VEHICLE MAINTENANCE, IT’S IN THE BUDGET

Whether you dread it or look forward to the challenge, there will come a point when you realize it’s time to update your budget or maybe create one for the first time. You resolutely gather up the bills and bank statements and settle in for the long haul. As you figure out your budget, you make sure to set aside money each month for the bills, groceries, doctor’s visits and other regular expenses you’ve come to expect. The time finally comes to put the budget in action and everything seems to work like it is supposed to. That changes, however, when you get ready to leave for work one morning and discover that your vehicle won’t start. After getting a repair estimate on what it will take to get the vehicle running, your well worked budget suddenly seems to be lacking. Unfortunately, vehicle repair is often overlooked because it is not thought of as a normal monthly expense. But although it is not needed every month, your vehicle’s maintenance does follow a regular pattern. Take a minute to look through the maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual. The maintenance your vehicle needs is broken down by mileage. If your driving habits stay consistent throughout the year, it will be easy to see where the services need to be placed in your budget. While all vehicles typically need the same maintenance, the intervals between each service can vary. For this reason, it’s important to make sure the maintenance schedule you are looking at is designed for your vehicle. If you can’t find your owner’s manual, we can provide you with a schedule that is right for your vehicle.

That’s all for now. Check back next week for more tips from Autotrend Diagnostics, or visit www.AutotrendDiagnostics.com and click the Monday Morning Mechanic link for other automotive service tips.