No matter what vehicle you drive, your car will require regular maintenance from oil changes to tires or brakes. Getting a mechanic to take a look under the hood will keep your vehicle running reliably and safely for years.
Without regular scheduled maintenance and if you ignore issues, the maintenance cost can go up to the hundreds, even thousands of dollars.
Ignoring issues can even cause your car not to operate and you will gain the additional cost of having your vehicle towed to your mechanic.
Once you are at your mechanic, you should have them inspect the safety of your vehicle and provide you with a maintenance check.
Areas for your mechanic to inspect and check:
- Safety Inspection
- Tires: Tread depth, air pressure, uneven wear
- Brakes: Pads, rotors, callipers
- Steering Component
- Alignment – uneven alignment can cause your tires to wear unevenly
- ABS System (how fast your vehicle brakes)
- Maintenance
- Checking all fluids are at the correct level
- Air filter in the cabin and engine
- The lights are all functioning
Your mechanic should be able to provide you with the life cycle of each part and when your next maintenance should be scheduled.
Even with regular maintenance, problems can still arise. You know your vehicle best as you are the one who operates it and know when your car is not driving right. If you take the time to familiarize yourself with your vehicle, you can prevent costly mechanic bills.
The following articles from NAPA Autopro highlight the important facts drivers may not know about their vehicles.
