At Star Auto Authority, we are your vehicle service experts. Whether you drive a domestic minivan, European sportscar or Asian sedan, one of our highly skilled, experienced professionals specializes in your make and model.
And we want to share our wealth of knowledge with you. While there are scores of blogs about new cars, we're here to bring you money-saving advice, resources and information about the car you already drive.
With the average age of today’s vehicles creeping past 9 years, many motorists stand to benefit from an extended warranty.
Posted by Angi
This type of service contract covers many of your car’s components after your factory warranty expires. Some policies offer coverage up to 50,000 miles, while others protect you for up to 100,000 miles—sometimes more.
If you’re planning to keep your vehicle well beyond its factory warranty, you should weigh the pros and cons of buying an extended warranty. We do not sell extended warranties, but we do process claims with 99% of the companies out there. Our first-hand experience is that the service contracts can deliver peace of mind while literally saving you thousands of dollars. We see these policies pay for themselves every day for our clients.
That being said, we’re well aware of the fact that many consumer advocates will tell you not to buy an extended warranty. We believe this is because your odds of recouping your money while keeping your car in tip-top shape depends on your auto care provider. For example, if you only go to quick oil change lanes for service, you’re less likely to get your money’s worth. The quick lubes are designed to get you in and out while selling you maintenance items like an air filter and maybe a fluid flush. They’re not in the business of inspecting your car for needed repairs.
But the situation changes dramatically when you choose a full-service facility, such as Star Auto Authority, for your car care needs. First, we identify warranty repairs for you. During every service visit, we perform a comprehensive, bumper-to-bumper inspection, and we ensure your car is test driven by an ASE-Certified Technician, who can detect suspension, steering, braking and drivability issues. We will fully inform you of your car’s maintenance and repair needs, and we know from experience which components your warranty will cover and which you’ll need to cover.
Second, we handle all aspects of the claim for you. We call the warranty company, explain the situation and obtain their approval for the repair. You don’t have to do a thing, and you don’t have to front the money for the covered repairs. Once your company approves the repair, they work with us directly. It’s pure money-saving convenience for you. But if you’re service provider isn’t 1) inspect the car for needed repairs and 2) handling warranty claims for you, then the critics probably have a valid point. For us and our loyal clients, seeing is believing.
If you see the value in an extended warranty, let us be the first to say that not all policies are created equal. Here’s our advice for choosing the best coverage for your hard-earned dollar:
You do not need to buy the service contract when you buy the car. If you are turned off by high-pressure sales tactics, don’t worry. A number of companies sell excellent extended warranties, and they’re not tied to any dealership or car maker. The sole benefit of buying the policy when you buy the car is that the cost is rolled into your monthly car payment. (Financially speaking, we’re not saying this is an ideal approach. We’re simply saying this is a way to buy a policy without having an additional out-of-pocket expense.)
If you don’t buy the policy with the car, the best time to buy is typically before the factory warranty expires, often around 3 years or 36,000 miles. Vehicles meeting this criteria qualify for a “new car policy,” which offers more extensive coverage at a better price than “used car coverage.”
For the best protection, choose a warranty with “exclusionary” coverage. This is the most common type of policy, and it covers all components except for a few clearly stated exceptions. Conversely, non-exclusionary coverage specifies which components are covered. If a failed part isn’t listed, it isn’t covered.
Always purchase a policy that permits you to use the repair facility of your choice when extended warranty work is needed. A few policies require buyers to return to the selling dealership. (This is usually easier if you do not purchase the warranty through the dealer.)
Some policies limit the amount per hour they will pay for labor. A few pay a maximum of $60 per hour, which is substantially below the per-hour average in Chicagoland. Look for a policy that does not cap the labor costs or for one that pays $100 or more per hour.
Choose a service contract that charges one deductible per claim, not per procedure. For example, if you have a $50 deductible per claim and you’re addressing three warranty repairs in one service visit, your deductible will be $50. If your deductible is charged per procedure, you will pay $150 for the same three repairs.
Keep in mind that extended warranties are not designed to cover all repair costs in all situations. For example, diagnostic procedures are not always covered and are rarely covered in their entirety. In the case of a noise caused by a faulty wheel bearing, the warranty company will cover the labor and parts for replacing the wheel bearing but may not cover the time required to diagnose the condition. Even though you can still expect some out-of-pocket costs, they will be minimal compared to paying for the repair on your own.
It is smart to perform some due diligence on the underwriting company. (For example, is it a well-established name in the industry or is it a newcomer?) Not all of them are solvent, and some consumers have been left without coverage even after paying for it.
When you see a doctor for the first time or after an extended absence, do you want him or her to address only the concern you’ve gone in for or would you prefer the doctor give you a complete physical?
Most likely, you’re going to want an evaluation of your overall, long-term health.
