For some people, their cars are more than just an investment or part of their property, and it can sometimes be as valuable as their houses. Owning your very first car gives you a fantastic feeling and thrilling at the same time. It is imperative that you, as a car owner, know the basics of taking care of your car. You can always look and read articles from amazing automotive article sites like Carcody about how to take care of your precious car.
Here are 7 of the basic things every car owner should know.
Lights
Lights refer to your headlights and tail lights. You should always remember to do a regular check on your lights and see if they have dimmer over time. Monitoring your lights is very important. Expert car enthusiasts even suggest that a car owner should do the check on the lights once a month and replace them every year or even sooner, depending on the situation of your lights.
Maintenance
Your car may endure long hours or travel, and no matter how you try to take care of your car and how careful you are, your car would still have the possibility to break down. Being a first-time car owner, you may have a lot of questions about maintenance and may even ignore it because of the possibility that it might be too expensive. Maintenance is essential because it keeps your car’s performance in check and also helps in maintaining a very smooth and safe ride for you. It may be expensive at times, but compared to how much you will be paying if any damage on your car worsens due to non-maintenance.
Brakes
Brakes are one of the essential things in your car that you have to monitor because of safety concerns. Always remember to check your breaks regularly to avoid damage in your car and other cars too. If you feel that your steering wheel shakes when you step on that break, having it checked as soon as possible could help you secure the stability of your car. Have your anti braking system checked as well.
Emergency and Roadside kits
Be prepared always. Cars have tendencies to break down during the times you least expect it to. Almost all car owners had the experience of traveling to somewhere, ending up at the side of the road due to a car breakdown. Always be ready when this happens to you too. Parts of the kit should include health safety kits or a first aid kit, reflective warnings you can put on the road, a flashlight, a small fire extinguisher, and some other things too. Also, do not forget to pack a warm blanket just in case it gets cold at night while you are fixing that car.
Shocks and Struts
If you feel your car is rocking back and forth and you also hear some cracking, creaking and rattling sounds while you go over a hump or a bump, then you might want those shocks and struts checked. With older car models, this has been a common problem, but with the advancement of technology in cars, this problem has started to minimize. This is one of those problems that may happen all the time.
Spare Tire and Car Tire Pressure
You never know when you could run over a spike, a metal object, or anything that could pierce your tires. Always be ready with a spare tire at the compartment of your car to be ready when this kind of problem arises. Before going on a trip or before you leave the house, check your tires’ pressure as well. Avoid friction between the tire and the road by checking this once a week or even twice a week.
Good Personal Mechanic
Please get to know the mechanics near your area and try to know more about their services. It is better that you have someone nearby who can check your car every once in a while to keep your car always in perfect driving shape.
Keep in mind that having your car at its best shape and performance also means safety for you and the people who ride along with you. Follow these tips, and you can never go wrong in taking care of your car.
