5 Common Maintenance Mistakes That Cost Drivers Thousands | A Mechanic's Warning
Car Connection Workshop
5 Common Maintenance Mistakes That Cost Drivers Thousands | A Mechanic's Warning
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Car
Honda Civic DX
The Honda Civic DX is a version of the Civic, a small car that is very reliable and good on gas. The 1999 model is known for being a solid choice for everyday driving.
Car
Toyota FJ Cruiser
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a tough SUV that looks a bit like older models from the past, and it's built to handle rough roads and off-road adventures. People like it because it's reliable and can last a long time, which is why someone might be excited about reaching 400,000 miles on it.
Part
power steering
Power steering makes it easier to turn the steering wheel of a car, especially at low speeds or when parking.
Part
automatic transmission
An automatic transmission shifts gears for you, so you don't have to do it manually like in a manual transmission car.
Part
engine oil
Engine oil keeps the engine parts moving smoothly and helps prevent damage from heat and friction.
Part
brake fluid
Brake fluid helps your brakes work by transferring the pressure from your foot on the brake pedal to the brakes themselves.
Part
differential fluid
Differential fluid helps the parts inside the differential work smoothly, allowing your car's wheels to turn at different speeds when going around corners.
Part
transaxle fluid
Transaxle fluid keeps the parts in a transaxle working well and cool, which is important for cars that have this combined system.
Part
transfer case fluid
Transfer case fluid helps the parts in a four-wheel drive system work together smoothly, making sure power goes to all four wheels when needed.
Term
fluids
Fluids in a car are the liquids that help it run properly. This includes oil, coolant, and brake fluid. It's important to check and change these fluids regularly to keep the car in good shape.
Term
filters
Filters in cars help keep the engine oil clean and make sure the air inside the car is fresh. They need to be changed regularly to keep everything working well.
Part
cabin air filter
The cabin air filter cleans the air that comes into your car, helping to keep it fresh and free of dust and pollen. If it's dirty or clogged, it can make it harder for the air conditioning or heating to work properly.
Part
fuel filter
The fuel filter cleans the fuel that goes into your car's engine, making sure it doesn't have dirt or debris. Changing it regularly helps your car run better.
Part
fuel pump
The fuel pump moves fuel from the gas tank to the engine so that your car can run. If the filter is dirty, the pump has to work harder, which isn't good for it.
Part
steering components
Steering components are the parts that help you turn the car. They connect the steering wheel to the wheels and make it possible to control where the car goes.
Part
suspension components
Suspension components are the parts that help keep the car stable and comfortable while driving. They help absorb bumps in the road and keep the tires in contact with the ground.
Part
tie rod
A tie rod is a part that helps steer the car. It connects the steering wheel to the wheels, making sure they turn when you turn the wheel.
Part
control arm
A control arm is a part that helps hold the wheels in place and allows them to move up and down. It connects the wheels to the main part of the car.
Car
Hyundai Accent
The Hyundai Accent is a small, affordable car that's great for getting around. It's known for being easy on gas and not too expensive to buy.
Part
front end components
Front end components are the parts of a car that help it steer and stay stable while driving. They are located at the front of the car and are important for safe driving.
Part
ball joints
Ball joints are parts of a car's suspension that help the wheels move up and down while turning. They keep everything connected and allow for smooth steering.
Term
potholes
Potholes are big holes in the road that can make driving bumpy and can damage your car's parts. It's important to avoid them when you can.
Part
brake rotors
Brake rotors are the flat metal discs that the brake pads push against to help your car stop. They can get worn out and sometimes need to be replaced too.
Part
calipers
Calipers are the parts that hold the brake pads and push them against the wheels to help your car stop. They need to work well for your brakes to be effective.
Part
brake pads
Brake pads are the parts that squeeze the wheels to help your car stop. They wear out over time and need to be replaced to keep your brakes working well.
Part
rear disc brakes
Rear disc brakes are the brakes located at the back of the car that help it stop. They are usually better than older types called drum brakes, but they can be more complicated to work on.
