Do-it-yourself auto maintenance tips |
| By Lucy Lazarony
• Bankrate.com |
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You may be going on vacation, but your car has plenty
of work to do. Make sure it is ready for the long road-trip ahead
by following these pretrip maintenance tips.
| Keep your car on the road with these do-it-yourself
checkup tips: |
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1. Check the oil
Check the level and condition of the car's motor oil.
"Change the oil every 3,000 to
5,000 miles or follow what's in the owner's manual,"
says Lauren J. Fix, a consumer auto expert and spokeswoman
for the Be Car Care Aware program.
If it's time for an oil change, be sure to get it
done before your trip.
2. Inspect the battery
Make sure your car's battery and cables are securely attached and
free of corrosion. Car batteries typically last three to five years.
"If you're in that three- to
five-year window, you may want to consider replacing
the battery," says Bill Csogi, a 21-year ASE
certified master mechanic and owner of the Car Critic
in Naples, Fla.
3. Try the lights
It's important that you're able to see and be seen on the road.
So check headlights, brake lights and turn signals and replace any
burned-out lights.
4. Kick the tires
Take a close look at your tires. Good, well-maintained tires are
critical to braking and steering.
"Make sure the tread is OK and there are no gouges
in the sidewall of the tires," says David Bennett, manager
of automotive programs at AAA. "Sometimes someone may hit a
curb and it may pierce the sidewall of the tire."
You'll also want to watch out for bulges and bald
spots on your tires. If you find anything that looks suspicious,
it may be time for some new tires.
"If it looks funny, ask a professional,"
Fix says.
Compare the pressure in your tires with the recommended
pressure listed in your owner's manual and on the placard in your
car door. Inflate or deflate your tires as needed.
Be sure to check tire pressure when your tires are
cold. A good time is early in the morning after your car's been
idle overnight.
Driving with under-inflated tires is a common mistake.
"Tire pressure is really important," Csogi
says. "Low tire pressure has been attributed to a lot of problems
from accidents to premature wear, and even low gas mileage."
If your tires are under-inflated, your car won't handle
or respond the way it's designed to.
"If you have low tire pressure, it's going to
feel like you have four flat tires," Csogi says. "It's
going to be real unresponsive."
So make sure all four tires and the spare are inflated
to proper tire pressure.
"Check the pressure in your spare tire. A lot
of people neglect that," Bennett adds. "If the spare is
under-inflated, you may not be able to drive on it."
5. Check wiper blades
Do your wipers give you a smear-free view when it rains? If not,
replace them before your trip. Don't forget to top off your wiper
fluid. If you'll be traveling in cold weather, be sure to use wiper
fluid that doesn't freeze.
Check the level of coolant or antifreeze. Top off
with a 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water as needed. If the coolant
level is too low, your car could overheat.
Other important fluids to check include brake fluid,
power steering fluid and transmission fluid. If you don't feel confident
checking these on your own, take your car to a mechanic.
6. Tighten the gas cap
If this cap is not secure, gas will evaporate from your tank as
you drive.
"The gas cap on your vehicle needs to be on tight,
and you need to have the right one," Fix says.
Loose, missing or damaged gas caps cause 147 million
gallons of gas to evaporate each year, according to the Car Care
Council.
7. Check your brakes
It's critical that your brakes are in tip-top shape before you take
off on a long road trip. When in doubt, have your brakes inspected
by a mechanic.
"If they're making noises, or if you're
feeling vibrations when you hit the brakes, take it in," Bennett
says.
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