Importance of vehicle maintenance

It has been said if you take care of your car, it will take care of you. Nothing is truer in reference to taking care of your car. Safe driving depends on having our systems in good working order. Maintenance should be a daily habit. Check your mirrors, watch your lights and gauges, and if they indicate a problem, you either fix it or take it to someone who will fix it for you.

But there is much more to vehicle maintenance. There are procedures that you need to take care of at regular intervals. Your owner's manual is the best source of information on scheduled maintenance. It lists the equipment that needs to be checked and when this maintenance should take place. Some of the procedures are easy enough for you to do yourself. Others should be done by a trained mechanic. Once you know what they are and when they need to be done, it is up to you to arrange for maintenance.

These are the types of tasks that need to be completed, as suggested in the owner's manual:

Engine, Power Train, and Ignition Systems:

Tune the engine, change the transmission fluid, check clutch pedal travel and adjust as necessary, and lubricate parts of power train.

Fuel and Exhaust Systems:

Check fuel lines for leaks, replace fuel filter, replace air filter, clean carburetor, check performance of emission control system, and check exhaust pipe and muffler for leaks.

Steering and Suspension Systems:

Grease steering linkage, align front wheels, grease wheel bearings, and check condition of springs and shock absorbers.

Brakes:

Good brakes are an essential safety component in any motor vehicle. How long brakes last and how they perform depends on how you use and maintain them. If a leak develops in the brake system you may experience total or partial brake failure thus increasing the stopping distance. Steering may also become difficult. The braking system must be checked immediately and repaired. NEVER drive a car with a faulty braking system, regardless of the distance. Maintenance requires that you:

Check master cylinder and brake lines for leaks, check brake linings and drums (or pads and discs), check operation of parking brake.

Lights:

Headlight, taillights, brake lights, and turn signal lights can burn out. Check them by watching their reflection on a wall or a garage door. You may also ask someone to help you. Defective lights make your car hard to see.

Keep headlights aimed properly. Headlights aimed too high can temporarily blind an oncoming driver. Headlights aimed too low reduce your sight distance at night or during low-visibility conditions.

Lubrication and Cooling Systems:

Lubrication is the use of oil and grease to reduce friction in a car's moving parts. Lubrication prevents damage from heat and friction and keeps the moving parts operating efficiently. Drain engine oil and replace with fresh oil, change oil filter (whenever oil is changed), and change the coolant in your radiator at regular intervals.

Tires:

Tires are very important in having a safe trip. Remember that only a small portion of the tire is used to make the vehicle stop and turn. It is your only contact with the road. It is important to maintain the proper air pressure. Too little air even in one tire can make a car difficult to control. Tread on a tire helps to keep traction, which means control and the ability to stop on a wet surface.

You can extend the life of your tires by avoiding fast starts, stops and turns. Check tires periodically and rotate them regularly. Look for weak spots, cuts, blisters, rocks caught in the tread, and uneven wear. Replace tires before they become unsafe.