These basic car maintenance tips will help guide you when it comes to preventative maintenance so you can get the most out of your car and prevent car trouble.

Six Do-It-Yourself Car Maintenance Tips

Before you take the first step to preventative maintenance for your car, you should take the time to read through your owner’s manual. This will allow you to become familiar with your car as a whole, and learn about the things your car needs to function properly. Once you’re a little more familiar with your vehicle, you can take care of it by following our car maintenance tips.

Tip #1: Check your tires

Making sure that your tire pressure is set to factory specifications will increase their life span. To find out how much tire pressure you should have, check your owner’s manual or call the dealership directly.

Be sure to check the tire’s tread as well. If you can see a solid bar of rubber across the width of the tread, it’s time for a replacement.

You should also have your car tires rotated. A good rule of thumb is to have your tires rotated every six to eight thousand miles.

Tip #2: Fluids, belts and hoses

In most cases, fluids, belts and hoses can be checked easily. A lot of times, all it takes is a quick check under the hood to see if the fluids are low or if there’s wear and tear on your belts and hoses.

Tip #3: Windshield wipers

If your windshield wipers aren’t performing very well, then it might be a good time to replace them. It’s quick and easy to replace them, so doing it yourself isn’t a problem. Just make sure to look in your owner’s manual so the right model of blades is purchased.

Tip #4: Brakes

It’s important to have good brakes, and there are a number of ways to check what needs to be done.

• If your brakes squeal or grind when stopping, the brakes need to be cleaned or the pads need to be replaced.

• If your car pulls to one side when braking, you may be lacking sufficient hydraulic pressure.

• If the pedal goes all the way down, it usually means that the rear brake lining is wearing thin. If the pedal just feels soft when braking, you may be low on brake fluid.

And, of course, if your car has a brake light that glows, don’t ignore it when it lights up. Filling the brake fluid might resolve the problem, but if not, take it in to get looked at.

Tip #5: Car battery maintenance

It’s almost probable that you’ll have to replace your car’s battery at some point, but there are ways to prevent it from happening too quickly.

• Clean the cables with a wire brush and a mixture of one tablespoon baking soda and one cup water. Be sure to disconnect the cables from the battery before cleaning. Adding some petroleum jelly to the posts will make reapplying the cables easier.

• Check the connections. If the cables are loose, tighten them. If your car comes with a bar that holds the battery down, be sure it’s secure.

Both of these car battery maintenance tips will help when it comes to prolonging the life of the battery.

Tip #6: Car maintenance schedule

Every vehicle has a car maintenance schedule that should be followed. In most cases, scheduled maintenance is required at 30,000 miles, 45,000 miles, 60,000 miles and so on. Adhering to your car maintenance schedule will ensure that your vehicle is in proper working condition.

The Bottom Line

Following the above car maintenance tips will ensure proper functionality of your vehicle. Preventative maintenance is easy to do and will save you from the stresses of premature repair costs and vehicle breakdowns. In other words, it will help you get the most out of your car.

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A group of auto repair specialists

Tips No. 1 – Battery Needs Change - This is common and known to almost all the car owners. Your car’s battery needs to be changed after a duration of four years. Don’t forget to do that.

Tips No. 2 – Monthly check of the battery’s load test helps you avoid any hassle. Take your car’s battery to your auto mechanic and can load test it. Make sure your car’s battery is able to pass the test. Make sure that it is capable of sufficient charge even at below freezing temperatures.

Tips No. 3 – Just wipe off the battery terminals of any crust. An easy way to do so is to use some baking soda and water. Use a wire brush to clean the crust using this solution.

Tips No. 4 – Always keep the battery cables tightly tied. Make sure the cables are so tight that they do not move.

Tips No. 5 – Keep the battery safe in a tray. Also ensure that battery remains properly in the battery tray so that no damage is caused to the hood.

Tips No. 6 – Excess of cold is not a good condition for the car batteries. Therefore, look for a solution to it. The best way is to opt for an engine or battery heater. This keeps the car’s battery function smoothly. The heater will help in easily starting the battery and would also minimize the power consumed.

Tips No. 7 – Keep a check on when Service is needed – Different cars come with maintenance free battery. Regular check is needed for such automobile batteries. There is a light in maintenance free batteries that goes black when service is required.

Tip No. 8 – For Conventional Car Battery - These batteries come with a plastic cover that can be easily removed to check the water inside. It is important that the water inside the battery reaches the filler necks.

