Like most machines, vehicles experience wear and tear with prolonged use. Every vehicle owner knows this and understands that there are minimum requirements to be met at regular intervals concerning the health of the vehicle as its use continues. General vehicle maintenance services are one of these requirements, regular car wash is another and there are others. That being said, there are other matters that seem to creep up on vehicle owners. They’re problems worth noting as they’ll help you know what auto services to save some money for.
1. Engine Tune-Up
The health of a vehicle’s engine is essential to its performance and how long it’ll last. Any professional auto mechanic or even recreational vehicle repair technician will tell you an engine tune-up service is one of the best ways to make sure you have a high-performing car that runs smoothly with minimal friction, resistance, and effort. An engine tune-up involves the inspection and replacement of components from the ignition all through the entire engine operation. This would be considered a comprehensive vehicle tune-up and it includes the ignition timing system, the spark plug and coil boots system, the oil system, the air system, the throttle body, the PVC valve, and the distributor cap and rotor systems. It is important to include an engine tune-up in your list of auto services to save for.
How often your car will need an engine tune-up depends on the age of the engine and the total mileage it’s covered. If these two can’t adequately guide you on the intervals of your engine tune-up, there are tell-tale signs you can learn to identify to schedule a diagnostics check-in time. The diagnosis will help determine if a tune-up is necessary or not. Some of these symptoms you need to look out for include a rough engine idling; engine misfiring; having difficulty starting your car; hearing knocking sounds coming from your engine; when your car accelerates slowly; when you’re experiencing poor gas mileage; and when you feel your car stalling out.
2. Vehicle Insurance
A vehicle insurance cover is a guarantee of compensation in case of damage to your vehicle or when you’re liable for a third party’s injuries or damages. The cover effectively protects you financially as the car owner of the vehicle. It’s among the obvious auto services to save for. A good automobile insurance plan covers medical bills in case of injury to you or your passengers in the event of an accident where the offending driver is underinsured or uninsured.
The protection your policy offers is limited to the terms agreed upon by you and your automotive insurance provider. Every vehicle owner needs to insure their car because accidents are an inevitable occurrence on the road. If you spend many hours on the road or own a fleet of vehicles constantly on the road like truck and van rental companies, vehicle insurance is crucial.
Auto insurance is a requirement in almost every state in America. Driving without it is just a loss whichever way you look at it. You may be fined so you lose money, you may lose your licence temporarily or permanently or you may lose your freedom if they decide to give you jail time.
It’s just better to have it. Depending on the state, auto insurance covers: liability, which pays for damage to objects, other vehicles, bodily injuries to vehicle occupants, and legal fees in case lawsuits are filed against you; comprehensive coverage, which covers damages caused by events beyond your control like vandalism; collision coverage, covers your car whenever it collides with any object or it overturns; personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments coverage; uninsured or underinsured motorist bodily injury (UM/UIM) and property damage (UMPD) covers damages and injuries caused to you and your vehicle occupants by a driver with insufficient or no insurance coverage. The cost of your coverage varies from state to state, the company involved, and the insurance product that interests you.
3. Tire Safety and Care
Tire maintenance goes beyond prolonging the life of your tires. It’s also about keeping you safe during your driving experience. Proper tire attention optimizes fuel efficiency, vehicle handling, and braking.
On the other hand, when you neglect your tires, they will wear out faster, mess up your driving experience, and increase your risk of causing an accident. Here are some tips you can follow to ensure proper tire care. Keep your tires always inflated to the precise pressure specific to your vehicle model; rotate your tires regularly to ensure an even tire wear and get more mileage from them; try to always maintain tire balance as it minimizes vibrations that bring about additional wear on the vehicle; lastly, ensure your wheels are always aligned to prolong your tire’s life and guarantee a safe driving experience.
Apart from wheel alignment, your vehicle’s suspension is also an important feature of tire safety and care. For this reason, it’ll be wise for vehicle owners to regularly check their suspension system to ensure all parts are functioning as expected. Tire problems aren’t always in your face as a vehicle owner so many are not financially prepared for maintenance when their tires demand it.
This is one of those auto services to save for. When a vehicle owner overlooks these maintenance steps, tire issues such as over-inflation or under-inflation of tire air pressure start to develop. This causes uneven tread wear on the tire and significantly affects the vehicle’s ability to grip the tarmac, consequently lowering its stability.
4. Battery Care and Replacement
Batteries are one of the most important components of a vehicle, yet most car owners seem to forget about them. Car battery care and replacement is one of those auto services to save for. One of the best things you can do to properly care for your battery is to ensure your car gets at least 30 minutes of driving once a week. By running your engine and driving around, the electricity-producing alternator charges the battery, making sure it’s always topped up with charge.
