Fiction:  New cars that are still under warranty must be serviced only at the dealer.

FACT: By law, you may have your vehicle serviced at any repair facility of your choice.  As long as the services are performed by a qualified repair facility, of which Car Medics is one, the manufacturer cannot void your warranty.

FastFacts: The only time you are REQUIRED to return to the dealer is for warranty REPAIRS and RECALLS.  Even then, you may choose to have those repairs done at any repair facility, but the vehicle manufacturer will not cover the cost. If you have your vehicle serviced at an independent repair facility while under warranty, the repair facility will make you aware of any needed warranty work so that you may return to the dealer for the repair or recall. Knowing full well what is wrong with your vehicle BEFORE taking it to the dealer will help ensure that warranty work is not overlooked or denied.

Fiction:  Only the dealer will have the latest electronic equipment required to repair my vehicle.

FACT: Most independent repair shops maintain the latest in electronic diagnostic and repair equipment.  And in some cases, they are armed with more equipment than dealerships due to the fact they service many more vehicles than just one brand.  Being trained in SYSTEMS, rather than a specific vehicle, is of greater use today as the information needed to service today's automobiles has become so vast.  The resources needed to service one vehicle can hold as much information as several encyclopedias.  Now more than ever, with the use of computers and the internet, the resources necessary are at the disposal of even the most remote independent repair facilities.

FastFacts: Since 1996, it has become law in North America for vehicle manufacturers to share information and technology with independent repair facilities.

Fiction:  The "Service Engine Soon" or "Check Engine" light is on because of a glitch.

FACT: The "Service Engine Soon" or "Check Engine" light is turned on when the computer detects a problem in one of the more than 1,400 areas that monitor the engine and transmission.  Although the light sometimes turns on and off because of an intermittent problem, it is an extremely reliable warning system.

FastFacts: Even if the car continues to run properly with the light on, you may notice decreased fuel economy and a change in peak performance.  At the very least, your vehicle may begin to emit excessive pollution.

Fiction:  A technician can easily know what is wrong with my car when the "Service Engine Soon" or "Check Engine" light is on by simply plugging in "THAT MACHINE".

FACT: When a technician connects a computer scanner into your vehicle's communication port, it is only the first step in properly diagnosing the underlying fault.  Once the initial scan data and error codes are retrieved and evaluated, she/he may have to perform many more tests and procedures before the problem is identified.  Once repaired, testing must be performed again to ensure all systems have returned to normal.

FastFacts: Intermittent problems that come and go can be very difficult to track down and repair.  Testing a car that is running fine right now will usually result in a clean bill of health, even though it was running poorly a minute, hour or week ago.  Repairing these intermittents becomes a real challenge and requires patience on the part of both the technician and the vehicle owner.  The more information the driver can provide as to when, where and under what conditions the problem is occurring can save valuable time and money.

Fiction:  I don't drive my car very much, so it is not necessary to change my oil that often.

FACT: Engine oil must be replaced not only because it breaks down and loses viscosity with time and use, but also to remove harmful contaminants.  These contaminants include acids and other by-products of combustion.  Included in this harmful group is gasoline and water.  Gasoline becomes dissolved in engine oil prior to the engine being fully warmed up.  This occurs mostly during short trips where the engine is not running for more than 30 minutes one way.  Water condenses in the crankcase and into the oil as the engine cools.  When the engine does not get hot for extended periods of time during each drive, this water fails to evaporate from the engine oil.  With this in mind, short-trip driving causes more contamination and, regardless of the mileage, engine oil should be replaced at least every 3 months.

Fiction:  Synthetic engine oil is better for my vehicle than conventional motor oil.

FACT: If you change your oil regularly and your vehicle is designed for conventional oil, you gain little value in using synthetic oil.  However, if you use your vehicle for severe use (towing, plowing, etc.), then using synthetic oil will help protect the engine from excessive wear.  Changing your oil regularly is more important than the type of oil you use.

 

FastFacts: Synthetic motor oil does not break down as fast as conventional oil and is more tolerant of heat. Some newer vehicles REQUIRE the use of synthetic oil.  Failure to do so will void the manufacturer's warranty and will most likely lead to premature engine wear. Synthetic motor oil does not eliminate the contaminants, such as acids, from forming in the oil system.  For this reason, it is not wise to extend the oil change interval, even when using synthetic oils.

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