10 Tips to Avoid Getting in a Car Accident
January 10, 2018Tips to Share the Road with Drivers, Cyclists, and Pedestrians
January 23, 2018
Car Maintenance
As long as your car runs properly, it’s easy to take it for granted. However, if you want to avoid inconvenient breakdowns and costly repairs, you need to perform routine car maintenance. You can handle many of the simpler tasks yourself between formal visits to Scott’s Fort Collins Auto.
Check Your Tire Pressure
You might think that unless a tire has a hole, it will stay inflated indefinitely. However, even an undamaged tire gradually loses air pressure over time. That’s why you should make it a habit to check the tire pressure once a month, including the spare. All you need is an inexpensive tire gauge and access to a gas station with an air pump to top off your tires if needed.
For more in-depth car maintenance—including rotating the tires and checking the wheel alignment—bring your car to Scott’s in Fort Collins.
Check the Fluid Levels
The rule of thumb is to check your car’s oil level once a month. If you don’t drive very often, you can likely go a bit longer between checks. Of course, oil isn’t the only fluid your car needs to operate. Be sure to check the coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and windshield cleaning fluid regularly as well.
Here’s a guide on how to check your car’s fluid levels to make these tasks easier. If you discover that the oil is dark, coolant is leaking, or transmission fluid is low, bring your car to Scott’s for service as soon as possible.
Test the Lights
About once a month, check that all vehicle lights are illuminating properly. The headlights and turn signals are easy to test yourself, but you may need assistance from a second person to check the brake lights. A burned out bulb could get you pulled over, so it’s best to replace burned out lights as soon as you discover them. If you need help, Scott’s is well-equipped to install new interior and exterior light bulbs.
Replace the Windshield Wipers
The ability to drive safely in the rain and snow depends largely on how well your windshield wipers work. Plan to install new wipers every six to 12 months or when they no longer clean the windshield effectively. This task is quite simple to complete yourself, but if you purchase new windshield wipers from Scott’s, we’ll install them for free!
Check and Clean the Battery Contacts
Most modern car batteries don’t require much maintenance, but it’s still wise to check the contacts and clean them occasionally to remove dirt and mineral buildup. A battery cleaning brush is all you need for this task.
If you find that your car sometimes struggles to start, especially in cold weather, bring the vehicle to Scott’s for a free battery test. If you decide to replace the battery, we can perform this repair quickly and affordably.
Check Your Cabin and Engine Air Filters
The cabin air filter should be easily accessible, so you can check and change it when it starts to appear dirty. This isn’t critical to your car’s operation, but changing the cabin filter on the recommended schedule makes the ride more pleasant.
The engine air filter is a little more difficult to access, but changing it regularly is important. Keep an eye on your vehicle’s mileage and plan to have the engine filter replaced as often as recommended in the owner’s manual. When you bring your car to Scott’s for an oil change, we’ll replace the cabin and engine air filters as needed.
Visit Scott’s for More In-Depth Car Maintenance
If there are any car maintenance tasks you don’t want to complete yourself, trust the expert mechanics at Scott’s Fort Collins Auto to get the job done right at an affordable price. To schedule your next visit, please contact us online or call our shop at (970) 682-4202 today.
