by Laurie Jackson

Created on: November 06, 2008   Last Updated: November 16, 2008

You can change your oil, air filter, fuel filter, spark plugs and cables, distributor cap, tires, and even flush the radiator/cooling system yourself in most vehicles, given the right tools and a good manual. But if your time is limited, or you don't have a garage or driveway for a workspace, or you don't have or know how to use simple tools, take your car to an service person you trust for maintenence, and to a specialist for your vehicle's make for repairs requiring diagnoses and parts.

Repairs are NOT maintenence. Maintenence means keeping the engine and chassis in good working order by changing fluids, monitoring tire pressure, evaluating the condition of belts, hoses, and wiring, and checking for leaks at each oil change, which should happen every three months or 2000 miles, whichever comes first. You should be familiar with your car's systems-fuel delivery, lubrication, cooling, electrical, suspension, steering, brakes, and exhaust. Knowing what is normal goes a long way towards evaluating the condition of your car and deciding if a task is doable or should be outsourced to your trusted mechanic. Basic information (such as the multiweight of oil your engine requires) is in your owners manual, which should live in your jockey box (or glove compartment). Take some time and read through it. Finding a good service shop is like finding a good hairdresser. Ask your friends and coworkers where they take their cars. Dealerships often charge a fortune for maintenence, and our local Honda dealership charges outrageous prices. Your dealership may different, but I don't go there because I have a better option.

My car has a long history of being maintained at home and being repaired by my trusty mechanic, Bill. (Bill left the aforementioned Honda dealership 20 years ago to open his own repair business, and he came highly recommended by other Honda owners and our Volkswagen mechanic). Now don't laugh too hard, but I drive an '88 Honda Accord with 208,000 miles on the odometer. Her name is "Sushi". She doesn't use any oil, runs perfectly, and everything works. Hondas are like Swiss watches-complex and very hard to work on. But changing the oil and filter is easy. Sushi has had regular oil changes at home since she was purchased, and that is the primary reason she is still on the road.

Anything not normal-noises, warning lights on the dash, poor performance-warrants a trip to see Bill, who has specialized Honda tools, and a huge Macintosh diagnostic computer system designed

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