At Star, we take the long-term approach with your cars. We believe it saves you money while minimizing the risk of stressful, unexpected breakdowns. This is contrary to many shops, which focus only on your immediate concern – the bare minimum, short-term picture. Here are three reasons we believe the latter isn’t in your best interest.
1) It will cost you more in the long run. Repairs always cost more than maintenance, and a shop should be advising you of needed maintenance throughout the life of your car. Consider these maintenance vs. replacement options:
Transmission fluid flush & filter change = $100 – $250.
New or rebuilt transmission = $2,500 – $6,000.
Oil change = $25-$40 ($50-$75 for synthetic).
New or rebuilt engine = $3,000 – $7,500.
Cooling system flush = $100 – $150.
New radiator = $300+.
New water pump = $400+.
Timing belt = $500 – $800.
Cylinder head, valve work = $1,700 – $2,200.
Unfortunately, many shops are afraid to give you a comprehensive list of maintenance needs because they don’t want to scare you away. But by not informing you of upcoming issues, it’s impossible for you to make an educated decision.
At Star, our philosophy is to empower you so you can make educated repair and maintenance decisions. With each visit, we’ll fully inform you of your vehicle’s service needs following a bumper-to-bumper inspection and test drive by an ASE-certified technician. We will make recommendations in the following order of priority: 1) the client’s concerns, 2) safety issues, 3) maintenance, and 4) creature comforts. We will even email you a detailed estimate and a video if it will help illustrate a service need.
2) Doing the bare minimum may not fully resolve your issue. Even though your car is a machine, there’s a lot of “gray” and subjectivity when it comes to its service needs. For example, here’s a scenario one of our clients had recently: Her vehicle had a clunking sound over bumps. One shop determined the struts were worn and needed to be replaced. At Star, we agreed that the struts needed to be replaced, but we also recommended the strut mounts. We were confident her noise issue couldn’t be resolved by replacing the struts alone, but of course, this made our cost higher for what the client considered the same work. In this case, our client had to trust our honesty and expertise to guide her decision.
In another example, a client had a torn CV boot. This rubber accordion boot is located on each end of each drive axle. When the boot tears, the thick grease that protects the steering knuckle slings out, and the knuckle is exposed to dirt and road debris. This will eventually cause the failure of your drive axle, which propels your vehicle. In this case, the boot had been torn for awhile, the grease was long gone, and it was actually less costly to replace the entire drive axle vs. the boot. Another shop, however, recommended only the boot. Again, our client had to bank on trust to decide between two different recommendations.
If you’re ever facing a similar situation, consider your relationship with the shop, as well as the frustration you would feel if the easier, quicker fix didn’t resolve your issue. You’d be out the money and still have your problem. One reason we’re able to offer an unbeatable 3-year, 36,000-mile warranty for our parts and workmanship is because we are so confident in our diagnoses and recommendations.
3) Less isn’t always more, but apples to apples is always better. This ties into our first two pieces of advice. If you’re obtaining estimates from more than one shop, you may be tempted to hear what you want—it’s human nature to favor the lower price—but make sure you’re gathering all the facts. Make sure your two estimates are apples to apples comparisons of the same work. If one shop is recommending additional procedures, ask them to explain why. If one is recommending fewer procedures, ask them to explain why.
Be aware of possible add-ons once you’re at the shop that gave you the lower price over the phone. The add-ons are probably perfectly legit, but if you’d had all the information at the beginning, you could have done a more accurate price comparison.
One final thought: Don’t blame the messenger who gives you the least desirable, most complete picture. Isn’t it a lot better to know all the facts up front so you can make the best decision for your particular situation?
The first and easiest step you can take to prolong your tires is ensure they are properly inflated. Underinflated tires wear excessively on the outer treads and, in extreme conditions, may even overheat. This could cause tire damage or a blow out. Overinflated tires wear too fast in the middle because the tire is only rolling down the road on that center tread. (Maintaining proper tire pressure also improves your gas mileage.) All cars 2008 and newer are equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems, which will alert you when your tire pressure drops 25% below the recommended level. If you want additional peace of mind, consider the many benefits of filling your tires with nitrogen instead of air.
The second step you can take to maximize your tire life is to rotate them. The front tires usually wear out more quickly than the rear tires. As they push through turns from Vernon Hills to Chicago, the shoulders of the front tires wear down, especially under the weight of the engine. Rotating the front tires to the rear helps ensure they all wear at about the same rate over the life of the tire. A general rule of thumb is every 5,000 to 8,000 miles, but four-wheel drive trucks and SUVs tend to wear their tires more unevenly. When your vehicle is in for service, we will inspect the tires to determine if it’s time for a rotation. And remember, tire rotations are free if you purchase a set of tires at Star Auto Authority.
