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Up to 500,000 Auto Breakdowns Could Be Prevented Annually in N. CA

4 October 1999

Up to 500,000 Auto Breakdowns Could Be Prevented Annually in Northern California With Easy Maintenance, Says AAA; Basic Routine Inspections Can Keep Cars and Trucks Rolling Safely

    SAN FRANCISCO--Oct. 4, 1999--An estimated 500,000 auto breakdowns each year in Northern California could be prevented with basic routine inspections, either by motorists or their automotive technicians, AAA reported today at the start of National Car Care Month.
    How far would half a million needlessly stalled cars and trucks stretch down the highway? Lined up bumper to bumper from Golden Gate Bridge, they would extend 1,300 miles eastward, across the Bay Bridge to beyond Sacramento, Nevada, Utah -- all the way to Last Chance, Colo., 70 miles east of Denver.
    "People tend to believe today's high-tech cars are maintenance-free, but they're not," said Mark Woods of automotive operations for AAA of Northern California. "Old or new, your vehicle needs a little low-tech care and attention from time to time.
    "Periodic inspection 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 per cent 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 or extreme conditions.
     Otherwise such service can be extended to 5,000 miles.

    "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 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. The California State Automobile Association serves nearly 4 million members and is the second largest regional affiliate of the national AAA organization. Last year AAA of Northern California's Emergency Road Service responded more than 3 million emergency road service calls throughout Northern California.

    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