Once you purchase a vehicle, you get some guidelines that are approved by the seller about car maintenance. However, with your busy life and increased car repair costs, you sometimes put off adjustments in tire and oil, testing under the hood and other routine maintenance needs.
A little extra work could go a long way to curbing your vehicle maintenance repair costs and roadside rescue. Avoiding such car maintenance minor tasks can result in paying for a major repair on your car in the future.
- Make sure the battery is clean
Corrosion (which is white or bluish powder) will grow on your battery terminals. When you don’t keep them clean the battery can or may not grow a crack properly, leaving you stranded.
Tip: Check and inspect the battery for corrosion twice a year.
- Replace brake pads on time
Did you hear a squeaking sound as you hit the brakes? If so, your brake pads are on their last legs. A new one will cost up to $300 plus the labor price.
Tip: Check the brake fluid any time you adjust the oil to make sure the color isn’t black. When it’s black, sooner rather than later, you’ll need to change the brake’s system.
- Substitute the air filter
The air filter in your car prevents pollutants from entering through the vents. The air filter has quite a big job and you ought to handle it well. Plus using an old air filter well past its lifespan will contribute to significant air conditioning system problems.
Tip: Change after 12 months or 12,000 miles.
- Emission Inspection
The vehicle is expected to pass a state emissions test, based on the state or even county you live in. By keeping to the car maintenance expected on your vehicle, it will pass with flying colors.
Tip: Don’t forget to take an inspection of your vehicle once a year.
- Check your hoses and belts
You can save yourself from a huge mechanical bill later down the road by giving your belts and hoses a once-over. Worn-down belts will cause further damage to your car’s essential components.
Tip: Change every 60,000 miles of your timing belt and every 40,000 miles of your serpentine belt. It is advised that you replace your hoses every four years, or if signs of wear are seen.
- Coolant Inspection
You run the risk of severe corrosion inside your car if you don’t keep on top of adjusting your coolant. The coolant influences everything from the air conditioner and refrigerator to the radiator and water pump. You don’t want to miss the repairs on this one on something that affects so much of the overall safety of your vehicle.
Tip: Checking the coolant twice a year is a smart idea — once before the warm weather arrives, then before the cold weather swoops in.
- Rotate your tires
Knew you could quickly prolong the life of your tires simply by rotating them often enough? That is real! Not all four tires wear out in the same manner in your car. The front or back pair of tires will also wear off at various levels depending on your vehicle, your speed, and your paths. Rotate the tires and you can prolong their lives and save 300GBP to 600GBP for a brand-new set of four.
Tip: Rotate the tires every three thousand to five thousand miles.
- Get new wipers on the windshield.
Buying new windshield wipers can cost you from 20gbp to 40gbp for the pair, depending on your car’s make and model. Although that seems like a hefty price tag for something so small, when you’re out on the open road, reliable wipers are a must. After all, if you can’t see the road then you shouldn’t even drive.
Tip: Inspect your windshield wipers as each season changes and change them if appropriate.
- Inspect springs, shocks, and struts (system suspension).
One of the complicated aspects of your vehicle that you most definitely take for granted is the suspension system. If you find that one of the shocks needs repair, make sure that all four of them are repaired.
Tip: Inspect every 15,000 to 30,000 miles for the shocks and full suspension assembly.
- Inspect the spark plugs.
Hey, there are spark plugs. The spark plugs are one of the common factors (and quick fixes) if your engine is causing you trouble. And because engine repair can be costly out of this universe, changing a 10gbp -25 gbp spark plug is a small price to pay to prevent big engine overhaul.
Tip: Inspect the spark plugs after 30,000 miles and replace them.
- Inspect the Oil
Oil issues can be some of the most costly vehicle repair problems to fix because oil impacts all of the functions of the vehicle. Spending as little as 20 gbp to have the oil checked is safer than leaving it off and potentially drying out the engine — which costs a lot more than 20gbp to repair.
Maintenance Tip: Replace the oil after 5,000 miles, or do what the car supplier advises.
While it’s less expensive to keep up with car maintenance than doing major repairs, it can still add up. Create an item of action for your vehicle maintenance plan. This way you can save for that new spark plug, oil change, or collection of tires over time.