With so much emphasis on buying, few consider a car's maintenance requirements. Modern cars can have over 75,000 parts, and the failure of even one can cause a car to behave in an unusual way. Keeping a car in good condition will help you keep it safe, drive it for a long time, and someday sell it for a better price.
Steps
Step 1. Establish a simple plan of attack
To do this, it uses the acronym TOWBIF, which stands for tires (Tires), oil (Oil), glass parts (Windows), brakes (Brakes), interiors (Interiors) and fluids (Fluids). Use the manufacturer's manual to establish a maintenance schedule for your car.
Step 2. Tires
Make sure they are properly inflated according to the manufacturers' pressure specifications. Pressure gauges are cheap and easy to use. Tires should be replaced when wear indicators are visible on the tread. Ask a local tire dealer if you are unsure about recognizing tread wear indicators. Check the pressure often, without neglecting wear control. Replace tires when they have become worn beyond acceptable limits.
Step 3. Oil
Oil is the blood of a car, and without it, the car cannot go far and calmly. Let your mechanic explain how to check the oil correctly and how to change it. While oil manufacturers claim that their oil can last 15,000km and beyond, it is generally best to use the same oil for no more than 8,000 - 10,000km to maximize engine efficiency and reliability in the long run. Check the oil regularly, about a couple of times a month or even more often depending on the kilometers you run, and change it or have it changed when you have done 8000 - 10,000 Km.
Step 4. Glass parts
Make sure the windows, mirrors and headlights are clean and not broken. Replace any broken lights or mirrors as soon as possible. Have small cracks in your windshield checked by a specialized center to determine if they can be repaired or if your windshield needs to be replaced. Check regularly for cracks and any damage.
Leave plenty of space when following other vehicles that may lift objects off the road or lose something from their loads. Even a small pebble from the back of a gravel truck can damage your windshield
Step 5. Brakes, belts and battery
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Braking systems in modern automobiles are designed to be replaced periodically to maintain maximum braking efficiency. Have your brakes checked by a mechanic quite often. If you notice ANY problem with your brakes, have them repaired immediately. If the brakes don't work, you could have a very serious accident.
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Check the belts or have them checked regularly for wear and tension. Very loose straps often make a loud squeal; get it fixed if you hear this noise.
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Check the battery once a month for corrosion and clean or have it cleaned as needed. Avoid stressing the battery when it is low if possible. Even a temporary cable connection is tough on the battery. The batteries eventually run out. If you need to replace the battery, also check the alternator and timing to make sure they are working properly.
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Step 6. Interior
Clean and vacuum the interiors. The interior is often a critical point when you have to trade in or sell your car. While many may not bother with the oil or tires, if the CD player isn't working, or the interior looks a little dirty, the deal isn't done. It is said that the value of a car depends on the cockpit, and this statement is true. If you want to trade in the car or sell it, every quarter spent paying for a vacuum cleaner will repay you with interest!
Step 7. Fluids
The other lifeblood of the car is the fluids. Coolant, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, and other fluids should be checked frequently. Ask your mechanic to explain how to do it.
Step 8. Lights
You can check the headlights if you have a place where you can park near reflective glass walls, or you can ask a friend to take a look while he turns on different lights. Be sure to check the headlights, taillights, reverse lights, and directional lights.
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Make a note of where the headlights are pointing and correct or have any necessary corrections made. They must point down and out of the road, they must not point straight, up, or towards the center of the road. You can check the light pattern when you are on the road. Misaligned headlights can be dangerous for drivers of cars in front of you or passing by.
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Step 9. Wipers
It is not difficult to replace worn wiper blades. Only replace rubber parts once a year before the rainy season. You can also replace the entire wiper if necessary. If you drive frequently in rainy weather, you may also want to apply a water repellent treatment to your windshield.
Step 10. Emission Control System
Depending on where you live, you may have to periodically check the car for emissions … generally this diagnosis must be done by a professional. Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valves and oxygen sensors are usually the culprits.
Advice
- If anything seems wrong, get it checked as soon as possible. An unusual smell, a vibration, a new noise, a new warning light appearing on the dashboard, whatever, it needs to be checked! As a driver, you have the responsibility to keep the car in the best possible safety conditions, for your own safety and that of those with whom you share the road.
- Track mileage and fuel consumption. Not only will you learn to save fuel and drive more moderately, but you will be able to notice if anything changes in fuel efficiency. A small extra fuel consumption in kilometers per liter can hide a maintenance problem. Also track oil changes in your mileage diary.
- Read the manufacturer's manual. It has a lot of information specific to your car.
- In the luggage compartment (or in any closet there is in the car) it is wise to keep a rag to check the various fluids, a tire pressure gauge and a specific battery to be used for checks and maintenance.
- Keep in touch with your mechanic and ask questions! Mechanics are used to people asking questions about the car and many know how to answer excellently. If a mechanic is not in the mood to give you two minutes of his time to answer a question, ask him if he has time to do maintenance on the car you drive at more than 100 km per hour on the highway.
