The Ultimate Checklist for Car Maintenance

Your car is probably one of the most expensive items you own so it pays to keep it in good condition.

A regular car maintenance service will keep your car in prime condition, extend its life and make it more sellable when you wish to trade it in for another.

What is the most important thing about car maintenance? Make sure it happens regularly and to a professional standard.

Things you can do on a car maintenance checklist

What regular maintenance can you do on your vehicle? Make your owner’s manual your best friend as it contains all the specifications for your car. Here is a monthly car maintenance checklist to help you service your vehicle at home.

When you book your car for a service, the car mechanic in Melbourne will automatically attend to every item on this checklist.

• Oil: check the level, change oil and oil filter (every 5000 kms or 3 months, whichever comes first)
• Air and fuels filters: check and change if needed
• Brakes: test for unresponsiveness
• Coolant and fluids (brake, differential, gearbox, power steering, radiator): check they are not below the minimum or above the maximum
• Battery: check for corrosion on terminals, clean and top up with distilled water if needed
• Fan belt: check they are not loose and there is no squeaking when you start the car
• Hoses: look for cracks, leaks and pliability
• Tyres: check the pressure and rotate them if the tread is worn (don’t forget the spare!)
• Seatbelts: check tension and see if the belt buckle is still working
• Lights: replace the bulbs if necessary
• Windscreen wipers: replace every 12 months or if leaving smears.

Here are two other easy things that should be attended to. One, find your toolkit, check that everything in it works (for instance, the jack) and replace any missing tools. Your local mechanic should be able to advise you on the best brands. Two, clean your car inside and out at least once a month. These won’t just make your car look and smell nice. Washing and vacuuming prevent rust, corrosion, mould and allergies. Another incentive is that a clean car is free of food particles, making it unattractive as a home for spiders and other bugs.

What should a car maintenance service include?

If you regularly perform a monthly check on the above items, you may wonder, what happens when you book in for a car service? There’s only so much monitoring and fixing that can be done before you will need to book in for a thorough service with a licensed automotive mechanic.

Sometimes, wear and tear in a car engine will result in strange noises and odd movements. These are signs that your car needs professional help. You should book a vehicle maintenance schedule service at least once a year and every six months for older models. If you attend to these sooner than later, your car will last longer, and your drive will be more pleasant and safe.

Automotive mechanics will use a comprehensive car preventive maintenance checklist to make sure the following are working up to the manufacturer’s standards:

• Overall engine health: turning smoothly
• Differential (front and rear): lubricate, check fluid level
• Lights (front, back, parkers, brake lights and turn signals): align, replace light bulbs
• Battery: clean terminals and check if replacement needed
• Spark plugs: check and change if needed
• Coolant: check levels (not below the minimum or above the maximum)
• Transmission: check fluid level and that gear changes are smooth with no shuddering
• Brakes and brake fluid: replace worn brake pads, check rotors and fluid level
• Wheel alignment: rotate tyres and check alignment is true
• Windscreen wipers and fluid: replace worn wipers, check fluid levels
• Suspension and steering: check shocks and struts every 80,000 kms
• Tuning: if needed.

Your VW Mechanic in Melbourne can also order spare replacement parts according to the manufacturer’s recommendation or find suitable equivalents if parts no longer exist for your particular make and model.

Why you should have a regular car maintenance service

Not looking after your car – faulty brakes, lights not working, and so on – could result in your car not being roadworthy. It could prove embarrassing if the police stop you for a random roadworthy check and possibly fatal if you are involved in an accident.

Conclusion:

It’s a good idea to keep a car maintenance checklist in your glove compartment. It helps you keep track of items that need regular attention, so you don’t forget anything important or overlook any safety issues.