How to Stop Spending Money at the Car Garage

How to Stop Spending Money at the Car Garage

Cars are incredibly liberating to own and give us a ton of freedom and happiness. Most of us can’t even begin to imagine how we would live without our cars and it’s safe to say that we’re pretty reliant on them to maintain our way of life.

This is why it’s a mistake to be completely reliant on a car garage to fix any issues that may arise. If you don’t know how to diagnose and solve basic car trouble, then you’ll not only end up spending a fortune at the garage but you’ll also be unable to repair your car until it has been taken in which can leave you without any mode of transport for days, weeks or months…

The other problem with the car garage? They massive overcharge you. Most garages charge you by the hour, for their labor and for parts. It gets seriously expensive!

There are two solutions to this problem. One is to stop car problems from occurring in the first place and the second is to learn how you can address them yourself with a VCDS. We’ll look at both options here in more detail…

What is a VCDS?

A VCDS is a VAG COM Diagnostics System. So what does that mean? Basically, it’s a commercial device that works just the same as the diagnostics systems that garages use. That in turn means that it can report back on the health of your car, identify problems and suggest how you should go about fixing them.

That’s because every modern car must conform to something called OBD-II or ‘On Board Diagnostics II’. This is a standardized system that allows car manufacturers, garages and others to quickly learn what’s wrong with a car rather than having to examine every single component by hand and potentially waste a lot of time and money.

Your car has an OBD-II ‘connector’ which allows you to simply plug in and get a standardized Diagnostics Trouble Code – a four digit code preceded by a letter. This is normally used by mechanics but when you use your own VCDS, you can get access to this code yourself and software on your computer will translate this into instructions you can actually follow in order to get your vehicle back up and running in no time.

Basically, using VAG-COM, you can cut out the need for a mechanic because you’ll be able to learn exactly what’s wrong with your car and get actionable advice on how to fix it. That means you aren’t paying a huge amount of money for the garage’s time and you’re not paying inflated costs for labor or parts – you can do it all yourself!

Avoiding Problems

While VAG-COM can help you to diagnose and solve all kinds of car trouble, you can also stay out of the garage simply by learning to avoid issues with your vehicle.

Now of course this is sometimes going to be outside of your control. But just like your own health, other car problems can sometimes be a result of lifestyle choices. So how do you give your vehicle the best chance of a long happy life? Here are some tips…

Get Off-Road Parking

If your car is currently parked on the road then it’s going to be vulnerable to the cold weather as well as to people bumping into it or even vandalizing.

Find parking in a garage or on your drive and you’ll find your car is much safer and healthier. If you don’t have a garage then consider investing in a portable shelter that you can use for the same purpose cheaply. Alternatively, ask a friend if you can park on their drive. You can also use a car pocket to keep your car warm and safe from the elements.

Avoid Gravel Tracks

Drive fast down a gravel track and you throw up stones and pebbles. This can cause all kinds of damage whether it means cracks in your windshield or holes in your oil pan. If you must go on those bumpy country lanes, then just make sure that you drive slowly and carefully. Likewise, this will also help you to avoid potholes which can otherwise cause serious damage to your shocks.

Drive Often

Another tip is to drive your car often. Even if you don’t need to go anywhere for months, take your vehicle out for a spin occasionally just to make sure that the battery doesn’t discharge and that you don’t get rust on the body. This is especially important during the cold weather when it will be extra susceptible to these kinds of issues.

Take Care

This is an obvious one but just making sure to drive carefully is also important. It’s worth looking up ‘defensive driving’ which is a driving style characterized by a distinct lack of aggression. Hang back, go another way when you see problems and take a ‘slow and steady wins the race’ approach.

Likewise, you should also check your mirrors to avoid bumps and scrapes – things you won’t be able to fix yourself with a VCDS. Finally, make sure you’re driving sensibly in other ways too: don’t ride the clutch and ensure that you’re in the right gear when you’re going up hills (this applies only to manual transmission).

Follow these tips and you can keep your car out of the garage and on the road!

How to Stop Spending Money at the Car Garage
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