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Now more than ever, Scheduled Maintenance is crucial to vehicle longevity and customer satisfaction. The soaring costs of owning, operating and maintaining a vehicle today have become a major concern to vehicle owners. Remember, after a home, the largest purchase most people make is their vehicle. And, since most families have two or even three vehicles, the problem is compounded. The prices of cars and trucks have risen dramatically over the last two decades. This increase has occurred in part to cover the costs of materials and labor, plus wage and benefit packages for automotive industry employees. But one of the largest factors in higher vehicle prices has been the effect of "building in" the costs of government-mandated recalls, rampant warranty service charges and defensive litigation. As a result, carmakers are voiding more warranties than ever for "failure to maintain the vehicle". In effect, they want to establish that the vehicle hasn't been taken care of properly by the owner or operator. From that point forward, the company's legal responsibility for the operation and safety of the vehicle is limited, or at least questionable. If it hasn't been maintained according to our schedule, we cannot be responsible for it's condition, is the manufacturers' mantra. It is important for the motorist to service their vehicles, to keep them under the "umbrella of manufacturer responsibility." If the motorist adheres to a carmaker's maintenance schedule, the vehicle will be protected during the warranty period. Another problem is that new-car buyers are led to believe that today's technology-laden vehicles are relatively free from the effects of aging and wear. They are bombarded with advertisements proclaiming that they can drive "worry-free" if they buy a particular vehicle, because it needs "no tune-up for 100,000 miles." It's no wonder motorists feel new cars are practically invincible. In fact, these vehicles are just as much in need of scheduled maintenance as cars and trucks were a decade ago. And everyone should be aware of this. The motorist should be aware of the value of scheduled maintenance because knowing the limitations of the various components of a vehicle is the key to satisfied ownership. It's not a unique thing, it's maintenance--keeping a produce in good operating condition. Ballpoint pens need refills, portable radios need new batteries and automobiles need replacement parts and service. It's as simple as that. "More than five million breakdowns could be avoided each year if motorists performed a simple and quick inspection of their tires, belts and hoses alone," says John Nielsen, Director of the American Automobile Association's Automotive Repair Network. According to AAA's research, only 2% of motorists believe that belts and hoses are important maintenance items. "Lack of knowledge about the specific maintenance requirements of a vehicle can cost consumers big money in the long run," says Nielsen. Scheduled Maintenance Is Preventive Maintenance Manufacturers designed scheduled maintenance intervals because their vehicles need periodic service to run properly. The intent is to prevent a small problem from becoming a big one. Whatever you call it, however it's presented, it always boils down to one thing -preventive maintenance. And anyone who thinks of scheduled maintenance as merely an oil and filter change is missing the big picture. |
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