Early car care prevents future pains
Changing the oil every 3,000 miles is one of many tasks necessary
in maintaining an automobile. Freshman Steven Lau receives assistance from
freshman Jay M. Garcia in changing the oil in his car during some spare
time at the Claremont Inn.
Campus Times
December 3, 1999
Senior diversified major J. Tovar sat impatiently in the
La Verne Auto and Service shop waiting to hear an unwanted estimate on the
repairs that were about to be made to his car.
He, like a majority of other students and people, has
a busy schedule and fully relies on his private transportation.
Tovar knew something was wrong with his car for about
a month but kept ignoring it due to his busy schedule.
Unfortunately, not paying attention to a minor car problem
can lead to a large bill.
"I put it off because I didn't want to spend the
money or take the time to take it to the shop, said Tovar. "I needed
my car to go to school and work."
For an entire month, Tovar ignored what he thought could
be an oil leak, and when he took his car in to have the leak fixed he was
in for a big, expensive surprise.
"I finally brought it in to the shop and, as soon
as they opened the engine, I was told it was more than an oil leak,"
he said.
Several months prior to going to the La Verne Tire and
Service on the corner of Bonita Avenue and Third Street, Tovar had already
taken his car to a different shop.
"I went to another place to get an oil change about
a month ago and after that place all the problems started," said Tovar.
It can be difficult for some to trust a stranger with
one of their most valuable and costly possessions.
Tovar said, "Nowadays, who can you really trust?
I come out of here wondering if the car is going to come out worse or is
it going to come out better."
Freshman criminology major Jay Alvarado said he goes back
to his hometown of Big Bear every time his 1995 Ford Ranger XLT needs to
be serviced.
"I go to Big Bear because my friend does the service
for free. All I do is pay for the stuff that he uses," said Alvarado.
Freshman Amber Blackburn, who drives a 1998 Acura Integra,
said, "When I need to take in my car for maintenance, I go all the
way back home."
Home for Blackburn is San Gabriel Valley, and she said
that as long as she knows her vehicle's job is guaranteed, she does not
mind the commute.
Senior journalism major Stacie Galang relies on her father
for the majority of her car maintenance.
"When I absolutely have to go to the mechanic, I
go to somebody that I trust will give me a accurate and reasonable price
and service," said Galang.
For most students it is stressful enough making an effort
to pay for their education, nevertheless trying to pay for car maintenance.
Today, people have the option of paying for car services
with a credit card, if they do not have the money up front. However, using
a credit card is only a good option if the person has the finances to pay
the bill later.
Also, it is wise to shop around for car service. Places
like La Verne Tire and Service offer ULV students and employees discounts.
District Manager of La Verne Service and Auto John Kast
said Tovar's case is a common one. He also said females are the ones who
take their car in for maintenance a majority of the time.
"Females in the '90s are more aware of what's going
on and they make more decisions. It's not just a man's world anymore,"
said Kast.
He added that women show more interest in learning about
their car, whereas men think they know everything and often they do not.
According to Kast, a 30,000 mile service on most cars
runs between $170 and $220, including discount.
Now that winter has arrived, extra precautions must be
taken.
"For some reason, whenever it becomes winter time
fuel pumps and fuel pump relays go out on cars, and I don't know why,"
said Kast. "There is nothing that can be done to prevent that."
Kast shared a few key points to ensure that a car stays
healthy and functions properly.
He said to first check the maintenance schedule that comes
with the owners manual and to be careful with the schedule because it is
divided into two.
Kast then said to change cooling yearly, look out for
radiator hoses swelling up and cracks on the fan belts.
"A lot of people don't know if they need tires because
they might have bad alignment," said Kast.
Kast suggests drivers should try and put air in their
tires at least once a month and also check completely around the tire.
He said a regular maintenance job usually takes about
an hour, but his advice is to leave the car at the shop longer and ask that
the mechanic perform an indepth inspection to ensure everything is
OK.
He also said it is best for car owners to try and stay
with the same auto shop because most shops keep a record of clients' cars
in their computer system.
Being a victim of vehicle breakdown can be avoided with
the proper precautions. Whether people find vehicle maintenance to be a
pain or an out-of-pocket expense, private transportation has become vital
to daily life.