It may seem obvious to think about repair and insurance costs, but many people become distracted when they see their dream car at a price too good to be true. Here are a few things to consider, so your repair and insurance costs are not through the roof:

• Luxury vs. Necessity – Luxury cars are great, but are the repair costs in your price range? Luxury cars typically cost more to repair. These cars also carry higher insurance costs.
• Technology – Those automatic/computer features may seem cool when you purchase your new car, but they will sometimes cost a pretty penny to repair.
• Domestic vs. Imported – Imported car parts typically run a little higher than domestic car parts. This sometimes adds to the price of repair bills.

To help you learn more about the insurance and repair costs for a new vehicle, we recommend talking with your mechanic and your auto insurance representative. Talking with these people can help you decide whether it’s better to go for the $20,000 car vs. the $30,000 car.

After you buy the car, be sure to keep up on regular maintenance issues. Having a Phoenix oil change or a Tucson car tune up can go a long way in increasing the life of your new vehicle.

The oil filter removes contaminants such as dirt, carbon and particles of metal from your car’s oil before they wreak havoc on your engine. For such a cheap part, the oil filter is a critical component to your engine. With all that in mind, how do you find the best oil filter? Here are a few things to consider.

Don’t be cheap: Oil filters can range in price from $5 to $20. While you may be tempted to go for the cheaper oil filter, the more expensive oil filters will be able to remove more contaminants on a single pass than cheaper ones.

Get the right one: A common problem is purchasing the correct oil filter for your vehicle. Most oil filters look the same so it can be deceiving. Read the product catalogue to make sure you are buying the right filter.

Know your filter: Some filters are meant to last 3,000 miles. Others last longer at 6,000 miles. If you purchase a 3,000 mile filter you need to change it every 3,000 miles. The filter loses its effectiveness once you go beyond it’s suggested lifespan.

Be sure to always use quality parts when changing your oil filter and consult a reputable mechanic or parts supplier if you have any questions. Having an Albuquerque oil change or a Tucson oil change can supply you with the right oil filter.

A common a/c cooling problem is a coolant leak. Typically the coolant has escaped through a hole in the hose or there is a leak in one of the major parts such as the evaporator or condenser.

For newer cars, leaks are not much of a problem since hoses and seals are new. But for older cars, leaks can be a major problem. If your vehicle is not blowing out cold air, it is possible you have a coolant leak.

Sometimes your vehicle’s air conditioning will intermittently blow out cold air. If this is the case, there could be unwanted air or moisture in the a/c system, which causes ice to form and blocks the system.

If you hear some strange noises when you run your vehicle’s air conditioner, it typically means the compressor needs to be replaced. The compressor is the part of the a/c system that takes the refrigerant gas and pressurizes it before it is sent through the a/c system.

Another problem is smelling a foul odor when you start your vehicle’s a/c system. This often comes from bacteria growing in the vents. Chemicals can be sprayed in the vents to get rid of the bacteria and the smell.

If you’re experiencing any of these problems, we recommend taking your vehicle to a reputable mechanic. A Las Cruces auto air conditioning repair or a Santa Fe auto air conditioning repair will make your summer a lot cooler.

If you’re unfamiliar with this, a rotor is a part of your car’s disk braking system located on each end of each axle. A properly functioning rotor interacts with the brake pads to ensure your vehicle will be able to slow down and stop. Damaged rotors can cause problems stopping.

Warped rotors are a problem in some newer cars because the rotors are thin, which causes them to get warped easier.

Causes of warped rotors include common wear and tear as well as if the brakes are very hot after a long drive. Rotors also can become warped if your vehicle’s brake pads are not regularly replaced.

While it is possible to inspect your vehicle’s braking system to see if the rotors are warped, we recommend taking your vehicle to a reputable mechanic to diagnose the problem.

Depending on the severity of the problem, mechanics can repair the rotors by shaving off a small area of the rotor surface to make it smooth again. Other times, the rotor is beyond repair and must be replaced.

We recommend taking your vehicle to the mechanic if you feel a pulsation coming from the brakes. Having an Albuquerque brake check or an El Paso brake check can help diagnose this problem.

1. Don’t ride your brakes: Many people will hit their brakes to sightsee or for no apparent reason. Use your brakes responsibly. Also, using a lower gear when driving down hills can help save your brakes.
2. Change the brake fluid: From time to time your brake fluid will need to be changed. Flushing your brake fluid prevents major problems down the road.
3. Don’t carry unnecessary weight in your vehicle: If you’ve been driving around with a weight set in the trunk of your car or any other unnecessary weight, ditch it. It can cause your brakes to wear down faster.
4. Buy quality brakes If you’re planning on keeping your vehicle for a while, plan on purchasing quality brake parts. The extra money you spend will be well worth it in the long run because quality brakes use better materials.
5. Don’t wait too long to replace parts: If you’re hearing grinding or squealing from your brakes. Don’t wait too long to bring your vehicle to the mechanic. Waiting could cause more serious problems to your vehicle’s brake system.

While it’s good to avoid riding your brakes, remember to always drive safely. Constant gas braking could cause an accident and damage to your vehicle. Remember, safety comes before saving a few dollars.

Following these steps along with a Phoenix brake check or a Tucson brake check will keep your brakes working longer.

But it’s really not that bad. Knowing what to discuss with your mechanic will make the process a lot less like going to the dentist. Follow these tips and you’ll be fine.