Term
emergency brake
The emergency brake is a backup brake that helps keep the car from rolling when parked. It can also be used in case the main brakes stop working.
Term
alignments
Alignments are adjustments made to the car's wheels to make sure they are straight and working properly. This helps the car drive better and makes the tires last longer.
Term
tire scrubbing
Tire scrubbing happens when your tires are not lined up right, making them slide a bit as you drive. This can wear out your tires faster and make your car harder to control.
Term
wheel alignment
Wheel alignment is making sure the wheels are pointing in the right direction. If they're off, it can cause problems with how the car drives and wear out the tires faster.
LIVE
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Your Monday through Saturday morning pit stop for stories,
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and I'm Niall Motormouth Jenkins,
and we are shifting it into drive right now
on day number five of a brand new year.
I hope you rang the new year in super strong and hard,
and just a little conversation yesterday,
grabbing a few things at the supermarket
with the teller saying, you know, I said to her,
are you gonna make it a great year?
And she goes, you know, everybody says that, you know?
This is gonna be the best year ever.
And I said, well, we all have to stand together, don't we?
And support one another, love each other,
encourage each other, and show empathy
to those that are struggling
and going through some pretty rough times.
She goes, I've never heard anybody say that before.
I said, you know, making it the best year ever is a mindset.
And that's what we're gonna be talking about this morning.
Our topic, are you ready for it?
I hope so.
I can't find it, just kidding.
Yeah, I can find it.
Five common mistakes, maintenance mistakes
that cost drivers thousands of dollars.
Yeah, that's my goal for 2026,
is to help you discover the mindset of vehicle ownership
and learning the basic fundamentals of that,
owning and operating an automobile.
The basic fundamentals are what's going to save you
thousands of dollars.
So stick around, because we also have
the 30 day fuel savings tip challenge coming up
early in the first quarter.
So another way that I can help you to give yourself
close to a $2,000 raise in 2026.
Has that caught your attention?
Yep, but you know what?
I can't do it for you.
I can only be your coach.
And if you're willing to listen and do,
you're gonna get pretty close to a $2,000 bonus.
Yeah, this year.
And I have some other nuggets that will also
save you a lot of time, money,
and a few bloody ducks.
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And that's all age groups, folks.
Addiction is not just picking and choosing what age group,
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Yeah, there's addictions out there.
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You have to decide which one it is.
So who much is given, much is required.
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Exactly, Norman Eats watermelon sandwiches,
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I heard that somewhere in a couple of minutes ago.
Yeah, that's a great way of remembering that, isn't it?
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that's powers of attorney, the whole package.
And I just wanna say, you know,
I hear these cake mix, wills, kits that you can buy,
don't do it, folks.
If you read it the whole thing through,
when you get to the very, very fine print,
it says you should have this checked by an attorney.
So you might as well have it done properly
so that it's airtight, that your final wishes
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I can get, oh, I can get it done for like 20 bucks.
No, you can't.
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You have to understand these things in mortgages and more.
Life insurance, critical illness insurance,
book an hour and a coffee, that's a discovery meeting.
It is available to you through me.
Yeah, these two guys are my brothers from other mothers.
That's what we say.
And we've known each other well over 20 years.
They are both, Tony and Larry are my financial planners,
have helped me through some very tough times
dealing with debt and getting financially wiped out,
not once, but three times, not by choice,
making some bad decisions,
listening to people that don't have the fruit on the tree.
So when I say, you know, if somebody in family,
your work, your circle of friends
is giving you financial advice,
if they're in a feat or not standing where you wanna be,
smile, be respectful and get out of dodge.
Book that hour and a coffee, no sales, no condemnation,
get your questions properly answered.
If you have investments with the bank,
you are not making any money.
They're ripping you off.
And I can say that because they are.
Number of my friends transferred out their dicks,
their GICs, and now they're invested properly,
they're actually making money.