Finally, you’ll also want to ensure your car’s wheels are properly balanced. When wheels are out of balance, they don’t roll down the road evenly. You’ll notice a vibration or wobble at a certain speed, such as from 25 to 35 mph or from 55 top 65 mph. Drive long enough with unbalanced wheels, and your tires will wear in a cupping pattern. To remedy this, your service technician at Star Auto Authority puts weights on your wheels to balance them out. We are one of only a few shops that use a road-force balance machine, which means we simulate the weight of the vehicle on the wheel and the road. Traditional balancing equipment spins the wheel to detect out-of-round spots that cause vibrations, but it doesn’t assess the wheel’s performance on the road.
Remember, tires are the only point of contact between you and the road. Not only will you save money by keeping yur tires properly inflated, balanced and rotated, you’ll also ensure your safety.
Even though today’s cars and trucks are complex, highly technical machines, there are a surprising number of small, inexpensive parts that can lead to expensive engine damage when they fail. Fortunately most of these failures can be prevented with routine maintenance. While the list can be lengthy, we’re here to help remind you of what’s due and when.
You may not know this, but the median age for private vehicles is more than 9 nine years. By the time a car is 5 years or older, it has accumulated a lot of dirt and rust in its gas tank. If that dirt gets into the engine, it can cause thousands of dollars of damage. Somewhere between that dirty gas tank and the price of a great vacation is the lowly fuel filter: a very inexpensive part that also doesn’t cost that much to replace. More importantly, your car will run much better when the fuel filter is functioning properly.
A clogged fuel filter can’t let enough fuel through. You might notice at first that your car is running fine around town, but struggles or sputters on the highway or under hard acceleration. This is because not enough fuel can get through to meet the demands of higher speeds. If it gets bad enough, your engine might stall or might not start at all, which could be dangerous.
Some fuel filters have a bypass feature. When they get clogged, they allow dirty fuel to move around the filter element. This can prevent your car from stalling, but the favor is only short-term because dirt ends up in the engine. We’ve already talked about how expensive that can be.
The fuel filter is also very important for newer cars. The fuel is still dirty even if there isn’t rust in the tank. It’s just that the fuel filter will need to be changed more frequently as the vehicle gets older.
How often should you change your fuel filter? Check your owner’s manual or ask your Star Auto Authority service advisor. (It’s every 30,000 miles on many cars.) Ask if it’s time for a full fuel system cleaning as well. They often go hand in hand. And remember: It costs 45% less to maintain your car than it does to repair items when they fail from neglect.
There’s a lot of buzz these days about longer oil change intervals, especially for vehicles that come off the factory line with synthetic oil. In fact, some new vehicle manufacturers are recommending much higher oil change intervals than ever before—as much as 5,000 to 8,000 miles or more.
However, this practice came under scrutiny when four of the largest new car manufacturers announced that owners were experiencing engine damage as a result of these higher oil change intervals. The manufacturers’ standard oil drain service for particular vehicles was scheduled at around 7,500 miles. Motorists following these recommendations had problems with oil sludge building in their engines, which clogged small oil passages and caused engine parts to fail.
What causes oil sludge? It’s a factor of time and mileage. There are hot spots in every engine that cause oil burn off that leads to sludge. Also, water from normal condensation can build up in the oil. This water also creates sludge. Severe driving conditions lead to more rapid sludge formation. Severe driving includes short trips under 4 miles or trips under 10 miles in freezing conditions. The engine just doesn’t get warm enough for the water in the oil to evaporate.
Stop-and-go driving, towing, dusty conditions, heavy loads, very hot or very cold temperatures, a car top carrier are all considered severe driving conditions, which means you should follow the severe maintenance schedule for your vehicle. This severe service schedule has much shorter oil change intervals. You need to honestly evaluate how you drive to determine if you should change your oil closer to the severe service schedule or to the standard schedule.
Some vehicles have built-in oil change reminders, but it’s important to know how that reminder is determined. For some, the reminder simply comes when the standard mileage interval has rolled around. Others use a computer algorithm that takes into consideration the number of cold starts, trip length, engine temperature and so on. It’s programmed to approximate where on the standard/severe service spectrum you fall. Some more expensive vehicles actually have sensors that test the cleanliness and effectiveness of the oil.
For the rest of us, better safe than sorry should be the guiding principle. Talk with your Star service advisor about the pros and cons of a shorter vs. longer oil change interval. Find out what kind of oil your vehicle is equipped with from the factory. Sometimes it’s synthetic oil, which costs more than standard oil, but it may be necessary to meet a longer factory-recommended interval.
If you’re realistically conservative, standard grades of oil will take care of you year after year. If you want to push the limits, ask for synthetic oil to give you extra protection. Synthetic is also recommended if you tow heavy loads, plow snow, idle excessively (i.e. a taxi or delivery vehicle), or subject your vehicle to other severe driving conditions.
So what happened with those manufacturers who had problems from higher oil change intervals? They ended up extending the engine warranty for parts that were affected by oil sludge. But they had a stipulation: They lowered the oil change interval, and the vehicle owner had to provide proof of oil changes at the new lower interval to keep the extended warranty.
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