Longer drives are better because igniting the vehicle consumes a considerable amount of battery power. A long drive gives it time to regain the lost charge. If this isn’t possible then invest in a battery charger to plug in regularly and recharge your car battery.
Even better would be to invest in a smart battery charger. This one is programmed to sense when the battery is low on charge upon which it switches itself on and charges the battery. When the battery is full it automatically cuts off the electricity supply, which is crucial in avoiding damage to the battery due to overcharging. They also can recondition the battery.
Contrary to popular belief, trying to recharge your car battery by idling the engine isn’t an effective way of recharging, especially a dead battery. Alternators keep an already charged battery topped up, so using them to try and wake a dead battery wears out both the battery and the alternator. Even with all the care in the world, your battery will die eventually and you’ll need to replace it. This is an inevitable event that you need to save for in advance.
5. Accident Attorney
Given the statistics, every vehicle owner must come to terms with the fact that accidents happen on the road. So just like insurance, every car owner should consider including a car accident attorney in their list of auto services to save for. Accidents, the majority of the time are unexpected. When they do happen, they’re unpredictable and traumatic.
A lot of times they leave participants burdened with financial, emotional, and physical injuries to nurse. This is where accident attorneys come into play. They’re critical in advocating for those affected, assisting them navigate the legal system, and finding fair compensation for their injuries.
Another word for an auto accident lawyer is personal injury lawyer. They specialize in cases where individuals have been injured as a direct or indirect result of the negligence or other wrongdoing on the part of another party. Accident attorneys take care of their client’s best legal interests.
6. Paint Job
Painting is among the auto services to save for because one thing’s for sure; paints fade. With improved technology, paints last much longer nowadays but still, no matter how good the quality of paint you may use, it’ll end up fading. On top of that, your car’s paint job may develop scratches.
A paint job is one of those things car owners should expect will come sooner or later and are advised to save for it. You don’t want to keep your car paint faded, chipped, and scratched as this instantly lowers the value of your car and gives you a bad personal outlook. Painting is a professional service that should be rendered by qualified technicians who know their trade.
Depending on the job, professionals approach every paint job differently. Some of these differences come depending on whether the car’s being painted for the first time, or if it’s a repair job resulting from a collision. These are both different from a car that’s fading or badly scratched.
7. Suspension Maintenance
Your car’s suspension system is integral to its proper functioning. It’s also one of those things many owners rarely think about until it presents a problem. Vehicle suspensions provide better vehicle handling and safety when driving. As a system, it also protects other automotive systems like the brakes, the wheels, axles, and more.
As all of these parts are interconnected, a problem in one area can domino into other areas throughout the car. This is particularly true for truck repairs. For this reason, car and truck owners should include suspension maintenance in their list of auto services to save for.
To keep your suspension functioning in good condition, you need to always keep your wheels properly aligned. Maintaining proper wheel alignment optimizes the vehicle’s handling and protects the suspension. Also, ensure your tire pressure is always at the correct level. Regularly check your tire treads to get an idea of the health of your suspensions, drivetrain system, wheel alignment, and whether you need brake service.
8. Transmission System Maintenance
Your vehicle transmission system is a complex yet integral part of the proper functioning of the car. By regulating the power generated by the engine, it ensures the smooth running of your vehicle. It’s a group of parts that transmit power originating from the engine and sending it to the wheels, allowing your car to move.
Maintaining your transmission system properly enhances your car’s lifespan and performance. When the transmission system fails, your car fails. So, the importance of vehicle transmission care can’t be overstated.
Proper maintenance of such a sensitive area will also prevent costly repairs and replacements in other areas. Some of the ways you can tell you have a faulty transmission are if you have trouble shifting gears or you hear clunking or grinding sounds, if you notice a burning smell, or if your transmission fluid is leaking. Now, with an understanding of the importance of the transmission system and its maintenance, here are some tips to help keep the transmission system in top shape.
This is, of course, after you’ve included it in your list of auto services to save for. First, regularly check the transmission fluid and always change it in good time. Transmission fluid lubricates and cools the components of the system, preventing overheating due to friction and wear. Check the fluid for its quality and level.
When refilling, always refill it as per the car manufacturer’s recommendation. Lastly, drive well. Abrupt starts and stops strain the transmission system. Learn to accelerate and brake gradually so as to reduce the strain you put on the system performing these tasks and avoid transmission repairs.
These are some of the vehicle issues every car owner should anticipate even though they’re not all up in your face and quickly noticeable in the daily use of your car. Note them down somewhere and set aside a kitty for auto services to save for to avoid bad situations like your transmission system failing on you in the middle of nowhere. Understanding your particular vehicle model is equally as important because there may be issues specifically relevant to your model that you need to look out for. This ensures safe driving and a longer utility period for your vehicle.