Keeping up with your vehicle’s servicing needs is critical for ensuring a safe driving experience—both for the people in your car and others on the road. Performing routine maintenance is also an excellent way to save time and money in the long run. But how do you know when it’s time to service your vehicle? What if you’ve lost track of your maintenance schedule or don’t know how to identify an isolated problem with the brakes, tires, or other components?
The service experts at Mount Airy CDJR are committed to helping our customers prolong the performance and life of their vehicles. And we’ve provided some practical information and advice for keeping your vehicle up to speed on its maintenance:
The Brakes
No one needs to tell you how important your vehicle’s brakes are for safe driving. But sometimes it can be tricky to distinguish whether you have a problem with your brakes or it’s something else. One of the most common indicators that you need your brakes serviced is if you hear a loud, unpleasant noise, such as screeching, grinding, or growling when you apply the brakes.
If you notice your brakes becoming less responsive or your vehicle pulling to one side when you press the brakes, those could also be signs that you need to bring your car in. Furthermore, steering wheel vibration when traveling downhill or braking at higher speeds can indicate a brake problem. By bringing your vehicle to a qualified mechanic, you will know whether the problem is with the brake pads, rotors, or something else entirely.
The Tires
As with brakes, it’s difficult to drive safely when your tires are in bad shape. Never let your tires get to the point where they are bald on the edges, and if you do, get them replaced immediately.
Also, check your car manual, get a tire gauge, and regularly check the air pressure to ensure your tires are not over-or under-inflated. Along with increasing safety, the correct air pressure can boost your fuel economy. Generally speaking, you’ll want to take your vehicle in for a tire rotation every 6,000 to 8,000 miles to keep the wear even (check your car manual for exact mileage).
The Oil
If you want to prolong the life of your engine, nothing is more important than oil changes. When performed regularly, changing the oil is relatively simple and inexpensive. But if you neglect this practice, it can lead to more extensive, costly repairs.
Most older cars require an oil change every three months or 3,000 miles, while most newer models can wait six months or 6,000 miles. Along with keeping track of your mileage, here are a few signs that your vehicle needs an oil change:
• The “Check Engine” or “Oil Change” light comes on.
• The oil is dark or dirty.
• You can smell engine oil from inside the cabin.
• Your exhaust is releasing smoke.
• Your general engine noise becomes louder, or you hear knocking or rumbling sounds.
Wiper Blades
If you don’t have a clear view of the road ahead, you’re putting yourself and others in danger. Along with passing a basic vision test, you need to keep your windshield wipers in good shape!
Depending on where you live and the quality of wipers you choose, you should plan on changing out the blades every six to 12 months. That said, anytime you notice corroded metal, worn-out or damaged rubber, screeching sounds, or poor cleaning performance from your wipers, it’s a good sign that you should replace them.
The Battery
Several factors can impact the performance of your car’s battery, including age, extreme temperatures, and long periods of inactivity. Batteries are designed to wear out, and most are warrantied and rated according to time rather than mileage.
In general, you can expect a car battery to run well for four or five years, which means about 50,000 to 60,000 miles for the average driver. Regularly check the terminals on your battery for corrosion and dirt. If you’re not sure when it was last replaced, a mechanic can test its charge capability.
Conclusion
To ensure safe driving and prolong the life of your vehicle, it’s essential to have it serviced regularly. But you also want to look out for the signs mentioned above for problems that fall outside of routine maintenance. Moreover, pay attention to your air filter, fuel filter, fluids (e.g., transmission fluid, power steering fluid, engine coolant, etc.), hoses, belts, and any other components that may need to be serviced.
Mount Airy CDJR services a wide range of vehicles every day, so schedule an appointment anytime for routine maintenance or any isolated issues you may have!