They set up a TFSA, they didn't even know that was,
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These are the things that you need to get answers to
and you have that opportunity.
So connect with Tony Miele or Larry T-Troll.
It's a brand new year.
I know I'm talking a bit more about this.
It's a brand new year and these are areas
that many people are talking about behind closed doors
with intense moments of fellowship
between husband and wife.
And it makes for a very rocky, rough household.
Am I right?
Yes, it does.
It breaks relationships, it upsets your kids.
It's just something that can be fixed
by simply making a phone call,
connecting and booking an hour in a coffee discovery meeting
to get your questions answered and do it.
It's early in the, we're not, you know,
we're heading into the first quarter.
Let's head in strong, right?
This is the way you can do it.
I know one wants to hear about budgeting.
Yeah, and no one wants to hear a thing,
a list of things you should not do.
But here is another tool in our car connection toolbox
that can set you free of all those things
that keep you up at night.
So take advantage of that.
Both Tony and Larry, they don't need any more clients.
But they promised in 2007 to our car connection listeners
on radio that if you reach out, they'll reach in.
So don't waste their time if you're gonna pick the tires.
But you know what?
Here is a great opportunity for you to turn things around.
If he won't do it, ladies, you do it.
If she won't do it, fellas, that's right.
Take the zipper from the back, put it to the front,
and you do it.
Pick up the phone, book that hour in a coffee,
meet by Zoom, by phone, in the boardroom,
and say, Catherine's or they'll come right,
either one will come right to your home.
Whatever you are comfortable with, but do it.
I'm speaking from my heart.
I wanna see you win in 2026.
It's time to, you know, my professor taught me
there's wishes, there's wants, there's needs, and there's gots.
And you gotta decide what each one of those things is.
You're sick and tired, disgusted, fed up, and bored,
and broken, doing another lap around the mountain,
around the park.
Here's an opportunity to turn it around.
And it also includes, how do you prepare
to purchase that next vehicle?
How do you get out of stinking debt
when you know there's more months than money?
I know I'm talking your language because I hear it.
Believe it or not, I've been licensed since 1988
and opened my own shop in 1991.
And these are the conversations that we would have
when you're dropping your car off.
I'd have to listen to it.
And that's when we decided that we gotta do something
to help, to help and encourage one another.
So I know that's a long intro,
but this is a brand new year.
Don't start it off the same.
Because we know what the term insanity means, right?
If we break it down, you've probably heard it
so many times, said several different ways.
If you always do what you've always done,
you'll always get what you've always got.
And you don't know what you don't know.
That's why you don't have,
because if you knew what you knew, you'd have it.
To know it, not do it means you never knew it.
In the first place.
Thank you to the Grimoire family.
They're our newest sponsor from Niagara Block,
5,000 Montrose Road in Niagara Falls.
They've been there since 1931, Building Canada.
Can you believe that?
And I saw some black and white pictures
in Dave Grimoire's office and I was like,
that was Niagara Falls.
That was Montrose Road, Lundy's Lane.
Crazy.
Open fields, trees, yeah.
They've got some experience.
Building supplies, hardscape landscaping supplies
to help you create that beautiful backyard oasis
where you can just kind of hang out and relax
and have some white space.
They can help you line up a contractor to get it done
and they'll help you pick materials to create that space.
You know what?
Summer, 2026, sure sounds good, doesn't it?
Total Freedom Darien Center, New York
is a addiction campus open to Canadian residents
as well as American.
They also have another campus run by Rick and Robin.
And let me tell you, they have a story to tell.
When it comes to addictions, husband and wife team,
facilitators there, Sidney Manitoba Canada,
that is a men only campus, new life,
a brand new heart and new life awaits you there,
no matter what age group you are.
And you can't fight what you can't see.
They're an alternative addictions program
bringing centered healing and restoration
to individuals and families enslaved
by cycles of addiction and destructive behavior.
And when people are in addictions,
they can be super nasty and I've experienced that.
