Question:
i commute to work about 200 miles a day..and i have a brand new car i just bought a month ago..i run up the mileage quite fast..wondering if i have to go to all the schedule maintenance that they recommend for the car?? do i have to cuz that's a lot of $ to be spending on maintenance..what do they really check for?! can i just wait until it hit the high #s like the 25000 till the checkup? thanks
Answers:
If I were you my schedual would look something like:
Change oil every 6k miles with filter
Rotate tires every 8k
Air filter every 15k
Change auto tranny fluid every 30k miles
Change coolant and thermostat every 50k miles
Change timing belt every 60k miles
What caused my brakes to not work for a few seconds in very cold weather?
Then at 100k miles i'd:
battery light comes on for a few seconds when driving?
Change waterpump
change serpentine belt
change spark plugs (granted they're iridium to begin with, otherwise change out sooner)
Replace hoses
change power steering fluid and brake fluid
Not sure what car you've got, but if you follow the manufactors service interval you'll be fine
Remember, follow the regular maintanence, you do not fall under the severe schedual, no matter what anyone tells you.
Actually, if I was driving a car that high a mileage I'd be even more sure to do the required maintenance; at least while the car is under warranty. Just don't get suckered into doing things like changing the oil every 3,000 miles. Stick with the manufactures recommended intervals.
2003 Saturn Vue Fuel Filter location?
Since you have a brand new car, you should still have the factory warranty on the car. The scheduled maintenance checks are usually covered under the warranty; therefore, it shouldn't cost you a dime. It is recommended that you get your car maintenance after a certain amount of mileage on the car, where that dealership normally contacts you with the service updates and recalls. Especially, with you commuting such a long distance, it's better to be safe than sorry. Besides that, you do have roadside assistance, you make the appointment when you are available, and they sometimes wash your car or fill your tank up with gas. (depends on the dealership and how busy they are) You can suggest to them what you want them to check, but they normally do a check of the tires, check the tread, windshield wipers, replace them if needed, they check the oil filters, change the oil if needed, anti-freeze, etc. Some dealerships have online service request where there is a form and a check list of what you might need checked after so many miles and what is recommended for your vehicle at that time. If your car dealership doesn't have this service, just call them to verify what your warranty covers and how often you should truly bring your car in for maintenance. Also, if you are buying the car, it's mostly at your discretion, but if you are leasing the vehicle, you pretty much have to take it in for those scheduled checks. Good luck and be Safe...(smiles)What's the most common reason my Service Engine Soon light is on?
Yeah, definnetly get the oil and fluids changed at regular intervals. The standard for an oil change has been 3000 miles for years, this has changed with the advent of synthetic oils, and all-around cleaner running cars. It depends on your manufacturer what the recommended interval is. Another consideration is the classification of wether it is an extreme use vehicle, i.e. taxi, police, etc. The reason I bring this up, is if it is driven those 200 miles in the city over the course of a day, that is extreme, and you want things done at lower mileages, if it is mileage racked up on the highway, with relatively constant speeds, you should be able to go with the normal intervals. Typically 5,000 miles on the oil change now (Make sure you request synthetic oil). Transmission (If automatic) is generally recommended at 30,000, although this number can also be increased, I wouldn't go much more than 45,000 though. I suppose as a rough way of increasing mileages, you can take your recommended times 1.5, gives a good ballpark. As long as it is driven conservatively, and typically highway, if it's a city car, reduce the number instead. One other note, particularly regarding Steering, drivetrain, and suspension, and brakes. . . If something is breaking/wearing out, get it taken care of sooner rather than later. As a mechanic, I can't count the times that a customer could have saved a lot on parts if the initial problem were taken care of early on. If one part wears, it will take others with it in short order. I hope this has been informative and helpful to you.BTW, they check for anything they can sell you!
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