Now more than ever, OE Scheduled Maintenance is crucial to vehicle longevity and custemer satisfaction. The soaring costs of owning, operating and maintaining a vehicle today have become a major concern to vehicle owners. Remember, after a home, the largest purchase most people make is their vehicle. And, since most families have two or even three vehicles, the problem is compounded.

The prices of cars and trucks have risen dramatically over the last two decades. This increase has occured in part to cover the costs of materials and labor, plus wage and benefit packages for automotive industry employees. But one of the largest factors in higher vehicle prices has been the effect of "building in" the costs of goverment-mandated recalls, rampant warranty service charges and defensive litigation. As a result, carmakers are voiding more warranties than ever for "failure to maintain the vehicle." In effect, they want to establish that the vehicle hasn't been taken care of properly by the owner or operator. From that point forward, the company's legal resposibility for the operation and safety of the vehicle is limited, or at least questionable. If it wasn't maintained according to our schedule, we cannot be responsible for it's condition, is the manufacturers' mantra.

It is important for the motorist to service their vehicles, to keep them under the "umbrella of manufacturer responsibility". If the motorist adheres to a carmaker's maintenance schedule, the vehicle will be protected during the warranty period.

Another problem is that new-car buyers are led to believe that today's technology-laden vehicles are relatively free from the effects of aging and wear. They are bombarded with advertisements proclaiming that they can drive "worry-free" if they buy a particular vehicle, because it needs "no tuneup for 100,000 miles". It's no wonder motorists feel new cars are practically invincible. In fact, these vehicles are just as much in need of scheduled maintenance as cars and trucks wre a decade ago. And everyone should be aware of this.

The motorist should be aware of the value of scheduled maintenance because knowing the limitations of the various components of a vehicle is the key to satisfied ownership. It's not a unique thing, it's maintenance--keeping a produce in good operating condition. Ballpoint pens need refills, portable radios need new batteries and automobiles need replacement parts and service. It's as simple as that.

"More than five million breakdowns could be avoided each year if motorists performed a simple and quick inspection of their tires, belts and hoses alone, "says John Nielsen, Director of the American Automobile Association's Automotive Repair Network. According to AAA's research, only 2% of motorists believe that belts and hoses are important maintenance items. "Lack of knowledge about the specific maintenance requirements of a vehicle can cost consumers big money in the long run", says Nielsen.

Ther's a growing area of concern for repair shops and owners alike -leased vehicles. According to Paul Taylor, Chief Analyst for the National Automobile Dealers Association, aproximately 30% of the 15 million new cars and light trucks built in each of the last few years have been leased. This means about five million vehicles come off lease and into the marketplace every year. This glut of off-lease vehicles is causing headaches for all involved.

It's a fact that drivers of leased vehicles don't maintain them like drivers who own them. They don't need to worry about keeping the vehicle in top condition to get the best price for it or trade it in. As long as the vehicle passes the lease-end inspection, that's all that matters.

However, the lease-end inspection won't show sludge in the oil pan, eroded spark plugs or brake wear...in short, the hundreds of dollars that will be required to put the vehicle into safe, efficient and economical operating condition.

The person who purchases an off-lease vehicle must be made aware of the lease vehicle indifference factor. In fact, the lack of care may not only be from the driver who operated the vehicle over the previous lease contract, but from the retailer who's selling the vehicle, as well.

Although the buyer of an off-lease vehicle is told he'll be getting a vehicle that has been thoroughly inspected and reconditioned, the cost to the retailer of implementing such a program may be prohibitive. In many cases, a manufacturer's warranty still covers most of the critical areas of the vehicle.

Many large off-lease retailers offer extended warranties or service policies for the vehicles they sell. But most of these policies offer little over and above what's already covered under the manufacturer's warranty, and are not a sound investment.

Manufacturers designed scheduled maintenance intervals because their vehicles need periodic service to run properly. The intent is to prevent a small problem from becoming a big one. Whatever you call it, however it's presented, it always boils down to one thing -preventive maintenance. And anyone who thinks of OE scheduled maintenance as merely an oil and filter change is missing the big picture.