Changing the way we look at Auto Maintenance to save thousands the BG Way

If I were to tell you there is a way you could avoid thousands of dollars in repair costs on your vehicle, would you be interested? If I told you that by following a simple preventative maintenance plan on you vehicle, you can significantly reduce the cost of expensive repairs. You bet you would! We all need ways to save money these days. So, how can you do this? I will tell you how but first I must cover a few points related to vehicle maintenance so it all makes sense.

Today we are looking at how cars have changed and if we want to save money how we need to change our perceptions on car repairs. I’m going to show you some ways you can save money, but first I need to cover a few things with you concerning perceptions and reality. You may have noticed the cost of major repairs has gone up. Before you join in about the problems of today let me tell you I’ve got some great news for you about how you could save thousands and keep your car running longer. Keep on reading.

The truth is many of us grew up knowing more about cars than many folks do today. We could tinker under the hood of our truck and intelligently discuss how our vehicle runs and how it works. To be honest this was partially due to the fact that engines were simpler in those days. Auto Repair was simpler too. Years ago there were no Air Bags, Anti-Lock Brakes, Fuel injection, or computer systems helping our cars to run more efficient and safely. Diagnostics used to involve a simple test drive and in short time a technician would have a good idea of what was wrong. Even major repairs were much simpler. However, with the introduction of front wheel drive and automatic transmissions and much more, this all changed. Major automotive repairs used to cost you a few hundred dollars and can now run you thousands of dollars to fix.

This sounds like we're just discussing the rising cost of auto repair; doesn't it? Well the good news is still to come. You see, the real key to saving thousands of dollars on auto repairs begins with the way we perceive automotive service and maintenance. In the good old days we waited for a major problem to occur before we fixed the problem as it wasn’t that big of a deal. Why? Because repairs were simple then and did not require much time to get you back on the road. Automotive maintenance was seldom discussed as a result of this simplicity. Don’t go to sleep.
Today, our automobile is a very complex piece of equipment and comprised of many very expensive systems. These systems require regular maintenance every 30,000 miles. These systems also require many hours to diagnose, repair, and replace if regular maintenance is not performed. What I’m talking about is how to save you money by avoiding these major repairs.

Let's compare prices. An engine replacement that may have cost you $2,400 in years past may now cost you $4,800 or more. Then, if you want a quality engine with a 3 year, hundred thousand mile warranty, you can add another $1,000 - $2,000 to your bill. That’s right. Why the enormous difference you may ask? The job to change a motor has become more complicated. Replacing an engine in the good old days that may have taken 8 hours may now takes 26 hours. This time increase in labor is not just with engines but also with the other expensive systems like fuel management, emissions, anti-braking, traction control, ride control, etc. Then you have the increase in parts costs due to technology advancement and technician cost due to skill levels, training, and certifications. You are almost there.

And then there are the costs of diagnostics. Yes, there is that word “diagnostics” everyone hates and wants to have included with repairs. This may have been the case in the old days but in today’s world, there is no magic wand. Diagnostics is time consuming, requires highly skilled technicians, and requires hundreds of thousands of dollars in electronic computer diagnostic equipment and software updates just to identify the source of the problems. In fact, diagnostics is the biggest expense any automotive service center has today. Think I’m wrong? Just look at the medical and dental professions. Do they include their diagnostics with their services? I don’t think so! Don’t go asleep.

I could spend hours telling you about all of the highly sophisticated systems in a late model automobiles and how much it costs to repair and or replace their systems due to poor maintenance habits but this isn’t my goal for today. My goal is to educate you on how to avoid expensive repairs and if you follow my recommendations, have major repairs covered at no cost to you or at least substantially reduced! Does this sound too good to be true? Let me tell you it is true. There is a company called BG that has a one of a kind life time protection plan that will do just this if you perform their recommended maintenance services.

BG knows that today’s cars are engineered to last longer and go farther than they did in years past. That said, they do still need a little TLC. This is the key to avoiding your costly repairs. The maintenance of your automotive engine and it’s key systems will keep you on the road. BG is so confident your cars expensive systems will last with good regular maintenance using their products that they guarantee it. Their Plan Coverage can cover up to $4000. Some of the things covered by the BG Protection Plan include the Engine, Transmission, Brake, Cooling, and Power Steering systems. All you have to do is keep up on your maintenance. Visit the BG Protection Plan website, http://www.bgfindashop.com/bgprotectionplan.htmto learn more about their protection plan. BG also has three other informative sites I encourage you to visit: They are: http://www.bgams.com/, http://www.bgfueltest.com/, and http://www.bgfms.com/. Congratulations. You made it!

