repair facility can advertise the ASE certification if only one mechanic is certified in just one specialty. A master technician is certified in all areas.
Don’t hand an emergency mechanic a blank check. Ask in advance for a recommendation of service or repair and an estimate. Ask the mechanic to prioritize the recommended work and to explain what the benefit of the work would be. It’s possible that some of the work can be delayed.
Keep your owner’s manual with your car. In an emergency situation, let the manual be your service bible. If the manual doesn’t say you need it, don’t authorize it. If it’s not a safety issue, and if it’s routine maintenance, ask if the work can wait until your regular service interval.
Keep your service and repair bills with your owner’s manual. If your air filter was just replaced last year, you don’t need a new one this year; likewise, if your tires are nearly worn out, don’t authorize a rebalance and rotation.
If a mechanic tells you a part needs to be replaced, ask the mechanic to show you the part in the car and to explain its condition. Furthermore, while you’re checking the part, mark it in some way (or have the mechanic do it), so you can identify the part later. Finally, inform the mechanic that you will expect the old part to be returned to you.
Even the best mechanic can make an honest mistake. Be sure that the diagnosis you receive matches up with the symptoms you’ve noticed.
Ask questions. A reputable mechanic will be eager to answer your questions until you are sure you understand what needs to be done and why.

Can R&R service my new vehicle?

Posted on October 15, 2012 by randrinc

The Federal Government has your answer to this question: Yes, R&R can perform all routine maintenance on your new vehicle. The Magnuson Moss Warranty Act guarantees you the right to have your vehicle serviced by any competent independent service station, shop or garage without jeopardizing your warranty.

Warranty work is a different story, however. The dealer must perform warranty work. Manufacturers rarely reimburse customers
for warranty work done at independent shops, other than in emergency situations when a dealer is not readily available.

A new-vehicle warranty is designed to protect both the
manufacturer and consumer. It warrants certain parts of the vehicle for a specified period of time or a specific number of
miles. It also limits the manufacturer’s liability beyond those points. If your vehicle has a problem due to defective parts that are still covered by your warranty, the dealer must make the repairs.

In order to protect the warranty when your new car is being maintained by R&R Auto Service,
you simply must have the vehicle serviced at the intervals specified in your owner’s manual or warranty booklet, just as would be required
by the dealer. You must also keep careful service records to
prove maintenance has been performed as prescribed. R&R keeps those records for you.

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