A.
Preventative Maintenance is regular maintenance of your vehicle that helps keep your engine running efficiently and eliminating potential problems that may leave you stranded.
Manufacturers know that a properly maintained car will be more dependable, safer, last longer, and increase your satisfaction with their product. Preventative maintenance includes:
- Servicing Windshield Wipers
- Servicing Sparkplugs
- Replacing Air Filters
- Oil Change
- Routine Hose Inspection
- Battery Service
- Battery Replacement
Prior to winter weather setting in, you should:
- Check your anti freeze level and condition. Rust colored anti freeze means you may need to flush and refill the cooling system.
- Check the level of you motor oil. If its been 3 months ot 3000 miles since you last oil change, it should be replaced.
- Check you battery. Battery that are weak can fail on cold morning and your car won’t start.
- Change your wiper blades to winter wiper-blades. these prevent ice build-up that can obstruct your view during operation in snow and ice conditions.
Prior to going on a trip, you should:
- Check all lights. Check your headlights (high and low-beam), brakelights, turn signals, parking lamps and (if you have them) fog lights to make sure they are all operational. You should clean your headlights using glass cleaner to improve night visibility.
- Check wiper blades. Inspect them for cracks or tears, and make sure they’re operational. If they’re in good shape, it’s still a good idea to clean the rubber blade with little glass cleaner.
- Check all hoses. Look for any cracks or holes in hoses, and replace any that are not in good shape.
- Check all belts. Inspect all belts to ensure that none are worn, loose or frayed.
- Inspect the battery. If there is corrosion on the terminals, you can clean it away with a toothbrush and a pasty solution of water and baking soda.
- Check all fluids. Check the reservoirs to ensure that your coolant and wiper fluids are at the proper levels. Check your oil using the dipstick. Check transmission fluid, power-steering fluid and brake fluid. Refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual for advice on checking all the fluids.