So, let me recap the good news. Cars manufactured today, if properly cared for, can last well beyond 100,000 miles. With the BG protection plan you get coverage without paying high insurance premiums or deductibles, just by keeping up on needed maintenance at BG Shops like Comtec Automotive. Doing this can save you thousands. In today’s economic times we are all looking for ways to stretch our dollars. One way is by keeping the same car longer. Companies like BG Products and Sacramento Auto Repair facilities like Comtec Automotive can help us to do this for you. Call Comtec Today at 916-638-2263. Enjoy your visit at the BG websites and I hope you found this article informative. Aren’t you glad you read my whole article?

Vehicle Warranties

If you own a California vehicle that is under warranty, make sure you understand your rights. There are dealers and manufacturers that imply you must have all of your maintenance done at the dealership to keep your warranty valid. This is often times said to be the best way to keep your warranty. This can be very misleading. After a federal law, the “Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act”, the manufacturer cannot void your warranty because you simply got your car serviced at a non dealer. Additionally, the manufacturer cannot enforce the use of their brand of oil filters, lubricants, or parts as a requirement to keep your warranty in force. This includes many aftermarket warranties and both new and used vehicles.

The only way a service performed outside of the dealership could affect your warranty is if the manufacturer proves that either parts or services performed on your vehicle lead to a failure of an otherwise warrantable service or repair.

Comtec Auto in Rancho Cordova uses only high quality auto parts and lubricants that will match or surpass the required manufacturer’s specs. Please understand that at Comtec Automotive your vehicle will receive only high quality parts and service to keep you safely on the road and problem free.

While you don’t need to head to the dealer where you car was purchased, please don’t forget to keep up on your maintenance. Neglecting your regular and scheduled maintenance can void your warranty. Please see your owner’s manual for additional information, and keep detailed records of the services you have had performed on your vehicle.

Slow Down, Live Longer & Save Gas

Driving the speed limit is always recommended, but if traffic allows, you’ll save gas on the highway if you drive slower.

Driving 60 mph uses 9 percent less gas than driving at 70 mph. Going 50 mph can save up to 15 percent.

Avoiding a stop is another smart move. When there is no traffic immediately behind your car, you can stop accelerating and let the car’s momentum take it up to a red light. It could turn green by then. Starting from a full stop takes more gasoline than starting while the car is still rolling.

Conserve High- Priced Gas By Maintaining Your Vehicle

Basic maintenance can save you hundreds of dollars a year in lost fuel or lowered gas mileage. Here are some tips that you can implement today to save mucho dinero as fuel prices soar.

• Take a peek at your gas cap. Inspect it for cracks or other damage. Make sure it’s screwed on tight after each visit to the pump. The Car Care Council estimates that about 17 percent of cars and trucks on the road have a missing, loose or damaged cap. This causes about 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year!
• Check your tire inflation. Poorly inflated tires cause you to lose about a mile or two per gallon of gas.
• Change spark plugs regularly. Misfiring is a common side effect of faulty spark plugs. Dirty plugs waste gas. Change them often.
• Change dirty air filters. Dirt, dust and bugs cause the filter to release less air into the fuel. This causes a rich mixture which causes fuel waste.

“Hypermiling” The New Craze In Boosting Fuel Economy

What Is Hypermiling? Hypermiling is a driving practice that can help you maximize or even exceed your car’s estimated fuel economy. Wayne Gerdes, a car care expert form CleanMPG.com coined this term. He is famous for making his manual Honda Insight average 90 miles per gallon for a year through this driving practice.

Hypermiling is a safe way to maximize your fuel economy if done correctly.

Here are some safe hypermiling practices:

• Go the speed limit. Traveling at higher speed kills your fuel economy. Try slowing down to the posted speed to conserve fuel.


• Go easy on the brakes. Braking and accelerating or “stop and go” traffic are killers on your fuel economy. Try to maintain your speed longer by coasting to a stop where possible.


• Check your tire pressure often. Some hypermilers over inflate their tires, but experts say this is dangerous because you diminish tracking. Follow the maintenance guidelines for your tires to maximize your gas mileage safely.


• Keep up with oil changes. Oil thickens as it ages. Regular oil changes will keep it thin and lessen the workload on your engine.


• Use your cruise control wisely. Using your cruise control in your everyday driving is a good habit for hypermiling because it causes your car to accelerate more slowly by half a mile to one mile per hour. You can control acceleration with the accelerate button and use coast to slow down. Be prepared to break, and know when to use cruise control safely. Getting on a busy highway is not the time to cruise.
  

