Keep Your Unexpected Car Repair Problems Down with Basic Car Maintenance

"If it's not broken, don't fix it" is a well-known saying, but it doesn't apply to everything. For example your automobile shouldn't have to be broken down before you realize that it needs to be fixed. Ideally you are always on top of your car maintenance tasks and catch most, if not all of your car's potential mechanical problems before they become massive car repair problems.

The first step towards proper car maintenance is to check under the hood of your car at least once a month. This simple preventative step takes minutes to do and it can be instrumental in stopping mechanical problems. For example if your car is running low on antifreeze, your engine could overheat and this could lead to some serious damage to your engine itself.

Other vital fluids that your car should never run low on include oil. Just as your car's engine requires anti-freeze to keep the temperature of the engine regulated, your car's engine also needs oil to keep things lubricated. If your engine is low on oil it means your engine is not getting the lubrication it needs and your engine could seize up. If your engine freezes up you are likely looking at some very expensive car repair bills to have the engine rebuilt or replaced.

And your car's brake fluid is a major component of your car's safety system. If you notice that your brakes are feeling spongy or going all the way to the floor the answer to your problem stopping safely on a dime may not require a brake job after all. Your problem may be a simple matter of not enough brake fluid in your car's brake reservoir located under your hood.

Other car repair problems that you can avoid with some simple once a month preventive methods include a drained or dead battery problem. If your battery is getting old it may be time to trade it in for a newer, more reliable cold weather battery. If you notice your car is having a hard time starting after a cold snap a new battery may be the simple car repair solution. If your battery is good but your connection cables are loose or corroded your mechanic will probably suggest that you have new connection cables put in. Again, this is potential problem that you will be able to catch before your dead battery leaves you without a ride because you should be checking under your hood for signs of battery damage, wear or corrosion as part of your preventative steps towards better car maintenance.
Finally, with some proper monthly under the hood time, your car repair bills and problems will diminish and you any mechanical problems that do come up from your automobiles growing age and advanced mileage will at least be somewhat expected repairs for your anticipation down the road.