When it comes to your vehicle, prevention is 1000 times better than cure. Basic upkeep is cheaper than major repairs caused by neglect. We wanted to put together a little checklist for you!

For some reason, lots of people neglect basic maintenance on their car. Their philosophy is “Hey, it’s running, so what’s the problem?” The excuses never end: “I just don’t have the time.” “I don’t know anything about cars”.

There are all sorts of ways to kill a perfectly good vehicle, and one of the most common is to neglect basic maintenance. Driving too long on the same spark plugs, forgetting to change the oil and turning a deaf ear to squealing brakes or mysterious clunking sounds can mean an early trip to the junkyard for your vehicle.

 

Basic car safety checklist

  • Seatbelts — check tension and belt buckle operation
  • External Lights — replace bulbs if necessary
  • Handbrake — ensure that it can hold the vehicle on a slope
  • Windscreens & mirrors — check windscreens and mirrors for cracks
  • Windscreen wipers — check wear on wiper blades, replace if necessary
  • Horn — ensure this works
  • Fluids — check engine oil and engine coolant levels
  • Tires — ensure tires are at the correct pressures, check treadwear
  • Spare tire & jack — ensure they are operational, check toolkit

Fluids checklist

  • Engine oil
  • Radiator coolant
  • Brake fluid
  • Power steering fluid
  • Windscreen washer fluid
  • Clutch fluid (manual cars)
  • Gearbox oil
  • Differential fluid

Tires checklist

  • Tire pressures
  • Treadwear and tread depth
  • Check your spare tire
  • Car jack and tools

Lights checklist

  • Headlights
  • Indicators/hazard lights
  • Brake lights
  • Reverse lights
  • Park & Fog lights

Other general things to check

  • Radiator hoses — check for leaks and cracking
  • Engine air filter — check that it is clean
  • Battery — look for corrosion around terminals
  • Fan belts — ensure none are loose or squeaking on start-up
  • Unusual engine noises — hard to start, ticking, hissing or clunking
  • Ensure that child seats are fitted correctly — Does your car have ISOFIX child seat anchors?

These suggestions are a basic overview of the maintenance that your vehicle should receive on a regular basis to ensure that your engine will have a long and healthy life and to keep you on the road. If you have more questions about the maintenance of your vehicle – give us a call at The German Auto Doctor.

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