The Importance of Regular Service and Checkups

Owning a used car has never been this popular in Abilene, TX and across the entire United States. As the average age of cars and light trucks on American roads increases to a record high of 12.2 years, regular servicing and maintenance are becoming more important.

Looking after your vehicle before it breaks down not only helps spot potential issues early. You’ll also be able to enhance your car’s performance, increase your own safety on the road, and extend the lifespan of a used vehicle. Booking your car in for a regular service or a checkup with Arrow Point Auto Mall may not seem like a necessity at the time, but it’s an excellent way of looking after your car and saving money in the long term. Here’s a look at why regular maintenance of used vehicles matters and what’s involved.

The Benefits of Preventive Maintenance

As car sales and maintenance professionals, our Arrow Point Auto Mall service team tends to distinguish between preventive and corrective maintenance. The main difference between the two types of maintenance lies in the time when you book your car in to see our experts.

Preventive maintenance gives us a chance to inspect your used car before problems occur. It’s not unlike booking a dental checkup, even though nothing hurts. You’re giving your dentist a chance to spot and address potential issues before they turn into painful dental problems that require several treatment sessions to address.

For used cars in Texas, preventive maintenance is hands-down the best way to identify small problems before they turn into major faults. Our goal is to save you money and time. By spotting weaknesses early and rectifying them, our experienced mechanics at Arrow Point Auto Mall help you keep your used car on the road.

Preventive maintenance may seem like a bit of a luxury for an older, used vehicle, but it’s actually the opposite. It’s a necessity that becomes even more important as your car gets a little older, especially if you need to use it most days. Put simply, preventive maintenance can make the difference between getting to your destination on time or breaking down halfway through a journey.

If your car is getting a little older, make sure you give it the care it deserves, so you can rely on it for years to come! Contact us about a preventive maintenance appointment today.

Prioritizing Safety and Reliability

Every day, many drivers in Abilene, TX put an extraordinary amount of faith in their cars. We expect them to start, no matter the temperature. We rarely second-guess what potholes or badly maintained roads may do to our car’s suspension, and hardly anyone expects their brakes not to engage when they need to slow down suddenly.

To be frank, those are high expectations of a vehicle that is perhaps nearly a decade old and has hundreds of thousands of miles on the clock. Saying that, with preventive maintenance done by an expert and a little care and attention, you’re not expecting too much. Is it time to make time for the safety of your used car in Texas? Avoid putting your car service off for longer. Without caring for your vehicle, you’ll soon be compromising its reliability and your safety.

Basic Checkups for Increased Safety

So, what happens during a preventive maintenance checkup? At Arrow Point Auto Mall, our expert mechanics are dedicated not only to keeping you on the road safely. But they also want to make sure smaller issues on your used vehicle are spotted and fixed before they turn into big problems, saving you money in the process.

During a basic checkup, our team inspects critical components of your car, including your brakes, suspension, and the tread on your tires. We also ensure that all critical fluids are in good condition and topped up. Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to forget to check your oil, brake fluid, antifreeze, or even the water you need to wash your windows. If that sounds like you, why not book your used car in for a service today?

When it comes to window washing liquid, it may be a minor inconvenience to forget a top-up. However, not looking after your car’s oil levels can damage the engine. Forgetting to check and top-up your brake fluid becomes just as dangerous as not changing your brake pads when they’re worn.

At Arrow Point Auto Mall, regular service appointments for your car are about more than ensuring your vehicle is reliable whenever you need it. These appointments are about your safety and the safety of other road users in Abilene, TX and beyond. Keeping your used car in great condition also protects your family, friends, and anyone else you might be offering a ride. Can you afford not to protect them? Something as simple as a tire bursting when you’re driving down the highway at high speed can soon turn into a serious accident. By checking your tire tread and looking for excessive wear and tear, we can prevent that.

Backed up by a fully stocked service center featuring the attest technology, our service team is here to help keep your vehicle on the road while ensuring you and your loved ones are safe whenever you’re going for a drive. We’re happy to maintain your car whether it’s barely a couple of years old or moving past the average age of 12 years. Contact us today to schedule a service.

Increasing Fuel Efficiency and Minimizing Emissions

Aside from safety and reliability, regular maintenance for your used car is also about saving money and protecting our environment.