Sources: WashingtonPost.com, Hypermiling.com

Planning a road trip or Summer Vacation? Simple Summer Maintenance is the answer.

Summer is here. It’s the glorious time or year, when children are out of school and many are planning their family vacations. If you are going to be headed out on a road trip consider the tips we have put together for you to avoid problems and have enjoy your vacation. Before hitting the road, you want to make sure that your car is prepared as much as you are for the hot conditions.
A couple simple and preventive auto maintenance steps will help you save a buck or two and make your trip as enjoyable as it’s intended to be.

Hot weather maintenance tips

If you think hot weather can not harm your car, think again. The higher the temperature the faster your car wears out due to fluids and lubricants breaking down much faster. However if you follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance requirements, your vehicle will be more likely operate smoothly without any problems.

1. Invest in a great and reliable technician to inspect your vehicle before your trip. Any mechanical failures on the road might cost you twice as much, or more to repair.
2. Periodically inspect the air conditioning as well as belts and hoses. It is recommended to have a specialist take a look at the entire system.
3. The Battery’s life can be shortened by heat, therefore you should check battery and cables. It is much more convenient to change a battery while at home, than to have it die and be stuck on the side of the road, with your family.
4. Make sure to change out the oil and filter before your long trip and maintain healthy intervals specified by your manufacturer. During oil and filter change, the mechanic should also check the brakes, windshield wiper and power steering fluids.
5. Remember to replace old wiper blades for the safety of you and your loved ones.
6. It is important to check the air pressure in all tires (the spare included) for correct inflation. You also want to make sure that your tires are not too old and worn out.
7. Before taking a long road trip, always check the interior as well as exterior lights to make sure they work properly.

We hope you have enjoyed our tips and have a great summer free of car trouble.

Summer Auto Repair

We’re finding the need to wipe the sweat off our foreheads. That’s right, it’s finally getting hot. After a long cool start to this year here in Sacramento it’s heating up. Summer heat is also time for summer auto maintenance. The majority of folks wait for that first Check Engine Light to come on or have an Engine overheat on their summer vacation.

Many will wind up bringing their car into some mechanic repair shop they have never heard of in a location far away from home because they skimped on simple repair and car maintenance. Don’t be caught in a strange place talking to a strange mechanic, one whom you aren’t sure about. Do your research now. Find a trusted mechanic you enjoy working with, like the guys over at Comtec Automotive. Have your car checked out now and avoid the pitfalls of quick summer fun.

Spending a little now on your car can save you from coughing up thousands later. Would you rather pay for a radiator flush and other simple maintenance or be caught needing a replacement, or even thousands of dollars for a new engine because you melted it in this summer heat without changing your oil. Do the math. Keep your car on the road and running nice and cool this summer. You can save time and money by minding the condition of your car and what maintenance is needed. Don’t face the alternative of waiting for car trouble to start before taking action.

Keeping your car alive past 150,000 miles

Technology is always a step ahead and the cars made today tend to live much longer, however the car will not run to even to its life expectancy without your loyalty and basic maintenance. If you wish to keep your car running as long as possible, you must follow a few guidelines in order to help this happen:

1. Purchase a good car. Even though Japanese models are known for their reliability, do not forget American models, which have improved tremendously over the years and will often cost you less to fix.

2. Maintenance schedule. Be sure to check your owner’s manual for any necessary scheduled maintenance that needs to be followed, but also keep in mind that sometimes parts need to be replaced based on a schedule rather than when they break. One of the common parts is timing belt, which needs to be replaced approximately every 90,000 miles. You also want to take care of it when it’s time vs. paying double when it breaks on its own and causes damage to other parts in your vehicle.

3. “Auto Repair Piggy bank.” In the real world cars do not run forever and have tendency to break, which can put many folks in financial restraints without having enough funds saved for such repairs. In order to avoid panic from a $2,000 repair bill, a savings for just such needs will do just the trick. Others will get scared their older car is costing them too much and run to purchase a new car. This as apposed to putting some “repair money” away, is not a good financial decision. You will be amazed what $100-$200 per month will do for you once the time comes to fix your car, and it would take about twice as much in repairs every year to equal the cost of buying a new car.

4. Do your research. There are many cars that are known for certain problems, so if you are an owner of one of those vehicles, there is no need to panic, instead you can always be prepared before the problem comes your way.

5. Do not wait on repairs. If you wish to drive your car for as long as you can, you must fix it as soon as it breaks. Try not to ignore things such as “check engine” light or a weird noise that you have not heard before.

