Taking care of your car isn’t the most exciting thing on your list of things to do. However, it is important to get regular repairs on your car to save money and keep yourself safe. With these 13 tips, you can keep your car out of the shop for as long as possible and avoid having to buy a new one. Take a look!
13 Ways to Save Money on Car Maintenance
1. Look over the extra tire
You are making sure that all four tires under your car are properly inflated and that the spare tire is also properly inflated. When you take the jack out of the trunk, you don’t want to find that your extra tire is flat. It’s better to spend $1 at the air pump every couple of months to fill up your spare tire than to pay hundreds of dollars for a tow truck when you really need one.
Maintenance tip: Every month, check the air pressure in both your spare and main tires.
2. Put new oil in it
What kind of effects might missing oil changes have on your budget? A lot, yes. If something goes wrong with your car’s oil, it could be one of the most expensive things to fix. Please do not leave it out. It costs between $35 and $75 to change your oil and filter. For the price of a family dinner at a nicer fast-food restaurant, you can keep your engine from breaking down, which is much more expensive to replace than burgers and fries.
Advice on maintenance: Change the oil every 5,000 miles or as your car’s maker tells you to.
3. Make sure the battery is clean
The connections of your car battery—those small metal knobs on top—may rust and turn into a white or bluish powder over time. You could lose your power if you don’t keep them clean. The battery could break or stop working altogether. Since good car batteries can cost up to $250 (plus the cost of towing), it makes sense to spend $5 on a wire brush to keep the connections looking good.2.
Tips for maintenance: Test your battery twice a year and look for rust.
4. Put on new brake pads
When you press the brakes, do they make a squeaking sound? If so, it’s possible that your brake pads can’t be fixed. For up to $300 per new axle, you may have to pay extra for a professional to install it. We understand that the prices may seem high. It would help if you didn’t mess around with this. Fred Flintstone was wrong when he said that you can’t stop moving by stamping your foot. Do not have an accident. Make sure your brakes keep working.
As a maintenance tip, make sure the brake fluid is not black every time you add more oil. If so, you should get a new brake system as soon as possible.
5. Change the air filter inside your car
The cabin air filter keeps dirty air from getting into your car’s vents. Take good care of your air filter because it is a very important job. Using an old air filter that is no longer working properly can also cause big issues with your air conditioning system. We promise you that this is different from what you want. Getting a new AC unit will cost between $1,319 and $2,515, and getting it serviced could cost between $430 and $521.
You should change the cabin air filter as part of normal maintenance every 12 months or 12,000 miles.
6. Get new window wipers
Depending on the model and brand, replacing the windshield wipers on your car can cost anywhere from $50 to $61. It looks like a lot of money for something so small, but safety comes first in this case. Finally, you shouldn’t drive if you can’t see the road. It needs to be more secure. If you have an accident, it will cost a lot more to replace or fix your car than to buy new wipers.
Maintenance tip: Check your wipers at the start of each season and repair them if necessary.
7. Have the tires turned over
Did you know that changing your tires every once in a while can make them last a lot longer? It is correct! The tires on your car wear out in different ways. Rotating your tires regularly will make them last longer and save you about $187 per tire, or over $748 for a new set of four. Six
As a safety measure, rotate your tires every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.
8. Check the shocks, springs, and struts, which are all part of the stabilization system
There are many complicated parts in your car that you probably only think about once the suspension stops working right and your ride bounces like a trampoline park. Get four new shocks in case one breaks. It is uncomfortable, but it is good for your car’s health and durability in the long run.
Check the shocks and the rest of the suspension system every 15,000 to 30,000 miles as part of regular maintenance.
9. Check the coolant
Changing your coolant regularly is important because if you don’t, your car could rust badly. Not only is this dangerous, but it’s also annoying. The coolant changes the water pump, the radiator, the heater, and even the air conditioner. It’s important to repair your car needs because skipping it can hurt its health in the long run.
A good rule of thumb for maintenance is to check your radiator twice a year, right before summer and right before winter.
10. Look at the spark plugs
Changing the spark plugs is a common and easy way to fix engine problems. Also, what do you know? Spark plugs are cheap—most of them cost less than $10! 7. A small sum saved from a pricey engine rebuild since a brand-new engine can cost as much as $4,000.8 Large.
Every 30,000 miles, check the spark plugs and change them if they’re worn out
11. Check the belts and hoses
If you check all of your belts and hoses now, you’ll avoid having to pay a lot for service in the future. Worn-out belts could hurt other important parts of the car. A bad radiator hose could also break all the way, which would make your engine overheat and stop working. An engine’s main job is to make the car go.
As a general rule, you should replace the timing belt and serpentine belt every 40,000 and 60,000 miles, respectively. That’s why you should get new hoses every four years or whenever they start to wear out.
12. Make sure your fog lights, turn signals, stop lights, and headlights are all working
Getting a ticket costs a lot of money, and it could make your car insurance more expensive. For even more safety, your lights are very important. They help drivers talk to each other and see each other better. Don’t bother getting seats. Watch out. Check your lights.
Tip for maintenance:
- Have a friend check the headlights.
- Turn signals.
- Stop lights and parking lights once a month to make sure they all work.
13. Finish the test for pollutants
Depending on the state or county where you live, your car may be required to pass a state emissions check. If you do all of the repairs that the manufacturer suggests, your car should pass with flying colors. You should know, though, that it might not get a gold star. The emissions center will carefully examine your car to determine what went wrong and what needs to be fixed to make it safe to drive again.
Advice on maintenance: Get your car checked out once a year. Call your state’s motor vehicle department for more information about the rules.
Make a line item in your budget for car repair
Preventing car problems can be pricey, even if it’s cheaper than fixing bigger problems. To keep an eye on things, set aside money for fixes and maintenance.
The easiest way to do this is to put money into a savings fund for car repairs. If you put a little money into the fund every month, you’ll always have cash on hand ready! You could also raise the amount in the fund so you can make the payment in person if you know you will need to make a big buy soon, like new tires.
If you want a great planning tool to help you with your money journey, check out EveryDollar. It especially works like a sinking fund. Plus, it’s free!
OK, then. These 13 car care tips will help you and your car have a better time on the road with less stress. You can also use them to make plans.
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