My grandfather owned his own auto shop in a small, southwestern Minnesota town. He didn’t have all the fancy stuff they have today – like the computer diagnostics and other electronic tools – but he made a living from it and was able to feed five kids in the process.
One phrase that he drilled into my mother (and was subsequently passed down to me) is the often quoted, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” And, this is true when it comes to car maintenance too. Taking care of your car before it falls into disrepair is the key to having a vehicle running well and will help you avoid the large repair bills down the road.
Read the Manual
The key to proper car maintenance always starts in knowing your vehicle well. Most of us don’t do this – but becoming familiar with your car manual will give you an idea of the recommended maintenance routines you should be performing on your car to extend its life and keep it running in peak condition. I suppose you could bring your manual to bed a few nights to familiarize yourself with what needs to be done this week – and it’ll probably help you fall asleep faster too. 
Once you’re familiar with your owner’s manual, you should have a good feel for what to focus on in your routine checks.
Routine Checks You Can Perform
Tires
A good starting point is your tires. Making sure the tire pressure is consistent all around the vehicle is key to getting better gas mileage and even wear on your tires. Your manual will give you the proper pressure to set your tires at. Be sure to regularly balance and rotate your tires too.
Oil
Another common area to check on your vehicle is the oil. Pull out the dip-stick to check the color of your oil. If the oil is dark or muddy, it’s time to get an oil change. You should also have the ability to check the oil level. If it is below the line, you may want to throw in some more oil. It could also mean your car is burning oil – which is never a good sign.
Changing oil isn’t as tough as you might think – and is something you can do yourself. You’ll just need a place to dispose of the old oil when done. A common misconception is that your oil needs to be changed every 3,500 miles. This isn’t always necessary as most newer cars today can go twice that amount between changes.
Other Fluids
Some other fluids under the hood that you can check yourself will be the brake, anti-freeze and windshield wiper fluids.
Brakes
Your car will give you a pretty good indication when it’s time to get new brakes. A couple of signs will be the vehicle pulling to one side when you apply your brakes and/or any squealing or vibrations during braking. Brakes are not something you want to mess around with – so be sure and get into the shop when you experience any of these signs.
Lights
An easy maintenance check is to verify your lights are working. Get your spouse or friend to help you with this one. Apply the brakes while the car is stationary to check if your brake lights are working. Have your friend/spouse stand behind the vehicle and then move to the front after you apply the brakes again. You’ll also want to see if your head and tail lights are functioning. If no one is around, sometimes I’ll flash my lights on and off against a flat surface (like the garage door) to check that all the lights are working.
These are simple tasks that you can perform on your car. Are there any other maintenance items you check for on your car? Leave a comment below!
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I bought lifetime alignment when new tires came with lifetime balance and rotate in 2007.
Each time I had oil and filter changes, I had my tires balanced, rotated, and alignment checked.
Even with a modestly frame bent frame which kept the right front wheel from adjusting within specifications, I finally had to replace my 60,000 mile tires this past spring, at 70,392 miles!
I must disagree with the professional istallation of brakes comment. You can watch a few youtube or instructional videos available free online and learn how to do it in a jiffy
All I needed was some new brake pads available at your local auto parts store round about $46-60 bux for all 4 (more expensive if you go with performance ceramic).. (Remember to replace in pairs front 2 and/or back 2). Also you need a 6 inch “C” clamp, wrench and a screwdriver.
It is very easy to replace disc brakes (there is only one way to install them) but drums are a little more complex. *It is always best to have someone experienced walk you through the first time but there are plenty of videos out there that are pretty good at explaining the process.
Matt – I guess you’re a better man than I!
Don’t know if I would ever attempt brakes.
My dad helped me do the drum brakes in the back of my minivan. The trick is to go to your library and get the Haynes or Chilton Manuals for your vehicle and follow the directions preferably with someone familiar with doing this task. I do admit changing the rear brakes is a bit tricky. Replacing my break shoes and hardware on my drum breaks cost me about $60, and all the sound and driving issues went away. I was told it could easily cost me $500 or more if I went to a shop.
Next, my dad showed me how to change my front brake pads, and I was SHOCKED how easy it is. I honestly would barely have needed the manual. Also, the cost savings is pretty astounding. I have been told by my local Advanced Auto manager that some folks get charged as high as $700 to do this relatively simple task of replacing their front brake pads. I strongly advise adding this to your regular car maintenance list. I honestly have very little “mechanical” ability and was able to do all of this with relative ease and would feel completely comfortable doing this by myself in the future.
Well said Jason… I agree.. its easier than it sounds and it saves a boatload of money (especially if you take it to a dealer… they always charge an arm and a leg)
I think the key is to get to know your car. And reading the manual is a great place to start, as you suggested.
I have an old friend who liked to do his own repair work. He always drove the same make – Hondas – and he became an expert in how to do maintenance and repairs.
I’ll top off fluids and check tire pressure, but I’ve never changed my own oil. I’ve got a mechanic friend from church who can do it for $15 for me. He’s always done a great job for me. That is, until one of his guys took my car for a test drive and brought it back 40 hours later.
My Dad drilled into me the importance of routine auto maintenance, and I’ve tried to pass that on to my kids too. Saves a lot of time and money, not to mention roadside inconvenience to just check the basics. Also, keeping the windshield clean, too check for fresh fluid and blades, plus RainX in the Winter is good too.