Car Maintenance ~ the ultimate payback

Your Vehicle’s Maintenance Schedule

Be sure to follow your vehicle’s maintenance schedule by looking in the owner’s manual for what should be done when and how often.

As well as performing certain tasks and checking items depending on the season.

Being sure to follow what your vehicle needs and keeping it in proper running order will not only get you top dollar when it’s time to sell but will also help you avoid costly repairs.

Always refer to your vehicle’s owners manual for specific recommendations of service & replacement requirements of your particular year make and model. This will reduce unnecessary expenses for things that will last you a substantial amount of time. This will also depend on what the previous owner did and when. Things may have to be adjusted if items were or were not done so this is why keeping your own maintenance log is crucial.

Oil + Coolant levels

Check your oil and make sure it’s at the proper level 

• It should be clear or golden in color
• Dark is fine too, just check your records of your last change
• If it’s milky or foamy…...Something is Up!

           Coolant: Also known as antifreeze, prevents engine freeze up in winter.

Tire Pressure + Tread

• Check your tread - feel if it’s smooth or still has plenty of grooves & depth
• Make sure your tire pressure is accurate
• The recommended tire pressure is in the door jam or the owner’s manual.
• In the cold weather your tire pressure will decrease so keep an eye out
• All Weather or Winter Tires? I suggest putting on the proper tire according to what region of the world you live in. This will give you an optimum driving outcome.

Headlights/Turn Signals / Brake + Parking Lights

• Please make sure that these all work people! And actually use them!
• Grab a friend or family member and go over the Brakes/Blinkers/Headlights/High Beams/ Reverse Lights & Hazards

Heater + A/C

• Make sure the blowers work as they are supposed to and the min/max levels are pushing out the air as they should and it gets HOT/COLD
• If the air is not getting as hot or cool as it should then get it checked out before it gets worse

Your Battery

• Have it tested if you are getting serviced - Make sure it has a good charge
• Make sure the terminals are clean from debris
• Check Manual for proper CCA = Cold Cranking Amps
• CCA refers to the number of amps a battery can deliver in cold temps ( find the # on the battery)

Transmission Fluid

This doesn’t have to be changed frequently so check your manual and keep a record

• It is important because it lubricates the vehicle’s gear system so don’t skip this step
• Some vehicles have sealed transmissions so you will have to get it looked at in a service center you like, know and trust!!

Wipers

• Make sure your wiper blades are in tip top shape
• If they are skipping, streaking, splitting or squeaking then replace them
• These are an easy and inexpensive fix and is important to your safety

Filters

• Fuel Filter , Engine Air Filter, Engine Oil Filter. Emission Filter - Check your manual for      exactly how many miles each filter should be replaced and keep a log of when and the mileage you got it done.
• Cabin Air Filter - I change this one twice a year and it is simple and inexpensive to do yourself. You can see how to replace yours here. This ensures your cabin air is clean and filtered properly.  

Wax + Detail

• Be sure to protect the paint with a professional detail twice a year. This will keep your car looking new and help shield it from scratches and UV rays.

Belts

• Belts deliver power to many components of your engine and if they break it can become a problem quickly.
• They can be easily spotted by cracks or heard by squeaking sounds.
• Thankfully they are pretty affordable to replace and most belts should last around 50,000 - 100,000 miles so be sure to log the date and mileage of any replaced belts.

Brakes

• Be sure to keep track of your brake pads, calipers, and rotors to keep your stopping power.
• The mileage for each of these will be in your manual, however if the previous owner(s) did not keep up on things the mileage and times will change.
• Again this is why it is so important to keep a detailed log of your car’s maintenance.

Ultimately, the better you take car of your vehicle and record everything you do and when the better it will run, the less costly unexpected repairs will pop up and the more it will be worth.

If and when you decide to sell your vehicle the care you took and tracked will be worth its weight in gold to the next owner.

Keeping a detailed log will also save you money because you will know exactly when you had things done and when it will need to be replaced or changed again.

I hope this helps keep you going smoothly to your many destinations in life!

Please share if you found this helpful or if you know someone who could benefit from the information.

Thank You!
Safe travels,
Lori 
CEO & Founder
TitleKeyCash.com & Girls Guide to Car Buying
Become A Confident Car Buyer!