subject: What Is Involved In The Routine Maintenance Of A Car [print this page] For people who don't know a lot about cars, it might be intimidating just to go in and have some routine maintenance done on a car. What if they find something wrong? How will you know if it is a real problem or something they made up in order to get you to pay? What is exactly involved in maintenance for the car and how do you know how long it takes? There are a lot of different things involved with the routine maintenance check of a car, and they are all important in order to make sure it continues to drive down the road without any incidents.
Check the Fluids
The fluids are what lubricate and enable the systems in the car to work. When the fluids leak or get dirty, then these systems won't work as efficiently or properly like they should. This includes the oil, which gets dirty and needs to be changed every 3,000 miles. It also includes the windshield washer fluid, which should be full when you are driving long distances or during conditions when you need to clean your windshield often. Other fluids that need regular checking are the brake fluid, the transmission fluid, and the power steering fluid. When they are low, they need to be topped off.
Monitor the Brakes
The wear on the brakes is something else to keep a close eye on. When the brake pads get low, then it makes it harder for your car to stop. When you get the pads too low, then you run the risk of damaging the other parts associated with the brakes, such as the calipers and rotors. When you have to fix those parts, a brake job gets much more expensive.
Evaluate the Engine
The engine should be checked out every so often too. Are all of the belts in fine working order? Have they recently been replaced? The belts will show wear and tear with age. They can crack or even break apart. If the belts snap, your engine will quit running. Or, you will hear an awful sound as you drive down the road. ASE Master Technicians can also lube the parts to make sure they stay in fine running order without problems.
Check the Lights and Wipers
The headlights and windshield wipers need to be checked each time you have the oil changed. Change the wiper blades if they aren't getting the windows clean when they swipe. The headlights and brake lights should be monitored in case of a burned out light bulb. Check all of the blinkers and the emergency flashers too, so all of your lights work fine.
Check the Tires
The tire pressure is also included in a safety or routine check since low tire pressure is a safety hazard. Low tire pressure can cause uneven wear on the tires, so they need to be at optimal levels in order to keep the tread in tact. The tire tread should be checked every few thousand miles so that you can see that the tires are in good condition, or have them rotated so they continue to wear evenly. Bald tires will not get you any grip on the road, and they can cause you to be in an accident.