And you'll hear and you'll be called
everything under the sun,
but it's not until they make that decision
that today is the day I'm fed up,
sick and tired, disgusted and bored
and I'll do anything to get away from that.
That's how it can happen.
It's not a program at either campus.
You go there, you stay there and guess what?
Life is gonna change.
So if you were someone you know,
again, a brand new year, let's change some lives.
All right, let's jump into our conversation this morning.
Enough said on that, we don't wanna beat that donkey
all to death, but let's have a swiggy together.
I've got mine already here, I haven't even tasted it,
so we'll see what that turns out.
Get your 16-pack crayola crayons, your leaf bag
that's all folded up nice like a laptop
and get your co-pilot today, take some notes for you.
Crayons never let you down, pens suck.
I'm just saying that, yeah.
Yeah, you can go to the cup or the jar,
whatever you have, all those pens in there
and you can probably go through 12
and none of them write anymore.
But with crayons, we got your back.
All right, on three, two, one,
let's have a swiggy together.
Keep your eye on the road if you're driving.
Thank you for inviting us in to your world this morning
and we're definitely honored to have you a part
of Car Connection in our Car Connection workshop.
So we're in this thing together, three, two, one.
Superb, yeah.
You know, I heard that word
at watching something the other day, superb.
And I go, man, when was the last time you heard that term?
Superb, yeah, long time.
All right, as I promised, yes I did.
I promised you five common maintenance mistakes
that cost drivers thousands and wasted dollars
every single year.
Here is the thing, owning and operating
any kind of piece of equipment, including an automobile.
If you don't wanna be buying these things over and over
and over and over again and paying interest,
making interest payments as well,
then you gotta grab hold of the basic fundamentals.
You gotta dive into those areas
where you know what, it's a little uncomfortable.
That's right, things start to pinch, not good.
Means there needs to be an adjustment.
That's where it all starts.
So being in a brand new year,
I thought, how do we kick that off
and get you thinking in the right direction?
Because as my professor would say to me,
he goes, Nile, I've been 35 years in psychology.
My job is it's easy.
And I go, really?
He goes, yeah.
He said, all I gotta do is get people to think.
But he says, where my job gets seriously difficult is,
but then I gotta get them to think right.
He goes, that is where the challenge comes in.
And I got to thinking about that.
That so translates over into automotive.
It sure does.
Because I gotta get you to think about your automobile
in a whole new aspect.
Not looking at it, that thing costs us money
that we don't have.
Well, if you don't have a plan to change that,
it's like New Year's resolution.
Very few people can pull it off.
You should be putting down goals and dreams
and things you want to accomplish
and one big, hairy, bodacious goal for you to run hard.
Because what is your reason for getting out of bed
every morning?
Well, I gotta go to work Monday morning.
Crap, crap, it's Monday.
Yeah, exactly.
And then, you know, your order through the takeout
you know, gets botched up.
And you just let that ruin your whole week.
No, no and no.
You've got to get a plan.
You've got to be on the side of big mo, all the time.
When you're on side with big mo, you're gonna get there.
You're gonna win the battle.
There's gonna be a victory.
And you know when you come out the end,
you go, wow, we made more money this year.
How did you do it?
Well, you gotta have a plan.
You've gotta have an action plan.
And you can talk about stuff all day long
because there's wishes, there's wants,
there's needs and there's gots.
The gots are things that you have to have to survive.
Needs are also things that you must have.
Those are the must-haves in order to survive.
Wishes without a plan doesn't happen.
That's why I hear people already saying,
well, you know, yeah, we say that every year.
It's gonna be the greatest year ever.
I said, well, make it.
I said to the girl at the checkout yesterday,
then make it a great year.
Your job for you is to make it a great year
and sit down and plan it out, strategize.
Or are you already giving up?
And she looked at me, she goes,
no one has ever said that to me before.
I said, well, that's what I do.
You know what?
I don't listen to the negative Nellies
and the negative Normans.
Yeah, because you know what?
Destructive criticism is the death gargle of a loser.
Period.
My professor trained me to know that.
