Car Care Aware Fairs show Consumers’ Neglect for their Vehicles

The Car Care Council reports that during the Car Care Aware Fairs last April and October 2006 they discovered that nine out of 10 vehicles need maintenance and repair services. Such findings they say, is going to be important especially for the huge untapped DIY and DIFM sales opportunities for the automotive aftermarket.

Approximately one thousand vehicles were inspected during the fair submitted by event coordinators from sixteen states. The result shows that 88% of the vehicles checked during the National Car Care Month in April and Fall Car Care Month in October needed maintenance of their vehicles as well as replacement parts like for example fuel parts, windshield wipers, air filters, belts, hoses and lights. Some vehicles were also in need of motor oil or fluids.

According to Rich White, Executive Director of Car Care Council, "Vehicle check-up events are typically the focus of Car Care Aware Fairs sponsored by repair shops, parts stores, distributors in cooperation with local vocational schools, media, civic groups and others. While these events are free to consumers and serve as community-relations builders, most aftermarket businesses who participate experience an increase in sales and customers as a result."

The result of the vehicle check-ups during the Car Care Aware Fairs are as follows:

• Car Lubricants and Fluids- 30% of the vehicles checked have either overfull, low or dirty motor oils, 28% have inadequate level of washer fluid and 28% have low, leaky or dirty coolant. Likewise, transmission, brake power steering and clutch fluids were also checked and resulted to a 26% failure rating.
• About 15% of the checked vehicles were found out to have faulty front windshields while 9% needed service to rear wipers.
• Out of the 22% vehicles inspected there was only one car with a belt that needed replacement
• 14% vehicles need new hose
• 25% of the vehicles calls for new filters
• 8% requires new PVC filters
• 8% needs to have their check engine light repaired
• 17% require the repair of their battery cables, clamps, and terminals
• 9% of the batteries were not properly attached
• 11% had either green, dark or clear/yellow charge indicator light
• 20% have improperly inflated tires
• 11% worn tread and need replacement
• 18% have faulty license plate lights
• 10% have faulty brake lights
• 8 % defective side markers

Joe Thompson is the owner of a successful auto body shop in Ferndale, California. This 38 year old is also a prolific writer, contributing automotive related articles to various publications.