Ask Joe Mechanic: Security and Anti-Theft Tips

Most anti-theft tips are common sense, but something that we occasionally need to be reminded of. While car thefts have dropped slightly, thefts from inside vehicles have

The Club in action.

increased dramatically in the last few years. Some of this is due to the increased use of technology and part is due to the need for money to buy drugs.

            First of all, never leave your keys in the car, even if you are just running in your house to grab something or to pay for your gas or a coffee at the convenience store. This is one of the highest sources of theft of vehicles that there is.  If you leave your keys in, your insurance quite possibly will not pay off a claim. Tying into this, always lock your car, even in your own driveway during the day. An unlocked car is an open invitation for thieves to enter the vehicle. Also, do not leave cell phones, laptops, iPads or GPS units in a place where they are clearly visible.

           

A newer threat, which especially targets women, is the snatch and grab at the gas pump. What happens here is that while a lady is on one side of her car pumping gas, a thief approaches the car from the opposite side and either reaches through an open window or opens an unlocked door and grabs her purse or whatever else they can reach and jumps into a waiting car.  If you leave your purse in your car while you pump gas, either hide it or lock the doors.

            If possible, whether at home on the street, at the mall or in the airport parking lot, try to park in a well lit area. It is also safer for you if you come out to the car after dark.

Cars parked in a dark area are an open invitation for thieves and for vandalism.

            If your car is equipped with an alarm system, get small decals for the both rear side windows that state, ‘This car protected by a vehicle alarm system.’ This just may make a would-be thief think twice about targeting your vehicle. If your vehicle does not have an alarm and it sits out a lot, this may still be a wise investment.

            Another deterrent to many thieves is the “Club.” These were very popular before many vehicles were equipped with alarm systems.  However, if your car sits in a high crime area, this just might be the thing that will make a thief say this vehicle is not worth the trouble.

             And finally, when shopping for a new or used car, it is a good idea to check with your insurance agent to see if the vehicle you are considering has a high rate of theft. This could mean one of a couple things, either the parts from that vehicle are in high demand or the vehicle does not have a very good security system.

Ask Joe Mechanic - Periodic Maintenance

All vehicles require periodic maintenance, how often depends on the vehicle and the type of driving the individual does on a regular basis. The first rule of thumb is to follow what your owner’s manual

Periodic Maintenance is key to vehicle longevity.

recommends for your particular vehicle. Usually, the manual will give an option of two schedules, one for highway and one for local driving. My own recommendation on that matter is to follow the one for local or more frequent intervals, as nearly all of us do a mix of driving types and also experience a great impact of changing weather conditions. 

            As I said the last two weeks in Auto Locator, proper care of the inside and outside of your car will help to extend its useful life. The same thing goes for periodic maintenance. Actually, the care of the inside and outside of your vehicle should be considered part of your maintenance schedule. A car that has a routine schedule of recommended maintenance will in most cases last longer than a car that has a haphazard maintenance history.

            In recent years, many of the intervals for different operations have been extended due to changes in the makeup of many of the types of fluids and tune-up items. We now see antifreeze changes, tune-ups and some other items pushed to 100,000 miles. Some of these things I personally think are too long a time, but if you follow what you vehicle’s manual says to do, you will not void your warranty.

            Oil changes now are often every 15,000 miles or follow the on-board computer recommendation. I suggest, even with synthetic oils, that 10,000 miles is enough before oil and filter changes should be performed. Transmission fluids should be changed about every 30,000 miles. Air filters should be checked once a year to make sure they are not restricting to air flows. I feel that antifreeze should be changed at least every 50,000 miles and tune-up items should be checked at the same time.

Another big unknown is fuel filter condition with the increasing use of ethanol. Also, hybrids may require some different items to be checked to keep them in peak operating condition. Diesels also require different service schedules and may also require special diesel grade oil. All this information is in your owner’s manual, which should be considered the Bible for your vehicle.

            Periodic maintenance is the single most important thing that you can do to prolong the life of your vehicle. A final thought to consider, during my time working at dealerships, I found that people who leased vehicles were more apt to be lax in the proper care of the vehicle they were driving. I guess this happens because they figure it is not their vehicle and they are returning it in two or three years. But, if you read the fine print of the lease, it states you can be held responsible for repair and depreciation costs due to the improper care of the vehicle. So, even if you are leasing, it is in your best interest to at least perform the minimum required maintenance on the automobile and keep you receipts as proof of service performed.