6. Always choose quality. When it comes to choosing replacement parts for your car, do not settle for cheap as it will give you more trouble down the road.

7. Choose a great mechanic- Choosing a good Sacramento mechanic is like choosing your family dentist or Doctor, it can be no fun switching, and you may see them in times of trouble, but a good mechanic will save you money time and energy through the years as you keep your cars on the road.

8. Avoid aggressive driving. While you don’t need to completely baby the vehicle, your car will last longer when you treat it well. It is ok to push your accelerator from time to time, but please avoid race car driving behavior.

9. Gloat – If you have managed to get your car past that 150000 mile mark, be proud. Show off and have some fun with it. If people give you hard time about you older car. You can mention their car payments or the thousands you have saved keeping your car.

Finding a Good Mechanic

It is not an easy task to find a good mechanic so we put together a few helpful tips for you.

Watch Out for:

- Mechanics that stray from answering your questions.
- Mechanics that do not want you to seek second opinion.
- Shops that have fixed the same problem over and over and it’s still not fixed.
- Mechanics that try to rush you.
- Garages that are unorganized and dirty.
- Shop where you cannot tell the waiting area from the work area.

Referrals

- Always remember to ask around, family, friends, co-workers about their experience.
When online see what other users have said about your potential new mechanic.

Questions to Ask

- What is the cost of repairs and the run down list of problems?
- Are there any guarantees of their work?
- Would it be ok for me to take a tour of the shop or watch my car being worked on?
- Do they offer transportation while your car is being worked on?
- What is the length of the repair job?
- How are the mechanics paid, by the job or by the hour? (Shops that have a posted hourly labor rate still often charge by the job, based on how many hours that job takes the average mechanic.)
- Why should I choose your shop to work on my car?

Protect yourself

- If you have a feeling something is not right, always ask for second opinion.
- Do not be afraid to ask questions.
- Always get a written estimate before giving your authorization for any repairs.

Common mistakes made by drivers- Auto Safety – Safe following distance

Safe Studies show that most drivers keep only a distance of one or two seconds behind the vehicle in front of them. Why this distance? Studies have shown:

1. Many claim that they were taught the two second rule while learning how to drive.

What many forget to consider is that two second rule was derived by testing the stopping g distance and reaction time of the driver in the ideal situation. The ideal situations mostly do not exist. Given two seconds or less, the driver finds time to analyze the situation further ahead or behind him, leaving him no time or ability to react if something suddenly happens to the vehicle that is directly in front of him. This causes unnecessary danger for any passenger and additional wear and tear on the vehicle caused by having to break or react suddenly.

2. “But leaving more distance in front of me, gives other drivers the chance to cut in and I will always be in the back.”

Believe it or not, this reasoning is based more on emotions vs. logic. The honesty of it all is when a situation like this happens; another vehicle is usually leaving the lane you are currently in further up in front. There is always balance. As much as we would like to believe situations such as these have a massive effect on our schedule, it is not so. Here is a typical scenario:
Assuming that driver that cuts in maintains distance of two seconds, which means it added two seconds to our schedule. If this type of situation occurred forty times daily, it would only add eighty seconds to our day worth and this is with assumption that none of the vehicles leave your lane, however usually most will.

So now I’m sure you are asking, “What is the correct following distance”? The answer is more than four seconds. This is how it must be measured: every time a car in front of you passes an object such as traffic light or a telephone pole, count one thousand one, one thousand two and so on. By the time you are passing the same object you should be counting one thousand four. When the weather conditions are poor, this distance must go even higher. Maintaining this distance will minimize the risk for you and your loved ones.

Auto Safety - The Dangers of Texting While Driving

If you own a mobile phone, the chances are you are most likely have been exposed to text messaging. If not these are simply short messages that allow you to type approximately 160 characters and send to another person’s cell phone. Over the last several years text messaging has been increasing daily and unfortunately many of those messages get sent while driving.

Why is this a problem? Text messaging while driving is very dangerous. Here are some statistics:

• Texting causes nearly 25% of auto accidents.
• In 2008 nearly 6,000 suffered and died and half million had injuries in crashes involving texting as the primary cause of distraction.
• Some studies have shown texting while driving to be approximately 6 times more dangerous than driving while intoxicated.
• 4.6 out of 6 seconds on the road, the driver has their eyes off the road while texting.

Texting while driving may be good for auto body shops and increase you need for auto repair, but we hope you stop. Don’t text while driving, it’s against the law and it isn’t safe. Protect yourself and your loved ones. Either pull off to a safe place or finish your conversation later. Don’t pay the ultimate Price.