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Up to 50,000 Auto Breakdowns Could Be Prevented Annually in Nevada

4 October 1999

Up to 50,000 Auto Breakdowns Could Be Prevented Annually in Nevada With Easy Maintenance, says AAA; Basic Routine Inspections Can Keep Cars and Trucks Rolling Safely

    LAS VEGAS--Oct. 4, 1999--An estimated 50,000 auto breakdowns each year in Nevada could be prevented with basic routine vehicle inspections either by motorists or their automotive technicians, AAA reported today at the start of National Car Care Month.
    How far would 50,000 needlessly stalled cars and trucks stretch down the highway? Lined up bumper to bumper from McCarren International Airport, they would extend 150 miles south on Highways 95 and 40 all the way to the shores of Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
    "People tend to believe today's high-tech cars are maintenance-free, but they're not," said Mark Woods of automotive operations for AAA. "Old or new, your vehicle needs a little low-tech care and attention from time to time.
    "Periodic inspections of your tires, belts, hoses and fluid levels may save you time now and expensive repairs later on down the road," Woods said. "While a professional automotive technician should check belts and hoses as part of regularly scheduled maintenance, routine basic inspections can be done quickly and easily right in your own driveway."

    According to AAA research:

--   66 percent of motorists surveyed do not realize tire rotation is
     an important maintenance procedure for safe driving, and 20
     percent of motorists have never rotated their tires. AAA
     recommends tire rotation every 6,000 miles.

--   Only 2 percent of motorists believe belts and hoses are important
     maintenance items. AAA recommends monthly basic inspections by
     motorists or qualified automotive technicians.

--   Consumers are changing their oil every 3,735 miles on average.
     AAA advises motorists to change their oil at 3,000 mile intervals
     if they drive daily in heavy traffic congestion or extreme
     conditions. Otherwise such service can be extended to 5,000 miles
     or more.

    "Lack of knowledge about specific maintenance or operational requirements of a vehicle can cost consumers big money in the long run," said Dave Whitgob of AAA automotive operations. "Anything more than manufacturer's recommended maintenance requirements or specifications is wasted money. Anything less may create safety or operational problems for your vehicle."
    AAA considers the owner's manual to be the final authority on specific vehicles. Motorists should review it whenever they need to determine the correct maintenance procedures, gasoline type, tire pressure and other automotive operations.
    October is National Car Care Month. To help motorists better understand the maintenance needs of their vehicles, AAA has prepared a Web page, "Make Sense of Car Care" at www.csaa.com/automotive which offers consumer automotive tips on how to quickly and easily inspect vehicle tires, belts and hoses.
    Established nearly 100 years ago, AAA offers a wide array of automotive, travel, insurance, and financial services. AAA Nevada serves more than 200,000 members. Last year AAA Nevada's Emergency Road Service responded to nearly 310,000 emergency road service calls throughout Nevada.

    Note to Editors: AAA Fact Sheet attached, Make Sense of Car Care, describing helpful auto safety tips and national consumer automotive statistics.

                        Make Sense of Car Care
                              Fact Sheet

	    AAA responded to nearly 30 million emergency road service calls
in 1998

--   44 percent of these calls resulted in a tow
--   22 percent of the vehicles wouldn't start
--   16 percent of motorists were locked out
--   11 percent had flat tires -- 2 percent ran out of gas
--   5 percent of calls were for other, miscellaneous reasons

    1998 consumer spending on auto repairs was $158 billion.
    1998 consumer spending on maintenance totaled $107 billion.
    1998 consumer spending on tires reached $19 billion.
    1998 consumer spending on oil changes hit $2.7 billion.
    1998 consumer spending on batteries was $9 billion.

    Warning signs that you may be experiencing belt or hose problems:

--   Small hose leaks
--   A collapsed radiator hose
--   Hoses that crunch or are soft, sticky or oil soaked
--   Belts that are cracking, fraying, or missing pieces or have a
     shiny, glazed appearance
--   Swollen areas on hoses
--   Coolant tracks
--   A squeaking noise as engine is accelerated
--   A slow, rhythmic slapping sound at idle
--   A sweet burning smell from a coolant leak

	    Warning signs that you may be experiencing tire problems:

--   A side-to-side "waddle" at slow speeds
--   An increased shimmy or vibration at highway speeds
--   A sharp pull to the side
--   Weaving or fishtailing

    Source: AAA Statistics and Research, APAA After Market Fact Book, Automotive News 1999 Market Data Book