3 Vehicle Maintenance Issues You Shouldn’t Ignore

Now that you have your first car, there are a few things you should know about it – beyond the fact that it will need constant gasoline and an occasional oil change. In addition to those items of business, your car is also going to need a few other maintenance items taken care of. Here are three maintenance concerns that you shouldn't ignore.

Tires

You might think that your tires are fine as long as they have a little bit of tread left on them. What you might not know is that as the tread wears down on your tires, your cars ability to brake properly wears down too. In fact, if you're driving on bald tires, you may have a hard time stopping in rain or snow. Experts say that a tire is bald when the tread measures 2/32 of an inch deep. If the tread is wearing down on your tires, you need to have them inspected. Once they're losing their stopping power, you need to have them replaced.

Lights

Lights are another part of your car that you shouldn't ignore. You may think that having one working headlight is fine as long as you can see the road. Unfortunately, that's not true. It's not just a matter of how well you can see the road; it's also a matter of how well others on the road can see you. If you have only one working headlight, or your brake lights and turn signals aren't working properly, you could be causing a safety hazard for yourself and others. It's a good idea to inspect your lights at least once a month.

Brakes

You need your brakes to stop your car as soon as it's necessary. Whether that's slowing down for a light that's about to turn red, or slamming on your brakes to avoid an accident.  To prevent accidents, you should pay attention to your brakes. Check the brake fluid level at least once a month to ensure it's at the proper level. It's also important to pay attention to the way your brakes sound and feel.

Sound

The sounds you hear when you apply your brakes are important. If your brakes are squealing, or grinding when you put your foot on the brake pedal, you need to have them inspected as soon as possible.

Feel

When you apply the brakes, your car should stop smoothly. You shouldn't experience any pulling to the right or left, and your brake pedal should not feel spongy. If you feel your car pulling to the side when you apply the brake, or the pedal feels spongy under your foot, you should have your brakes inspected.

If this is your first car, there are some maintenance items that you shouldn't put off. Use the tips provided here to help you remember important – but often overlooked – maintenance issues.  For assistance with maintenance, tlak to a professional like Body shop in North York.


Share