Make sure to have your car checked out every 6 months
Some like to tinker with their cars, most of us do not. As long as it gets you from here to there and back with no fuss, your car is just that thing in the driveway. But cars are made up of many parts, some needing to move freely, while others absolutely have to stay where they are. Just think of RPM – revolutions per minute. Say your car runs at 4000 RPM for one hour, that means your crankshaft has turned 240 000 times in that time. Please don’t dismantle your engine to check the crankshaft – this is just a way of showing how much movement there is. Also, your crankshaft will quickly let you know if it runs out of crank.
Give your car a checkup every six months – set a reminder on your calendar or you will forget. This basic checkup can save you a lot of grief and costs later on.
Tyres, Brakes And Shocks
Your tyres are critical to your motoring happiness. We recommend you check them before every long trip, but some of us just commute, so add this to your list.
The most basic check is thread depth – the grooves between the bits that run on the road. There are many ways to measure this, but a rule of thumb is, if you are not sure, have it checked out. The biggest danger here is wet weather. The grooves are designed to channel water on the road from under your tyre. Once these become too shallow, your tyres can aquaplane – glide across the water. It is horrible, because not only can you not stop, you also cannot steer properly.
Also, check for uneven wear on the thread. If the one edge of a tyre is more worn than the others, or there are any other irregularities on the thread, it could be your wheel alignment, wheel balancing or worn shocks. Unless you are a fully qualified tinkerer, have this checked out by an expert. At a minimum, it will save you money, but it can help you avoid an accident.
Brakes also need an expert assessment, unless they stop working, which you would notice.
Wipers And Lights
Often after the first rains in a while, your wipers will smear rather than wipe. This could be an oily buildup that you can wipe off with a kitchen towel, or it could be nicks or decay in your blades. Run your fingernail gently down the edge of each blade, and if you feel a nick or irregularities, replace them immediately.
Check your headlights – brights and dim, flickers, hazards, brake lights and reverse lights. For some of these, you will need someone to help you. Remember, your various lights are more often about being visible to others than seeing better.
Fluids
Check your oil, brake fluid and coolant levels. This may also be a case for an expert eye.
Rust
Check the edges of your windscreen and other areas where different materials meet or there is a groove where gunk can sit. If you see a spot that even remotely looks like rust, have it checked out immediately. A small spot can often just be buffed out, but once it gets into the metal, it will cost you money.
Weight
Check in your boot, under the seats, in the cubbyhole, in the door storage areas. Remove anything that should not be there. It is not a question of being neat, it is you paying for the junk you lug around. Every unnecessary gram will cost you a tiny amount of petrol every time you accelerate.
Find A Friendly Expert
There is a belief, usually exaggerated, that someone who sells tyres will find that your tyres must be replaced, ditto the guy that sells wipers. None of these checks are rocket science, so why not ask your trusted car dealer to have a quick look for you? Could save you a lot of money and hassle.