The first thing you are likely to discuss with your mechanic is the source of the brake problem. There are likely two types of sounds you are hearing from your brakes. The squeaking and grinding sounds most likely involve the brake pads, while a pulsating feeling while driving is likely a warped rotor.

When talking with your mechanic, ask about seeing your vehicle’s old brake pads once they are removed from your vehicle. If they are not worn, there is no need to replace them. Most reputable mechanics will show you the brake pads without asking.

Another issue likely to arise is whether or not you need lifetime brakes pads. When considering lifetime brake pads, think about how long you are planning on keeping your vehicle. If you are not planning on keeping the car long, they may not be worth it.

To avoid regular discussions with the mechanic about your vehicle’s brakes, avoid riding your brakes too hard and be sure to keep your brakes and wheels clean. These preventative measures will increase the time between a Tucson brake repair or a Las Cruces brake repair.

We’ve broken them down into two categories: “Preventative Care” and “Care at the Shop.”

Preventative Care

• Having regular maintenance, such as oil changes and tune-ups, can keep your car running smoothly and prevent engine damage.

• Be sure all of your vehicle’s liquids are always at proper levels. This can prevent major flare-ups such as an overheated engine down the road.

• When you know your car has a problem, do not wait months to take it to the mechanic. This could only make the problem worse.

• Fill your vehicle with top-quality gasoline. Using a better gasoline grade prevents deposits from building up in your engine.

• Don’t be hard on your vehicle. Driving your vehicle like a NASCAR driver could cause unnecessary damage, especially if you get into an accident.

Care At the Shop

• Visit garage owners and ask about hourly rates. Comparing hourly rates must be balanced against the mechanic’s skill and qualification. You don’t want to skimp just to save money.

• Bring your vehicle to a certified mechanic. Working with a certified mechanic ensures your vehicle gets necessary services that are done right.

• Check with family members to find reputable mechanics with fair prices.

• Research prospective mechanics. Check the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints.

Follow these tips — along with getting a Santa Fe oil change or a Albuquerque oil change – and you’ll save a ton of money over the long haul.

Having the knowledge of how your vehicle’s a/c system works will help you understand what’s going on next time your car is getting a Santa Fe auto air conditioning repair or an El Paso auto air conditioning repair.

To understand your car’s a/c system, you first need to know the parts:

• Compressor – This part takes the refrigerant gas (like Freon or R-143a) and pressurizes it
• Condenser – This part takes hot refrigerant gas and condenses it into a liquid
• Evaporator – This part removes heat from the inside of your vehicle and cools it with the liquid refrigerant

These three parts work in tandem to ensure your vehicle stays cool while you’re driving. When the refrigerant gas is pressurized, its temperature rises from absorbing the heat around it. To cool the gas, it is run through the condenser to liquefy the gas into a cool liquid that your evaporator mixes with air and blows through your vehicle’s vents.

The refrigerant gas used in your vehicle’s cooling system has changed over the years. Mechanics today use R-143a, which is a more environmentally friendly coolant than its predecessor Freon, which was found to be harmful to the ozone layer of the Earth’s atmosphere.

Common fixes to air conditioner problems involve recharging your vehicle’s refrigerant or replacing one of the three parts mentioned above.

Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. If you’re going to give your vehicle a tune up here’s what you need to do:

• Replace the fuel filter
• Replace the air filter
• Replace worn belts
• Change the spark plugs
• Service the battery, be sure to clean the filters
• Check and replace fluids, replace oil filter

For some cars you may also have to:

• Adjust the clutch
• Replace the distributor cap

This could be challenging especially if you don’t have the proper tools and equipment to get the job done right. It is not uncommon to see vehicles damaged thanks to the handiwork work of a novice mechanic.

A tune-up can take between two to four hours of labor for a competent mechanic. How long will it take someone working out of their home garage? Don’t get us wrong. A tune-up is something your car needs. It definitely keeps your vehicle running smoothly.

But it’s better to take it to a qualified mechanic to ensure it is done properly. Another benefit: a mechanic can examine the rest of your vehicle to pinpoint a problem that may have gone undetected by an amateur mechanic. Additionally, you will need to properly dispose of old fluids such as oil, which can be a tedious process.

We recommend taking your car to a reputable mechanic for your next tune up. Getting a Tucson car tune up or a Las Cruces car tune up will ensure it’s done right the first time.

A transmission fluid flush is a service that replaces your vehicle’s old transmission fluid with new fluid. A fluid flush is meant to prolong the life of the transmission and improve performance. Changing your vehicle’s transmission fluid every 30,000 to 50,000 miles will ensure that your vehicle is running smoothly.

We recommend taking your car to a reputable mechanic when considering a transmission fluid flush because flushes are a unique service. Transmission fluid flushes may not be the best thing for all vehicles. A reputable mechanic could help you determine whether or not this is the right service for your vehicle.

Transmission fluid flushes could cause damage to high-mileage vehicles that have never had a flush before. Build-up in the transmission that has accumulated over the lifetime of the vehicle could become dislodged and decrease performance and possibly even damage your transmission.

As a rule of thumb: If your high-mileage vehicle’s transmission fluid — which has never been changed — smells burnt, it’s probably not best to get a flush.

However, for low to medium mileage vehicles, it’s a good preventative measure to regularly flush your vehicle’s transmission fluid to prevent the buildup that could later cause damage to your vehicle. Regularly getting an Albuquerque transmission flush or a Phoenix transmission flush can add years to your vehicle’s transmission.