He said, you never take advice from anyone
who's not where you wanna be.
So when it comes to automotive, yeah.
Our 07 FJ Cruiser is gonna be part of the 400K Club this year
and the 99 Honda Civic DX,
the Rocket is gonna be part of the 300K Club this year
and then some perhaps.
And you know, how do we get there?
Gotta have a plan.
It doesn't happen on its own.
You gotta have a plan.
So you're gonna get a plan today.
Five common maintenance mistakes
that are costing drivers thousands.
I'm gonna help you get a raise.
Everything we talk about,
you can find on our website,
carconnectionbusinessnetwork.com, everything.
All the links connect.
Send me an email through there.
We keep it super simple.
And our podcaster being archived there.
You can also grab them off our iHeart podcaster site
where we, after today, we'll have 52 programs up there.
Every single one of those programs,
every single one of the videos we create
for a YouTube channel and it is Video Shoot Monday.
We'll shoot probably three, four videos
and we're a few weeks ahead now,
which is really, really good.
That takes a bit of pressure off.
We're still editing to do.
But all those things, all those tools
are available to you to create a plan.
To create a plan and guess what?
Save money.
Save money and still run and own
and operate an older vehicle.
First and foremost, you've got to make sure
you're maintaining the structural integrity
of the vehicle, period.
That's rust proof every single year.
Yep, put a dollar, put a dollar in a jar of loony
or a tuning into a coffee can, a jar, every single day.
And you have more than enough money
to get your vehicle properly rust proof and stop complaining.
Yeah, because if you keep the structure solid,
everything else is serviceable, replaceable, fixable.
All right, let's jump in.
Number one, fluid.
I cannot stress this enough
because most of you, you don't know where they are.
You don't really know what they do,
but they are the life's blood of your automobile.
That is the beginning of the end for a lot of engines,
a lot of transmissions, and that's why vehicles
end up in the recycle yard long before their time.
The fluids are not going to put the money light on
unless you've run out of fluids.
Yeah, then components are gonna let you know,
hey pal, we got a big problem here.
Yeah, overheating, brake pedal goes to the floor.
Yeah, how many of us have experienced that?
But believe it or not, you can be driving
a 15, 18-year-old vehicle like I do,
and you'll say, well, you're a licensed mechanic.
I've heard that excuse.
If I had a nickel for every time
somebody mentioned that vehicle,
oh, so like because my car knows
I'm a licensed service technician,
it doesn't need any service.
You're out of your mind.
It needs service all the time.
You gotta stay up on it,
because you know why?
I don't wanna make car payments.
I'm done with that.
I've talked about that before.
But something as simple as having the fluids tested
and changed on time, that's the clue.
The fluids are protecting some very valuable components.
Yeah, if you had 15, $1,000 bills stacked up
on your kitchen table, would you leave the room?
That's a question for you to answer.
I'd be like, you know what?
If I lost 20 bucks in the driveway,
I'm tripping you on the way there
so I can get to it before you do.
Absolutely, even if it's two bucks,
I'm tripping you before you get there and find it.
That's what I'm talking about.
These are the basic fundamentals.
Whether you just bought the car yesterday
or you've had it a period of time
and you know you're neglecting it,
that's where you're not saving,
you're not saving any money.
So this mindset has to change.
Well, I'm not gonna look,
therefore then it doesn't need to be done, right?
Oh, I don't wanna know if I don't know it
and then you know what, it's gonna go away.
No, it's not.
No, it's not.
If you wanna put money back in your pocket,
it's the only way I can help you to do so.
That's a little service.
Fluids need to be checked, tested, verified
and get them changed.
Get them changed,
because the components that those fluids are protecting,
you know, power steering, automatic transmission,
engine oil, brake fluid,
yeah, you know differential fluid,
transactal fluid, transfer case fluid.
These vehicles, I don't care what salesman,
bring them to me, I'll lead his lunch
and take his milk money.
They're not maintenance free.
That's what they want you to believe.
