Expert Car Care ensures that your vehicle operates correctly and safely. In many cases, the car will alert you to a problem through warning lights or a change in performance.
Follow your manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule. Deviation from this could void your warranty. Proactive maintenance is the best way to save on car repair costs.
A well-maintained tire is your first line of defense between you and the road. Check the tread depth of your tires with the simple penny test, and be sure to purchase new tires when the tread is too worn. Watch our tire expert as he shows you how to do this in the video below.
Tires should be inflated to the recommended pressure, as detailed on the chart inside your driver’s door jamb or in the owner’s manual. Proper tire inflation contributes to a safe, fuel-efficient ride and helps maintain correct handling characteristics. It’s important to check your tire pressure often, at least once a month, and before long trips or heavy loads. If your tires are overinflated, they can create excessive heat that causes the rubber to wear down and reduce its lifespan.
Many cars are equipped with sensors that can alert you to a low tire pressure, but a basic tire gauge is a convenient and inexpensive tool to have on hand. It’s important to check your tire tread depth at a few different points and between ribs of the tire to check for uneven wear. Uneven tire wear can indicate improper inflation, wheel misalignment or a number of other issues.
A well-maintained tire is your first and perhaps most important line of defense between you and the road. To ensure the safety of your family, friends, and your vehicle, check your tires regularly for adequate tread depth. To do this, use the penny test: stick a quarter in your tire tread, and if you can see Lincoln’s head with only part of his head covered by the coin, your tire is too worn and needs replacing.
Check Your Brakes
The brakes are an integral part of your car’s safety system. It is a good idea for most drivers to have their brakes checked and serviced at least once every six months. More aggressive drivers may want to have their brakes checked more frequently, perhaps with every oil change. There are several warning signs that your vehicle’s brakes are due for a checkup. The first is a brake light coming on, followed by the feeling that your car takes longer than usual to come to a stop. A vibrating sensation when you press down on the brake pedal may also indicate a problem with your vehicle’s brakes.
If you hear a high-pitched noise that comes from your vehicle when it stops, this is usually a sign that your brake pads have worn down to the metal backing plates and are now grinding against the rotors. The resulting damage can significantly reduce the effectiveness of your brakes.
In addition to the front brake pads, there are two other important parts of your vehicle’s braking system: the master cylinder and the power booster. The master cylinder converts the foot pressure you apply to the brake pedal into the needed hydraulic pressure to activate your brakes. The power booster amplifies the amount of pressure applied to the master cylinder so that your car’s brakes respond quickly.
Both the master cylinder and the power booster can wear out or become damaged over time. If you suspect that one or both of these components is faulty, the team at Brake Check can diagnose and repair any problems. Your brake lines carry the pressurized hydraulic fluid from your car’s master cylinder to your brakes. They can also wear out over time due to normal use or from age and weather. The Brake Check team can inspect your brake lines to make sure they are in good condition.
Check Your Battery
For decades, drivers didn’t have a lot of options beyond waiting for a dead battery to surprise them at the most inconvenient time. Today, a little routine testing can take the guesswork out of when your battery will fail.
Start by checking your battery’s voltage. A multimeter can be used to do this; just plug the red probe into the positive terminal and the black one into the negative. The display should read 12.2 to 12.6 volts. If this reading is lower, the battery needs charging or replacing.
Another easy test is to observe how your car functions when idling. If the headlights flicker, the power windows hesitate to roll down, or your radio station or Bluetooth settings disappear from your car’s screen, these can all be signs that the battery is weakening.
Corrosion on the battery’s terminals can also cause problems. This corrosion, which looks like white ashy deposits on the terminals, reduces the battery’s ability to transfer charge. It can often be cleaned by removing the cables, wiping down the terminals, and using a wire brush or baking soda. If the corrosion has been there for a while, however, the battery may need replacement.
A more accurate way to test a battery is with a dedicated battery tester, which allows you to see how well the battery performs under load. These battery testers can be purchased at many auto parts stores, and they can also be used at most shops that offer free curbside testing.
Check Your Tire Pressure
It’s one of the most important things you can do for your Honda Civic, Ridgeline, Accord or Pilot. Yet, many drivers aren’t doing it right, or at all. Checking your tire pressure is a simple task that can have a huge impact on your vehicle’s performance and safety, including its ability to drive properly and achieve maximum fuel efficiency.
Tire pressure changes constantly due to a number of reasons, such as ambient air temperature and driving (which heats the tires). If your tire’s pressure is too low, you can end up with a flat tire, requiring roadside assistance. On the other hand, if your tire’s pressure is too high, you’ll waste gas and wear out the tires more quickly.
Ideally, you should check your tire pressure every two to four weeks, or before long trips or when you’re carrying additional loads. Always remember to check the pressure on cold tires, as this will give you the most accurate reading.
Most cars come with a tire pressure monitoring system that will alert you to low pressure. If yours doesn’t, it’s very easy to get a tire pressure gauge at your local automotive store or gas station. Then, just remove the cap from the end of each tire’s valve stem, and press the gauge firmly on it. Listen for the hissing sound of escaping air, and then note the gauge’s reading and compare it to the manufacturer’s recommendation.
If the pressure is too low, use an air compressor or buy one at a gas station and fill each tire up to the correct psi. Replace the valve cap and repeat the process with the other three tires on your vehicle, as well as the spare.
Check Your Oil
Engine oil is the lifeblood of your vehicle. It lubricates the engine and its moving parts, reduces friction and helps prevent overheating. It also flushes out metal flakes that can damage the engine over time. Without regular checks, your oil can degrade and clog your engine. Luckily, checking your oil is a simple task that can be done at home. In fact, it’s one of the most important things you can do for your car.
Start by locating a lint free rag (an old t-shirt usually works well) and locate your car’s oil dipstick. Then make sure your vehicle is parked on level ground so the dipstick can get an accurate reading. It’s also a good idea to check your coolant levels while you’re at it (depending on your specific vehicle, some manufacturers recommend checking these fluids when the engine is warm instead of cold).
When you take a look at your oil, you should notice that it should be dark brown or black and clear of any metal flakes or debris. If the oil looks sludgy, milky or murky, that’s an indicator that it needs to be changed. It’s also possible that your oil filter is starting to fail and releasing debris into the engine.
Performing these simple, routine maintenance tasks on your car can help extend its lifespan and maintain or even increase its value when it’s time to sell. To help you stay on track, we offer convenient and affordable service reminders and an online car care tracker that will let you know when your next service is due. Download our app and start managing your car care today! If you have any questions, give our Service Team a call or schedule an appointment online.