Auto maintenance tips

How well a car performs depends on how well you treat it. Treat it like you would yourself; eat well, go to the doctors for a checkup and so on. A car’s lifespan will depend on how careful you are in maintaining it. You don’t want to buy a car every couple of years, do you? You’d want your car to be in good condition for as long as possible so that you can concentrate on other things in your life. You’ll even want to maintain it so that even if you wanted to resell it, it still has some value.

This article focuses on several tips for maintaining your car and thus increase its efficiency, safety, and lifespan.

Regular inspection

Every car, like all machines, has a manual that explains how you can monitor the performance of your car and the routine checks it requires. You need to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines before you start your car. It’s also important that you get some basic guidelines from your mechanic. Simple things like checking the level of coolant, noise check, and such. Again, ensure your car is serviced regularly by a professional auto company. This will lead to high performance and an increased lifespan.

Get to know the meaning of different light indicators

Your car has sophisticated sensors and warning systems that will signal you when something is wrong. Your car may be well maintained but it’s not possible to cover everything. That is why you need to know the different light warnings and the solution.

Check out for;

Engine light: This indicates a problem with the several components of your car whose sensors are connected to the engine and monitored by an OBD-II interface. With over 4000 OBD-II codes, you may need a scanner tool or even call a technician to do it.

Service engine light: Your car can only run for some time after which you must take it back to the technician for maintenance. If the scheduled maintenance nears, the service light will activate on your dashboard and depending on your car manual, you will be able to tell what it’s indicating.

Electrical fault light: You need to watch out for this light. If it’s still on even after a car self-test, then it could mean your charging system has a problem and needs some assessment by a technician.

Brake warning light: There are several reasons as to why this will light up on your dashboard. It could be that the brake fluid is getting low or your brakes are engaged.

Coolant warning light: This will show up if your coolant levels are down and your engine is overheating. Thus you should pull over, open the hood and allow it to cool off for sometime before you resume your drive. If your coolant levels are low, you’ll need to refill with high quality coolant.

Tire pressure

Tire pressure is one of the big factors that will impact the fuel economy. If the tire pressure is low on any of the tires, your comfort will be affected and it may not be as easy to handle. If your car has an inbuilt tire check system, don’t ignore it. Even if your tires appear fine, there may be other issues that require a mechanic to inspect.

Do not wait until your car develops mechanical issues so that you call the technician. It is imperative that you keep checking, daily weekly and most importantly, have it go through routine maintenance. A well-maintained car lasts for many years before you think of a change.