AAA Mid-Atlantic: October is Car Care Month

AAA offers simple steps drivers can take to keep vehicles road-ready for the changing seasons

PHILADELPHIA, PA (October 3, 2018) Fall has arrived and while local drivers are finished planning summer road trips, they’re still putting miles on their vehicles for daily trips back and forth to work and school. October is Car Care Month and AAA is advising drivers to prepare their vehicle for the colder conditions ahead. Vehicle maintenance is key for any season and there are a few simple things every driver can do to make sure their car is road-ready.

“Learning how to handle common maintenance issues is beneficial to anyone who gets behind the wheel,” said Jana L. Tidwell, manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Proper maintenance can extend the life of your vehicle and help prevent costly repairs.”

In the past, vehicle maintenance needs were relatively simple and consistent across automakers. Today’s engineering advancements require less maintenance at less frequent intervals. Examples include oil-change intervals now recommended at 5,000 to 10,000 or more miles, transmission fluids designed to last 100,000 miles and sealed batteries that never need to have fluid added. Even with these advancements, vehicles still require routine services that are important to maintaining the performance and safety of the vehicle.

October is the perfect month to make sure your vehicle is winter ready. The weather is still mild, and there is plenty of time to deal with the potentially costly repairs before cold weather sets in.

During October Car Care Month, AAA is offering special promotions, giveaways, and more at AAA Car Care Insurance and Travel Stores in the Philadelphia 5 county area including:

• FREE Battery Checks
• FREE Preventative Maintenance Checks
• FREE Tire Pressure Checks
• Giveaways
• Auto Accessory Discounts – $5 OFF a purchase of $25 or more*
• $50 OFF a Wheel Alignment*
• $50 Instant Tire Rebate with the purchase of 4 tires*
• $99.99 Vehicle Winterization Package*

*Restrictions apply. See Service Advisor for details.

AAA Car Care Insurance & Travel Stores in the Philadelphia Area

To ensure your vehicle is properly maintained, AAA recommends that motorists:

• Read the maintenance requirements set by your car’s manufacturer in the owner’s manual. There is no longer a “standard” maintenance schedule for vehicle services. Each automaker has different requirements, making your owner’s manual the most accurate resource.
• Inspect brakes as recommended in your owner’s manual, or sooner if you notice pulsations, pulling, noises while braking or longer stopping distance. Correct minor brake problems promptly. Check your owner’s manual to see if the brake fluid should be changed at a specific interval. If no interval is specified for brake fluid service, AAA suggests flushing the system every two years or anytime the brake system is serviced.
• Follow the recommendations of in-vehicle maintenance reminders, as they have the best information to determine maintenance needs for your vehicle because they account for how you actually drive. However, many reminder systems do not specifically cover maintenance operations that need to be performed on a time or mileage basis – such as brake fluid and coolant flushes or timing-belt replacement.
• Work with a local repair shop you trust - the best time to find a mechanic or auto repair shop is before you need one. Start by asking friends and family for recommendations and visit AAA.com to find nearby AAA Car Care Centers and AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, take your vehicle to your top candidate shop for routine maintenance. While there, talk with the employees and take a look at the facility and consider the following questions:

• Does the facility have up-to-date equipment?

• Were you offered a written estimate?
• Does the shop offer a nationwide warranty on parts and labor?
• Are customer areas clean, comfortable and well organized?

When having your car serviced, follow the factory recommended maintenance schedule to avoid under- or over-maintaining your vehicle.  Oil changes, tire rotations, changing transmission fluid, and replacing an air filter are the types of routine maintenance recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer. The maintenance schedule for these services and more can be found in the vehicle owner’s manual. 

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AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 57 million members nationwide and more than three million members in Pennsylvania.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android.  For more information, visit www.AAA.com.