By fixing small problems early on, preventative maintenance reduces the likelihood that your vehicle will need more advanced and expensive types of maintenance in the future. If the engine, brakes, or other parts of your vehicle are shaking, emitting strange smells, or making strange sounds, you should bring your vehicle to a garage. When you don’t see anything physically wrong with your vehicle, preventative care becomes necessary. You can avoid spending large amounts later on repairs by performing regular maintenance and checks on your vehicle.
In order to help our clients get the most out of their vehicles, Fairway Collision Center has put together a list of 4 types of preventative maintenance you should consider annually.
- Inspection of the timing belt: The timing belt has a direct impact on the performance of your engine. In your engine, it keeps pistons and camshafts from banging together, causing unnecessary friction. The timing belt can stop working, causing grinding and friction, which could mean expensive repairs and replacements for your engine.
Ideally, your timing belt should be replaced every 60,000 miles, but even if you’re not quite ready, it’s a good idea to have it checked once a year to make sure everything is working properly.
- Oil Change: Perhaps the most mentioned preventative maintenance on our blog, an oil change is crucial to keep your engine running smoothly. If your oil is muddy or thick, it will contaminate your vehicle’s components and prevent it from running properly, as well as causing a buildup of grime in your vehicle’s mechanics. It is recommended that you change your oil every 3,000 to 10,000 miles, depending on how the car looks.
If you’re not sure whether you need to change your oil, check your oil. Performing preventative maintenance is something your mechanic can do for you, but it’s also something you can do yourself without causing damage to your vehicle. If you own a vehicle, you should know how to check the oil, whether you use a dip stick or an electronic gauge.
- Battery Check: Your mechanic can only replace your battery, but it tells us a lot about the longevity of your vehicle. It could be that your starting and charging system is malfunctioning if your battery is functioning normally, but you are experiencing difficulty starting or maintaining the charge of your car.
If the battery is acting improperly, a trained mechanic, such as the Fairway Collision Center team, will check for leaks, buildup, and any other problems.
A buildup of dirt on the contacts can sometimes interfere with the operation of the device. Your mechanic will be able to clean it up, make minor adjustments, and have your vehicle back to working order in no time.
- Tire Alignment: Over time, your driving style can cause uneven tread wear on your tires, causing them to move from their original position. In the case of improperly aligned tires, your steering may be affected. In order to make sure that everything is sitting properly on your vehicle when you change your tires, you should have an alignment done whenever you do so. Keep your tires rotated regularly, so that the tread wears equally on both sides, creating a smooth ride.
Even though getting an alignment and rotation can seem like a hassle when changing tires, it’s well worth it. Tires that aren’t rotated and aligned on a regular basis end up requiring brand new tires much sooner than they should.
To learn more about preventative maintenance or to make an appointment with a certified mechanic, please contact us today. You won’t have to worry about your vehicle at Fairway Collision Center. You can save a lot of time and money in the future by using our preventative maintenance services. Check out our other posts on our blog page to learn more about preventative maintenance and why it’s important for your vehicle.
