Auto Repair Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda's

Auto repair must be done right or the vehicle might be worse off than ever. Owning an automobile is a responsibility that entails taking care of preventative maintenance tasks, repairing things that break down and following all rules of the road. A person's car is likely the most expensive piece of property he or she owns next to a house. In order to keep it functional and worth the thousands of dollars it cost originally, it must be taken care of. Here are some ways to avoid the "shoulda, coulda, woulda's":

- Should have heeded the flashing "check engine" light: When warning lights flash, they must be brought in for auto repair. Some motorists ignore them and wind up with a blown up engine and hefty repair bill.

- Should have changed the oil: While cars don't need their oil changed as often as they used to, they still need to be changed out according to the owners' manual. This may be every 5,000 or even 7,000 miles, but it must be done. Dirty oil will clog up the works. Not enough oil will cause that pricey engine to jam up and stop working.

- Should have paid attention to that strange sound or smell: When unusual noises or odors come from under the hood or from the exhaust pipe, better pay attention. Sometimes the clanks and clunks are as effective as those warning lights. Listen up!

- Could have taken advantage of coupons or special deals: There are lots of garages that offer special deals on servicing such as $19.95 oil changes or $25 off a tune up. Why spend money when you could have saved a few bucks?

- Could have gotten more on a trade-in if they car had been maintained with auto repair: When it comes time to sell a pre-owned vehicle, the car dealer or private buyer will want to look at the maintenance record. If it's a well maintained car that has been taken care of according to the owners' manual, it will be worth more when it comes time to sell. Preventative maintenance is money in the bank.

- Would have gone on a road trip: If a motorist is confident in his or her car's performance, road trips are a possibility. If they family's been dying to go to Yellowstone National Park or to see the relatives in the next state, it would have been possible if the vehicle had been in good shape.

- Would have had a longer lifespan: A car would have a longer life span if it was well taken care of. A car that dies after 7 years would have lasted 15 with proper care.

Owning a car is a privilege and a responsibility. If a person really wants his or her automobile to last, run well, be worth more as a trade-in, and keep more money in his or her own pocket by using coupons or consuming less gasoline, all he or she needed to do was take good care of the sedan, SUV or truck and avoid the "shoulda, coulda, woulda's."