Tip No. 9 – Be Careful While Adding Water – Incase there is less water inside the battery, you may also add distilled water. I guess I should warn you at this moment. You might just harm yourself if you don’t be careful. The battery acid that is highly corrosive might harm your clothes.

Tip No. 10 – During Battery Check – It is important to make sure that you do not keep any kind of open flames near the car battery. Automobile battery contains chemicals that are combustible and hence can be dangerous.

Tip No. 11 – Over Charging Should Be Avoided – This is common and known to everybody that a dead battery can be charged using a battery charger. Improper charging of a battery is something that should be avoided. It might also lead to damage of battery’s as well as car’s parts & components.

These were some of the battery’s maintenance tips that are to be followed in order to keep your car’s battery and electrical system in best condition. The smooth functioning of automobile battery helps you have a tension free long drive. You can try these car parts maintenance (D-I-Y) tips yourself. Have a Happy & Safe Driving!!

Watch the video related to car battery maintenance

When cleaning a car battery, a simple mixture of baking soda and water can help to neutralize the acid buildup on the battery terminals. Find out how to clean a car battery with a toothbrush and a hose by following the instructions ofcar restoration specialists in this free video on car maintenance. Expert: Gary Malec & John Grassi Bio: Gary Malec and John Grassi rebuild cars and boats, do household handyman work, and build computers. Filmmaker: gary malec…

Help answer the question about car battery maintenance

i am going to change my car’ battery. which one should i buy, maintenance free battery (dry battery) or liquid?
i am going to change my car’ battery. which one should i buy, maintenance free battery (dry battery) or one that contains liquid and needs to get maintenance ?

of which company ?

How longer should a car battery last ? if car gets nice tune-ups on time ?

thanks

About Author

I am Fred Clay, a journalist and an automotive industry expert. Automobiles, automotive parts & components and any & everything related to this industry interests me and is my passion. Over the past eight years, i have covered different automotive industry related news and have been writing on the same. As a professional I have reported on myriad topics, my favorite is the automobile industry. I also write for different web portals and websites. Amongst all, my favorite is Automotive Components & Partsthat is an Automotive industry B2B marketplace. This portal – Automotive-online.com provides detailed information on industry overview, news, trends, professional associations, publications, tenders, product catalogs, international trade leads, trade events, worldwide manufacturers & suppliers related to global automotive components & parts industry. I now blog at: Automobile Hotspot

You will need to be sure that your new car battery will start without any problems. This is because you will need to be able to go anywhere you need at any time. This means that having a battery jump starter kit stashed in your home is a good idea. The battery starter kit will be able to provide your new car with the power that it needs. Once the new car battery is fully powered you can attach it back in the engine properly.

The fully charged new car battery will provide the power that is need in order for your car to work in any type of weather. When the time comes to replace the car battery the best place where you will find these batteries is in car supply shops. These places will have experienced sales personnel who can help you by showing you the various types of batteries which are on sale. Among these is that of a new car battery.

Even though we seldom think about the performance of our new car battery we get behind the wheel of the car and expect to go on a journey without any problems. As each car is made according to different specifications you will find that these vehicles have different needs.

Therefore it is only sensible that you buy a new car battery which will provide you with the power that you need. While there are many brands of car batteries available you will need to look around before you find the best car battery that you can find and afford.

This comparative battery shopping that you will do should provide you with lots of details about the car battery industry. For instance you will need to know just how long a car battery that you purchase will last before you need to buy a new car battery. You will also need to have some information about the type of tester that you should have if the need arises for recharging this new car battery of yours.

While there are many car battery dealers who will inform you that you are buying a superior car battery the proof will be found when you are driving. To prevent buying a dud battery it is best if you invest in buying a new car battery. This way you will be assured that you have a superior car battery at your disposal.

Help answer the question about car battery replacement

How much should a car window motor and battery replacement and tire rotation cost for 98 Honda CRV?
Let’s just say AVERAGE.

I just took my car in because I needed some things fixed.

The window motor on the front driver’s side needed to be replaced and installed. A new battery had to be replaced and installed. Also, the tires were rotated.

How much should all of that cost on average?

I paid 450. Was I ripped off?

About Author

Muna wa Wanjiru is a Web Administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Batteries for Years. For More Information on New Car Battery, Visit His Site at NEW CAR BATTERY