Table of Contents
The Phoenix sun can do a number on our vehicles. Whether your car is driven daily or has been sitting around for a while, there are some things you can do to help keep your car running smoothly here in the Valley. To help you avoid expensive repairs, we have crafted a car maintenance checklist for residents in the Valley.
How to Check Your Tire Pressure
The first thing on our car maintenance checklist to be familiar with is the process of inspecting your tire pressure. Keeping a tire pressure gauge in your car is always a good idea. Many newer vehicle models will let you know your car has low tire pressure, but if you think your tires are looking a little low, or your ride doesn’t feel as smooth as it once did, don’t eyeball it. Your tires should say what level your PSI should be. For most smaller cars, it is around 32 and 35 PSI. Trucks and larger vehicles may need a bit more, around 50 or 60 PSI. Need more instruction? This vid walks you through checking your tire pressure.
How to Check Your Oil & Fluid Levels
Making sure your oils and fluids are maintaining their levels is one of the best ways to keep your vehicle driving for years. Regularly checking your engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, and power steering fluid levels will keep you behind the wheel of your car for a long time. Learn more about how to check your vehicle’s fluid.
How to Change a Tire
When you have a flat or blow a tire, it is always helpful to know how to change a tire yourself. A lot of vehicles will have a small but dependable jack in the trunk that will help you hoist your car up as well as loosen and remove the lug-nuts on the tire. Once you’ve completed this step on the car maintenance checklist, you’re ready to pull off the old tire and put the new one on. After you’ve secured the tire back on, you’re ready to lower your car again and get back on the road. Here’s a video on how to change a tire that should make it a cakewalk for even the most novice tire changer.
How to Repair Your Brakes
When you need new brakes, auto repair shops are known to exaggerate the damage and quote you an outrageous bill. Thanks to YouTube and websites like Rock Auto, it’s much easier and more cost-effective than ever to handle the repair yourself at home. Brake repair is incredibly easy, and with just a little elbow grease, you’ll reduce a $600-$800 bill to less than $200 if you decide to replace your whole system. All you have to do is search for a tutorial using the make and model of your vehicle, order the tools you need on Amazon, and find someone who can lend a hand.
How to Change Your Oil
Taking your vehicle in for routine maintenance and oil changes is essential, but many of us like to be able to do some of the more basic services on our cars ourselves. If you’re one of those do-it-yourselfers, here’s a step by step guide on changing your own oil.
How to Recharge Your A/C
If your A/C isn’t quite as cold as it used to be, you may want to consider getting an air conditioning recharger. You can find these cans with everything you need in the auto department of Walmart, or at your local auto parts store for around $20 – $30 in most cases.
How to Jump-Start Your Car Battery
There are a few things you should keep in your car at all times, and one of them is a set of jumper cables. If you’re ever in need of a jump, it helps to have your own cables. Here’s everything you need to know about jump-starting your battery.
How to Mind Your Fuel Guage
You may not realize it, but allowing your vehicle to run low on fuel is a major strain on your engine and can lead to more issues down the road. That makes it really important to keep your fuel gauge happy and not wear out your engine early.
