The car maintenance checklist you need now
As the owner of a car, you need to do regular maintenance checks.
Regardless of whether you bought a used Audi A3 for sale or a new A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI, a monthly maintenance check is important for any type of car.
A maintenance check isn’t only for when you are purchasing your second-hand car, you should do it monthly.
Without good maintenance, your used Audi A4, or whatever car you might drive, will give you problems not because it’s an Audi pre-owned vehicle but because you aren’t taking care of your car.
If you take good care of your vehicle, you can own an Audi used car for many years and your vehicle will work just fine. Having a regular check on your vehicle will reduce any serious car troubles in the future, making life easier for you. Nobody wants a car which will become a hassle after a few years but if you don’t maintain it that will happen.
When you buy a car you need to prepare yourself for the responsibilities that come with owning one. It’s not about driving a car with leather seats and blasting your radio or CD player, you need to take care of your car in order for you to actually have a car to drive. There are many things which could impact your car but you may not realise it unless you do regular maintenance checks.
Below are some of the checks which you should do on a monthly basis.
Make it a habit to check your fluids
It’s important to check your oil, transmission fluid and engine coolants. If you see that your car’s fluids are running low, then you need to add the fluids immediately. The reason for this is that without these fluids, your car could overheat which might ruin your engine. Try to check this every month or before you go to any long distance trips.
Check your tyre pressure
Check your tyres regularly whether you have alloy wheels, chrome wheels or aluminium wheels. Try to rotate your wheels as this will help extend the wheels’ lifespan and prevent noise and vibration problems. Check how much air is in your tyres as incorrect tyre pressure can cause excessive tyre damage which could force you to replace your tyres more often than you would otherwise need to. Too much air pressure can cause your tyre to blow out. If you aren’t sure whether you’re adding the correct amount of pressure, check your vehicle handbook as it has the relevant information.
Wax your vehicle
Although you don’t need to wax your car monthly, you need to make sure that you do it every six months. This helps with making sure your car doesn’t rust and keeps your car’s paint in good condition. The reason for waxing your vehicle is that it can create a protective seal for your car helping it withstand environmental impacts such as dust, sand, rain and the sun.
Check your battery
This is crucial because without a working battery you won’t be able to drive your vehicle. Extreme weather temperatures can affect how your battery works so it’s important to do regular checks.
Take a look at your air filters
Your car could experience many problems because of faulty air filters. You need to make sure you change your filters after 12 months or once you have passed 2000 km. Ignoring or forgetting to change your air filters could lead to problems with your air con, making you and those in your car breathe unhealthy air. If you can’t change them yourself, it would be best to go to your mechanic.
Change your spark plugs
If your engine has been giving you issues, it could be because of your spark plugs. If you don’t do a regular check on your plugs, they can wear easily and lose their effectiveness. If you see that the spark plugs are the problem, replace them. Normally spark plugs last up to 50 000 km. If you are confused, you can take a look at the manual for your car and it will give you more information.
Replace your wipers and clean your windshield
Keep your windshield clean because a dirty windshield can cause accidents and your glass will deteriorate faster. Check your wipers often, especially when the season’s change, as using damaged wipers can scratch the glass, which would lead to you having to change your windshield which would cost more. Damaged wipers can also hinder your view.
Check your brakes
If you notice your brakes are making a noise, you have a pulsating pedal or a poor brake response time, then it’s time for a replacement. Having brakes that work efficiently won’t only make your car last longer, it will ensure you are safe on the road, not just for yourself but for your passengers and other road users.
Lastly, good maintenance isn’t only about the exterior of your car, make sure you look after the interior as well. Take out any dirt that is left in your car, and have a cleaning spray and an extra cleaning cloth around for when you need to clean. Taking care of your car will increase its lifespan.