Owning a vehicle has great rewards with the freedom to get where you need to be quickly and efficiently, as well as advantages to be able to go on road trips while exploring new destinations.
The perks of owning a vehicle do come with some cost. Here are the top 5 things vehicle owners do that harm their vehicle and add unwanted cost to ownership.
1: What check engine light?
The illuminated Check Engine light is your vehicle’s way of trying to tell you something.
Ignoring your check engine light can lead to very costly problems. Often times it may be something simple, like your gas cap not secured properly, however in some cases you may have bigger problems which should be addressed asap.
2: Not changing your fluids and filters
This is often the least expensive but most important maintenance required to be performed on your vehicle. Getting your vehicle’s oil change done on it’s regular maintenance cycle is key to prolonging the life of your vehicle and its internal moving components. Most service facilities will offer to check all your fluids at no charge to insure your vehicle runs dependably, delaying the wear and tear your vehicle will incur during the temperature highs and lows we experience in our climate.
3: Wearing your breaks out
Not replacing your break pads will lead to damage to your break rotors or disk, and most likely your calipers as well. Damaging your rotors and calipers are far more costly than just replacing your break pads when due. Not to mention, they are the only things stopping your vehicle. Safety first.
4: Not rotating your tires
Not replacing your break pads will lead to damage to your break rotors or disk, and most likely your calipers as well. Damaging your rotors and calipers are far more costly than just replacing your break pads when due. Not to mention, they are the only things stopping your vehicle. Safety first.
5: Not washing your vehicle
This is one of the most costly and neglected things we can do to our vehicles.
Road salt, sludge and gravel will lead to costly body work down the road. The price of body work and paint often times can lead to your vehicle not being worth much. Rusted frames and body panels are often too expensive to fix and are not worth doing. This leaves you with a vehicle that may run well, however it will not pass its provincial safety inspection due to the rust and body perforation.