Many of you have bought into it
and that's costing you thousands,
that advice is costing you thousands of dollars per year.
So again, in 2026, you want my help?
I can help you give yourself a raise
from several different directions
and still have an automobile that's healthy, strong
and running like a wild pony.
Yeah, but it's up to you.
The decision is yours to make.
If we can't even maintain something as simple as fluids,
then we're already beat.
You're already beat right out of the gate.
They will not last forever
and you may turn that key and go, I'm saving money,
the car hasn't needed a single thing this past year.
Oh yes, it does, bring it to me.
I'll prove it to you.
That there's stuff that's not maintained
and if you keep going, here's what happens.
It either comes in on a flatbed or a tow truck
and now the list begins.
All those miles that you thought you were getting
for free, maintenance free, the car hasn't broken down,
the money light hasn't coming on, everything's good,
everything's good, we're rolling.
Bam!
Now what?
Someone's gonna pay the piper now.
That every kilometer that you didn't do anything
is now gonna cost you and now you're losing
and bleeding money.
You go, oh, what a piece of crap that thing is.
No, go to the bathroom, close the door,
look in the mirror and say, you idiot, it was you.
Yep, I did this.
Ownership, you gotta own it.
You did it, not the service mechanic,
not the car manufacturer, you did it.
So fluids, they all need to be tested, verified
and replaced on time, on time,
not extending services.
And I've talked about that topic in one of our podcasts.
Number two, filters, engine, transmission,
cabin air filter.
Yeah, you can leave them in there
until everything goes south on you,
but then you're gonna pay the piper,
then you're losing money, you're losing.
We need to replace filters on time, on time.
All these things are gonna put money back in your pocket.
Why?
Because your vehicle will go to the 600K Club.
That's how you get there.
This isn't rocket science for me.
I understand the fundamentals.
I'm not trying to sell you anything
because you know what, your car is not my own.
It's not.
I do exactly everything I share with you,
I do it myself because I looked after fleets
and I got to understanding,
hey, if you just keep rotating this pattern,
you can save a lot of money.
Yeah, so I bought into it decades ago.
Filters need to be replaced on time,
not waiting until, you know,
you're trying to defrost the windshield
and you can't even get a breath
out of the HVAC system in your car
because the cabin air filters plug solid, man.
Yeah, ladies, gents that are in love with your vacuum.
If you don't change the filter, it really sucks, doesn't it?
Not really, but you're like,
why is it taking so long to clean up this stuff here?
Well, when was the last time you changed the filter?
Oh yeah, that's usually what I hear.
When was the last time you changed your fuel filter?
I don't know, an IDK?
I don't know, there you go.
The fuel pump doesn't know when the fuel filter
is restricted from debris
because it's purifying the fuel.
And there's a lot of crap in the fuel, lots.
Go and watch the video on our YouTube channel
where I take apart a fuel filter and show you
actually what's in there.
You'll go, whoa, dude, what is that stuff?
Exactly, so filters, you change them
before the car tells you you should have changed it
because remember, there's cause and effect, cause and effect.
It's never one item.
It's because this, this happened.
Because this, this happened and this happened.
Number three, suspension and steering.
You could bring me select, go down to the big W store
and put a big orange round sticker on the windshield
and mark 10 vehicles and we're gonna check
the front end on all the steering components,
suspension component.
I guarantee you, seven out of 10 have problems
in the suspension and steering.
Yeah, the components haven't broken and fallen off
and left you there on the side of the soft shoulders road,
but they will, they will.
We need to know if there are components worn out.
Simple as that because when stuff breaks
with front wheel drive vehicles,
it does a lot of damage, friends.
It does a ton of damage.
Emotional damage, exactly, comes along with that
and it could have been avoided if someone's checking
the suspension and steering components
so you don't get caught in that corner
where tie rod breaks, inner or outer
or lower ball joint, control arm,
all those things.
If you can't stop it and steer it,
nothing else really matters, right?
Number four, just a little more on the steering.
