Car Maintenance Tips

Keeping your car in working order can mean that it holds its value and actually saves you money in the long run. Sounds good, right? Here are some things you can do to make sure your vehicle is in the best condition it can be, in between your services and MOTs.

Inspections

Inspecting your car regularly means that if and when something crops up, you know about it immediately. While if you are concerned, you should contact a professional, there is no harm in giving your car the once over every week or two to ensure it is looking as it should be.

Warning lights

Familiarise yourself with the warning lights on your dashboard, so that if one lights up, you know how and when to deal with it. You should know these from when you passed your test, but if you have been on the roads for a number of years, it might be worth brushing up on your knowledge!

Tyres and tread

Having properly inflated tyres is an absolute must, so checking that they are filled to the right level is a vital maintenance check. You should also check the treads on your tyres for excessive wear. If your treads are too worn down, it is actually illegal to drive on them and you could be landed with multiple points on your license and a hefty fine for each tyre that is being driven on illegally.

Fluid levels

The fluid levels in your car such as oil and coolant, are checks that you can make to stop your car from running on dry or empty. You wouldn’t drive on an empty tank so you shouldn’t drive with these fluids depleted either. There will be a dipstick and measuring levels under the hood so you can see which fluids need topping up and when.

Interior work

We are all guilty of empty bottles and wrappers lurking in the depths of our cars. Keeping your interior clean and tidy is a great way to maintain future value. Stains and imperfections in upholstery can lead to significant amounts being knocked off the value. Keep it clean, keep it vacuumed and keep crumbs inside to a minimum.

Body work

Accidents happen. If you do come into contact with a bump, a dent or a scrape, it is best to get it repaired as soon as possible. The longer you leave bodywork damage, then the more chance you have of it leaving a permanent mark on your car or even leading to rusting. The same thing goes for alloys, if you have scraped them, it is better to get them repaired, than to try and ignore the damage. Even though these things may seem like a costly repair, it will absolutely save you money in the long run, either with retained value or avoiding bigger repair jobs that further damage could lead to.

Find more tips in the coming months on our Hub, and get in touch with any questions you may have.