Care Care Tips

Semi-annual Car Care
Just like you need periodic visits to the dentist or doctor for checkovers, your car needs a professional inspection at least twice a year. Following these simple tips can spot small problems before they become big (expensive) ones.

Semi-annual Car Care Tips:

• Oil Change. Depending on mileage driven, it is generally a good idea to change the motor oil (at least) twice yearly.
• Check your car battery.  Make certain the terminals and posts are free of corrosion, lubricated and tight.Have the battery and charging system tested.
• Check the engine coolant.  In most cases, if your antifreeze is more than 3 years old, it should be drained and refilled.
• Wiper Blades.  Inspect your wiper blades and fluids. Replace them if there is any sign of wear/windshield smearing.
• Grille & Underhood.  Remove leaves and other trash.  Build up may cause your engine to overheat or your air conditioner to underperform.
• Belts and Hoses.  Age and extremes in underhood temperature can cause drive belts and cooling system hoses to deteriorate over time. Semi-annual inspection can spot potential problems, before they strand you on the side of the road.
• Brakes. Check brake pad and rotor thickness, road test for vibration/pulsation/pulling when braking.Check the brake fluidlevel/condition.
• Air Conditioning.  Check sytem performance, visual inspection of underhood components. Often,small problems can be taken care of before they they become expensive repairs.
• Tires. Should be checked for proper inflation and tread depth and, and inspected for any damage caused by road hazards.
• Suspension/Steering. Check all components for wear and loose play. Check power steering pump and gear for leaks.
• These are just a few of the items an automotive professional should inspect twice a year, in order to keep you and your family safe, and your car roadworthy.