Man, there's potholes out there big enough
to swallow a Hyundai Accent and cover it up
with some cold patch.
The roads are harsh and it's beating up
our front end components, steering components all the time.
You're hitting those big sunken manhole covers, ba-boom.
That is tough on ball joints and control arms.
Everything gets jarred in the front end.
That's what takes it out is, you know,
keep an eye on the roadway.
I know specific roads that, you know,
I know which lane to get out of
because there are big kaboom potholes.
And that's where I call those ball joint bashers
because if you ride that same road every day,
which you might want to work and listening to me right now
and you hit the same potholes
and the same sunken manhole covers,
you definitely got something going on
in the front end suspension and steering.
So we need to stay ahead of that
so you don't get into thousands of dollars
of needless repairs and change your driving habits.
Slow down, get out of that lane.
You know those potholes are there
and those sunken manhole covers, yeah.
Number four, brakes.
Another area, all of you, all of you,
wait until you're hearing grinding.
There's some funky noises coming out of the wheels
for some reason.
You don't do any work on the brakes
until the next time they're broken.
And then you need a ton more parts
to bring the system back to life.
Another raise this year, having the brakes,
fully inspected and serviced twice a year,
minimum, twice a year, every six months,
twice a year and not waiting
until everything's grunching, grinding, scraping,
making noises, and then you get the list.
It needs everything.
What?
Exactly.
What?
It's gonna cost, what?
What?
And that's when I say, had you been coming in
and letting us check and make recommendations
for brake service, could have saved yourself 1,000 bucks.
That easy.
And that is simple, $1,000.
Yeah, oh, we just need to do pads and rotors.
Calipers are fine, they have been pushed beyond their limit.
Everything else is looking good.
We don't have seized caliper pins.
Some of these calipers would go over $400 a piece,
360 bucks plus tax, do it, do the math.
Yeah, and you need two.
But you may, when it gets to rear disc brakes,
it's even more complicated
because the emergency brake is packed in there too.
And most of you aren't using that.
We'll talk about that in another program.
Yeah, absolutely.
Number five, alignments.
Should have tied that in with number three, steering.
But anyways, should have an alignment,
four wheel alignment once a year.
Once a year.
Why?
Because if your steering geometry is out,
that means your tires are scrubbing down the road.
Here's what's happening.
You're wearing out tires very quickly, prematurely.
That's money out of your pocket.
So if we avoid that, guess what?
Oh, I don't need to buy two tires, go on the front.
Because you burn the sidewalls out, or the tires are cut.
They've been scraping down the road.
You know how much money in lost fuel economy that creates
when the steering geometry is out of whack?
Another raise this year.
Yep, you're gonna wanna sign up
for the 30 day fuel savings challenge.
Because that alone can bring back home two grand a year.
In savings, two grand.
Just on that.
Now imagine all these five things
I've talked about this morning.
Five common maintenance mistakes
that are costing drivers thousands.
Keep adding it up.
It's money back in your pocket.
That's what it is.
It's a mindset.
Learning some basic fundamentals
like what I just talked about.
Number five, we need to make sure
that the vehicle is rolling down the road,
not pushing the tires down the road.
Lost fuel economy, premature tire wear.
It's just more money.
Components may be worn out.
That's why the alignments whack out of whack.
Yeah, again, you could pick 10 vehicles
at the big W store.
We could put them on the alignment rack one at a time
and I'll guarantee you there's a great possibility
that 10 out of 10 needed adjustments
to bring the steering geometry back in order.
Yeah, again, no service light.
No weepy lights gonna come on.
No panic mode in the car telling you you need a wheel alignment.
It should be done once a year minimum.
Bring the steering geometry back in order
so that you're saving fuel economy, tires, et cetera.
If there's worn out steering components,
they need to be changed
so that steering geometry comes back in.
That is your five, big five today.
Five common maintenance mistakes
that cost drivers thousands of dollars.
I'm here to help you folks.
Dial motor mouth gankers in the driver's seat.