Let’s take a look at how regular maintenance contributes to better fuel efficiency. Without wanting to get too technical, a well-maintained engine is an efficient engine. If you’re working in an office, think about the computer you’re using. If you regularly remove unnecessary files and other clutter, your computer runs faster and without disruption. The same is true for a used car’s engine.

How to Look After Your Used Car’s Engine

First of all, don’t worry! At Arrow Point Auto Mall, we’re known as the home of the Lifetime Engine Guarantee, Arrow For Life. We promise to support you and your vehicle for the entire lifetime of the vehicle with honest and reliable information and service.

What does that mean when it comes to engines? Clogged filters and old, dirty oil have a detrimental effect on your fuel efficiency. If you’re noticing that a full tank is not taking you as far as it used to, it’s time to book a service. Losing fuel efficiency as your car gets older is not a given. Regular, preventive maintenance can keep your vehicle running as efficiently as it did on the day it rolled off the production line.

Considering Fuel Efficiency and Finance

Apart from hurting you financially, diminished fuel efficiency also damages our environment because of the byproducts produced by burning gasoline and diesel. Reducing your environmental impact includes driving the cleanest vehicle you can afford. Buying a brand-new car, a hybrid, or an electronic vehicle may seem like the only option to reduce your environmental footprint, but that’s simply not true.

Keeping your used vehicle in the best possible condition helps promote fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and protect the environment. Having said that, perhaps you are already looking at upgrading your existing vehicle. To help you manage your financial situation and keep you on the road safely, we offer a wide range of financing options.

Our Finance Department at Arrow Point Auto Mall understands that not everyone has a clean credit score, and we’re here to work with you to find the best financing package to meet your needs. We’ve helped customers right here in Abilene and further afield with realistic, down-to-earth finance options, so why not reach out to the team today?

Retaining Resale Value

We’ve already mentioned the benefits of regular maintenance for fuel efficiency and getting more miles to the gallon from your used car. Beyond that, wouldn’t it be great if you could sell your used car for the same amount you paid for it or something close? Regular maintenance with the experts at Arrow Point Auto Mall is the key to achieving that goal.

Granted, cars lose value as they get older. However, well-maintained used cars are always sought-after, and prospective buyers are happy to pay more for a vehicle that’s been cared for than for one that looks like it’s been neglected. In short, there is a direct correlation between regular servicing, including documenting that service history, and the resale value of your used car in Texas.

Don’t underestimate the difference regular maintenance can make to the price your car will achieve when it comes to selling it. You may even find that you’ll have a choice of buyers competing for your vehicle if it is well cared for.

Statistics show that the average age of cars on American roads has grown for decades. That means that there is a strong resale market in Abilene for used cars that stand out. Let us help you ensure your car is one of those sought-after vehicles!

Manufacturer's Recommendations and Service Intervals

Throughout this blog post, we’ve talked about regular maintenance and servicing. But what does ‘regular’ actually mean for used vehicles in Abilene, TX? To answer this question, the guidelines provided by your car’s manufacturer are a great starting point.

Check your car’s manual for instructions on the vehicle’s service interval. Manufacturers will generally provide guidance in either months or years. Some also state a mileage limit. If your manual covers both mileage and time, it’s prudent to book an appointment when the first limit approaches. This is especially important for newer cars that may have a warranty connected to regular servicing.

If you no longer have your car manual, don’t worry. Our team of experienced mechanics would be more than happy to book a service appointment for your used car at Arrow Point Auto Mall, assess its condition, and advise you based on that and the amount of driving you intend to do. Don’t delay, book your appointment today!

Keep Your Vehicle Running Smooth with Arrow Point Auto Mall

Regular servicing and checkups are the keys to keeping your used car on the road safely and efficiently. Routine maintenance is an investment in the health of your vehicle that pays dividends for as long as you own your car.

Preventive, routine maintenance not only keeps your car running but also helps spot problems early. This gives you a chance to address them at a stage when they’re small rather than waiting until they develop into bigger problems. You’ll benefit by owning a safer, more reliable, and ultimately more valuable vehicle. Not only will regular checkups allow you to keep your car on the road for longer, but you’ll also see a difference when you want to sell it.

Are you ready to give your car the care and maintenance it deserves? Talk to our team at Arrow Point Auto Mall today and schedule your service appointment now. We’d love to talk cars with you!