The owner of Jay’s Roadside Assistance in South Florida jokes, “It’s often said that the most expensive things in life are free, especially when it comes to car repairs.” While this may not be a universal truth, it certainly applies to car maintenance. Jay grew up learning auto repair at his father’s side and decided at an early age that he wanted a career in the automotive repair industry. Today, Jay runs a successful Roadside Assistance business serving Palm Beach, Broward, and the Miami-Dade areas with a fleet of service vehicles that performing roadside emergency services to stranded motorists throughout South Florida.
Car repairs and maintenance can cost thousands of dollars if you’re not careful. It might seem like an easy fix at first, but it can quickly turn into a costly mistake if you don’t take action right away. Here are some of the biggest reasons why mechanical failures happen on South Florida roadways that Jay and his team encounter regularly:
Lack of preventative maintenance.
If you want to avoid car problems, the first step is to get regular preventative maintenance. A good mechanic will know how to spot issues before they cause major damage. If a mechanic says that your car needs oil changes every 5,000 miles, but it’s been 7,000 miles since the last oil change–he or she may be trying to get more money out of you by recommending unnecessary work.
Make sure to ask around and find a reputable mechanic c who has experience and is ASE Certified. All of Jay’s Mobil Mechanics are ASE certified and have years of experience under their belts.
Oil change delays.
Oil changes are an essential part of preventative maintenance. Oil changes help to ensure that your car is running at top performance, that it will last as long as possible, and stay safe for you and everyone else on the road. It’s essential not only for the longevity of your car but also for its safety. You can extend your engine’s life by regularly changing its oil, which is done every 3,000 – 10,000 miles or so (depending on what kind of oil you use). If you don’t change it regularly then there may be issues with performance and efficiency. Jay’s Roadside Assistance not only does emergency services, but they’re also a great resource for general automotive maintenance and repair for scheduled services. And, because Jay’s Roadside Assistance is a mobile service, they have lower overhead costs with the savings reflected in their services.
The wrong engine oil.
Before attempting any DIY projects on your vehicle requiring fluids, always check to make sure you’re using manufacturer-recommended products. If you want to make sure and avoid costly mistakes, hire an expert. Jay’s is available for routine maintenance services for your vehicle and they come to your location. No need to drive to a repair shop and waste hours of your day.
- The wrong engine oil. When it comes to the oil in your car, there are a lot of things you can do wrong. You could be using the wrong kind of oil (such as diesel instead of gasoline), too much or too little, and even using an incompatible filter or cartridge. Don’t forget to check that your housing is compatible with whatever type of filter you’re using!
- The wrong transmission fluid. Just like with engine oil, there’s a whole range of potential problems when it comes to transmissions: too much fluid can cause overheating issues; too little will make it hard for your vehicle to move quickly or easily change gears; and—my personal favorite—using a synthetic blend instead of straight mineral oil will cause internal friction that leads directly toward motor failure!
Faulty mechanical parts.
Faulty mechanical parts can be expensive to fix and cause other problems. They can also be difficult to detect, which is why you need to take precautions to prevent them from happening in the first place.
The good news is that there are some simple ways you can avoid these issues:
- Use trusted mechanics and make sure they are ASE certified.
- When driving, watch for warning signs such as strange sounds or vibrations coming from your car’s engine compartment (if so, pull over immediately and call a mechanic).
Electrical issues.
Electrical issues can cause engine and other problems. For example, an electrical short can result in an engine misfire or the loss of a cylinder. This can be difficult to diagnose and expensive to fix. While you may think electrical issues are unavoidable, there are ways to prevent them from occurring in your vehicle.
Next time you speak with your trusted mechanic, ask them to perform a computerized automotive diagnostic test of your vehicle. The cost of the diagnostic is negligible compared to the early diagnosis of electrical, engine or other system failures that can occur in your vehicle.
Regular car maintenance is the best way to avoid car problems
Regular car maintenance is the best way to avoid car problems.
Regular car maintenance can help you prevent car problems.
Regular car maintenance will help you avoid mechanical failures in the future.
Conclusion
We hope this article has given you some valuable insights into what cars need to stay healthy, and how to prevent them from having mechanical issues. As we’ve seen, regular maintenance is essential for avoiding problems down the road. And if something does happen, don’t panic—Jay’s Roadside Assistance website at www.jaysmobiletireshop.com makes it easy to contact an expert that is standing by 24/7 for your roadside emergencies. Keep in mind though, that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Call Jay’s for regularly scheduled maintenance and avoid emergencies in the first place.