Four decades as heavy duty licensed service tech
and light truck and passenger service tech.
And I do equipment as well.
And I'm still very much hands on up to speed.
My licenses are current and I also am an HVAC tech as well.
I do air conditioning, heating and air conditioning on vehicle.
So I'm here to help you.
I'm not here to hurt you.
Have some laughs, drink some lousy coffee sometimes.
And I want to work hard for you,
but you got it, you know, as my prof would say,
when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.
Well, here he is.
I don't know how many other service techs out there
are helping you to keep your vehicle intact
and get you started on a maintenance program
because it's money in your pocket.
You have to look at it as you're putting something out,
but you're getting more back.
And that's exactly how it works.
If you owned a trucking company with 375 units to look after,
if they could save $1,000 a year on fuel expenses,
they're in, they're all in.
I've had meetings like that with huge companies.
I showed them how they could save fuel expenses.
And they were like, we're all here.
And I wrote it out on a whiteboard form
and showed them how to do it.
Yeah, and their tire guy was not impressed.
In fact, yeah, I had to back off on that
because we actually were being head hunted.
A group of us that were helping big companies save money,
not blowing tires out, having insurance claims,
not wasting fuel economy.
Yeah, we had a product that would do that
and it actually, it worked.
It worked 100%.
Yeah, so the tire repair guys, onsite tire repair guys,
we were not their heroes.
Yeah, they wanted us gone.
Like you can shut up now and get out of the boardroom.
You need to leave.
That's my money for my family.
Anyhow, I can tell you some stories.
Yeah, we were head hunted big time.
It was bad.
It got really, really bad.
So anyhow, until next time, it's Monday.
Make it a super, super duper great day, a superb day.
Peace, patience and kindness.
Keep it under 100, watch out for the other guy
and we'll see you in the next one.
Make it a great day.
Bye for now.
Good morning Niagara, stick around.
We have got a great program for you this morning.
Five common maintenance mistakes
that cost drivers thousands of dollars, thousands.
My task in a brand new year, welcome to day five
of a brand new year.
We haven't had enough time to mess it up just yet.
My vision is to help you to understand the mindset,
the mindset of vehicle ownership.
Many of you fall into the exact same trap every single time.
And all you really need to do is change your mindset,
grab hold of learning some of the basics,
basic fundamentals of an automobile.
It's not complicated.
The world makes it complicated.
About this episode
Exploring five common maintenance mistakes that can cost drivers thousands, this episode emphasizes the importance of understanding basic vehicle upkeep. Host Niall Motormouth Jenkins shares insights from his decades of experience, highlighting issues like fluid maintenance, filter replacements, and the significance of regular inspections for brakes and suspension. With a mix of humor and practical advice, he encourages listeners to adopt a proactive mindset towards vehicle ownership, aiming to save money and extend the life of their cars. The episode is packed with actionable tips and a call to participate in a fuel savings challenge.
Original notes
Too many drivers lose thousands of dollars on repairs that could have been avoided with simple maintenance decisions. In this episode, Motormouth breaks down five common vehicle maintenance mistakes we see every day in the shop - mistakes that quietly destroys engines , transmissions, and wallets.
From skipped oil changes to ignoring warning lights, we explain what really happens behind the scenes, why these issues snowball into major failures, and how you can protect your vehicle and your budget.
If you want your car to last longer - and avoid becoming a regular at the repair shop - this is an episode you can';t afford to miss.
Real- world experience
No fluff, no sales pitch
Just honest advice that saves you money.
" Most of these failures didn't start as big problems - they started as small decisions that got ignored."
More episodes and ... project details & links are available at Car Connection Business Network .com ( ccbusnet.com) you'll find everything on our homepage if you'd like to follow the build & connect with our program partners, just click on their logo, let them know Motormouth sent you! All Links, & our Merch Store right there on our homepage for you. Thank You for listening, watching & connecting with us! Happy Healthy Motoring in 2026, Bye for Now friends, NMJ
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