A new poll from R. L. Polk & Co. revealed that 64 percent of consumers said they were “very or extremely likely” to keep their current vehicle longer than they normally would due to economic conditions. Additionally, Polk reported that the average length of ownership of both new and used vehicles increased from a little more than three years in 2002 to nearly four years in 2008, a 24 percent increase.
Carolina Tire & Service Center, a leading South Charlotte provider of professional car care, is seeing the same trend of customers keeping their older vehicles longer. A higher number of older cars on the road increases risk and underscores the importance of performing regular preventive maintenance.
“People are seeing a difference keeping their old car versus buying a new one,” said Jim Seidel, president & CEO of XL Tire, Inc, corporate parent to Carolina Tire. “The fact is, it is cheaper to fix and maintain your current vehicle at Carolina Tire than it is to find a huge downpayment and start payments again on a new one, even with today's incentives.”
People with older vehicles may want to consider services that will help bring their car new life. Replacing the vital fluids in your car is a great start. By flushing or servicing your coolant, transmission fluid and performing a fuel injector service will add new life to your car. A fresh set of tires will also go a long way to making not only your car ride more smooth but may even save you money at the pump, especially when filling your tires with nitrogen. “Routine maintenance should never be deferred", said Seidel.
Encouragingly, regular maintenance is top of mind with respondents in the Polk survey. Specifically, 81 percent said they planned to take better care of their vehicle to keep it running longer. Carolina Tire & Service Center professionals say there are some maintenance guidelines that can help extend the life of an older car. They include:
Oil and transmission services – Without a good lubricant, parts of the engine and transmission rub together and wear each other out which could lead to a costly repair. Check out www.Carolina-Tire.com for oil changes specials like the buy 1 get 2 free option for South Charlotte residents.
Timing belts - A broken timing belt can leave you stranded and cost hundreds to repair. Stop in Carolina for a free check for signs of wear, such as cracks, shredding or excessive slack. For vehicles with interference engines, if a timing belt breaks or jumps a notch, the engine valves may open at the wrong time possibly causing hundreds of dollars in damage.
Water pumps - Water pump failure is fairly common during the life of the vehicle. Some tell tale signs of failure include a coolant leak inside the car or on the ground, the temperature gauge running hotter than normal or a screeching sound when you start the car. This is an easy fix that could literally save your engine's life.
Brake pads - A high-pitched squealing when braking may mean excessive brake-pad wear. Other symptoms can include the vehicle pulling to one side when braking, the brakes grabbing or a “soft” brake pedal. A grinding sound could mean worn brake pads are damaging the brake rotors. Carolina Tire uses NAPA's Adaptive One ceramic brake pads for top quality and a lifetime warranty only through Carolina Tire.
“Delaying routine maintenance on an older vehicle will accelerate wear and tear. Worst case scenario, you might be driving a vehicle that’s a safety risk for you and your family,” said Stephanie Mackin, professional service writer for Carolina Tire and recent NASCAR Institute of Technology graduate. Mackin adds that regular maintenance can add miles to the life of your car and cut down on avoidable expenses. “For example, if you delay getting new brake pads, you might end up needing rotors as well, which is a costly repair.” Vehicle maintenance will vary based on the vehicle year, make and model but following the owner’s manual recommended maintenance intervals will work well in extending the life of your vehicle.
Visit www.carolina-tire.com for more information about auto maintenance, money saving discounts and auto safety tips.
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The XL Tire, Inc. group of companies consists of the parent company, XL Tire, Inc., headquartered in Indian Land, SC. Carolina Tire & Service Center at www.Carolina-Tire.com and www.BadBoyTires.com , www.OffTheRoadTires.com and www.JimmysVacations.com
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