Most people start taking care of their vehicles when it’s too late. Car owners are more reactive than proactive with their vehicle maintenance. If you are a car owner, it is very important that you regularly inspect your car and ensure you’re taking the necessary steps to mitigate any risks to your vehicle’s overall health.
There are various ways in which you can care for your vehicle and ensure you’re not regularly getting your car towed to the auto shop. Some of the things you need to do to ensure your vehicle’s health and safety are:
Air Filter
As you change your oil, it is also a good idea to change your air filter. Depending on how much you drive, you may need to change your air filter once or twice annually.
Check The Forgotten Fluids
Besides checking engine oil, it is important to check your brake fluid, transmission fluids, coolant and windshield washer fluid.
Belts and Hoses
The belts and hoses in the engine bay direct coolant fluid that ensures the engine doesn't overheat. Be sure to replace hoses if it has cracks or bulges or has been separated. At the same time, check your timing belt to see if it shows signs of wear, including cracks or missing chunks in the belt. The timing belt can cause a lot of engine damage if it goes out while driving.
Brake Issues
If you have been driving your car for a while now then you probably know what your brakes feel like and how important they are. If it happens that you need to press your brakes for a longer time then they probably need to be changed. Moreover, if there are braking sounds then you need to be careful and pay attention to your brakes. If there are squealing noises, then it probably means that your brake pads are grinding against the brake rotors. The existence of grinding sounds when you first drive your car in the day means that you may need to park your car inside the garage because rust easily forms in the brake rotors when there is high levels of humidity. Make sure to park inside when it's raining and snowing as well. Pay caution when there are rattling sounds or intermittent sounds when braking because that could mean one of the rotors are worn out or overheated
Wiper Blades
When you operate the windshield wipers and there are screeching sounds, then it’s time that you replace them with new ones. This will surely come in handy when it starts to pour.
Getting Rid of Corrosion
Getting to the battery for your car, ensure that your car battery is free from any kinds of corrosion. You can do this by using wire brushes with water solution and baking powder to get rid of the corrosion.
Moving Forward
Now you know how to carefully maintain your vehicle for years to come. However, if it happens that you need to reach out to an expert and get any work done that is out of your hands, then reach out to us at All In The Wrist Auto Repair.
