Keep Your Car Rolling with Seven Need-to-Know Tips

We all sometimes take for granted those we most depend on - your car might be the best example! It takes you to work without fail (rain or shine) and protects your family when shuttling kids to school. But, this trusted friend can become your worst enemy without your love and attention. Keep your dependable, trusted pal (your car!) humming with these seven, need-to-know tips.

1. Brakes - The most important safety check-up for your car is a regular, wheels-off brake inspection. School is back in session and kids are once again filling crosswalks. While you might be watching out for children, joggers and bicyclists, you need to make sure your car has the stopping power required to avoid potential accidents.

2. Tires - There’s a reason you see tire stores at almost every intersection! Second in importance only to brakes, worn and poorly inflated tires can cause dangerous blow-outs and accidents. Make it a seasonal habit to get your tires inspected and balanced. Properly maintained tires not only keep your family safe, they also save you money with better mileage and less frequent replacement.

3. Battery - There’s nothing worse than rushing out of the house on a chilly fall morning to find that your car’s battery has kicked the bucket. In fact, both hot and cold weather can tax your battery’s effectiveness leaving you stuck and frustrated. What to do? While you have your brakes and tires checked, don’t forget your battery; the test is simple and fast, but often gets missed by a busy mechanic.

4. Cooling system - The engine’s cooling system is another often overlooked but critical part of your automobile. Make sure to verify your coolant level is high enough and examine your hoses and clamps for cracks or leaks. If checking your coolant level yourself and want to add antifreeze, remember that it should be added in a 50%-50% mix with water.

5. Engine oil - Checking your oil level is important, but while you’re in there, don’t forget to also look at the cleanliness of your oil. To do it yourself, wait for the engine to cool, pull out the dipstick (twice, cleaning it in-between) and examine the oil. You should see a light-brown, transparent fluid. If the fluid appears darker, you may need an oil change. And, remember – you car needs an oil change every 3 months or 3,000 miles (whichever comes first). It’s one of the easiest ways to keep your car healthy.

6. Alignment - If you find that your car is “pulling” to one side or the other, the culprit is probably your alignment. This should be corrected to prevent steering problems and extend tire life. Often people will have their wheels aligned when rotating tires.

7. Shock absorbers - Do you have that carnival ride experience while driving to the grocery store? Does your poor dog seem to be on a trampoline when he rides with you? Well, blame your shock absorbers. Not sure if your shocks are bad? Here’s a quick test: push down strongly on one corner of your auto and watch how many times the car bounces up and down. If it bounces only once or twice, you have good shocks. The more it bounces, the worse the shocks. Appropriately, mechanics call this the “bounce” test.

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