Phoenix Car Repair Tips
Drivers in Phoenix know that if you want your car to last, you need to take care of it and that means maintenance. But when asked those same drivers what maintenance, their answers were lets say, light on details. For instance, the most common answer was getting your car’s oil changed, then when we asked ” how often you should get your oil changed” people were a bit less informed. Additionally, that was pretty much the same when asked about their belts and hoses, batteries, coolant fluid, windshield wipers, and so on.
So to help clear up some of that misinformation out there and help you keep your vehicle running as long as possible, here are a some facts from your friends at Perez Auto Repair.
Get Regular Oil Changes
Forgetting to get your oil changed is one of the worst and possibly most costly services to neglect. Oil is the blood of your cars engine and needs to stay healthy. It’s always better to spend a few dollars now, than to put it off and risk seizing your engine. If you use Standard oil it should be changed every 3,000 miles or 6 months and synthetic oil is every 6,000 miles or 18 months.
Maintenance Tip: Always consult your owners manual for the manufacturers recommendations on changing your oil.
Keep Your Battery & Battery Terminals Clean
As everyone know, your cars battery is very important. If neglected your battery and batteries terminals can begin to show signs of corrosion, this shows as a white powdery substance on the battery terminals. If you don’t keep them clean, your battery can start to malfunction, and possibly leave you stranded. Today like everything else, car batteries can be pretty expensive and the luxury brand cars are even more. Investing in a wire brush and keeping the terminals clean is time and money well spent.
Maintenance Tip: Visit Perez Auto Repair for a battery check every 6 months.
Air Filter Replacement
Your car’s air filters (one in the engine compartment and another that is generally behind the glove box) help to keep pollutants and dust from entering your engine and in through the vents. The air filters have a very important job, so you want to keep them maintained. Additionally, using an old air filter past its life can lead to some major problems for your AC system. Something nobody want to deal with when it’s completely preventable.
Maintenance Tip: You should get your air filters inspected regularly and changed every 12 months or 12,000 mile, sometimes more often in a dry dusty climate.
Windshield Wipers Replacement
Phoenix summers can he hot and that means you should regularly check your windshield wipers. If you discover you need new wipers the cost can vary. We recommend checking your wipers at least twice a year so you’re not caught in a sudden rain, be it a summer monsoon or a winter storm. Obviously, a dirty windshield or worn out wipers can significantly hamper your view not only endangers you and your passengers but also the people around you.
Maintenance Tip: Use your windshield wiper’s window cleaning function regularly to stay up-to-date on your windshield wipers effectives.
Get Your Tires Rotated
You can extend the life of your tires by getting them rotated regularly? All four tires on your car can wear down at different rates and switching them around will help them to wear more evenly. The front or back set of tires can wear down at different rates depending on your vehicle, your speed and roads conditions. Maintaining to rotate your tires can extend their life and keep you and you family safe longer.
Maintenance Tip: Rotate your tires every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or per your manufacturers recommendations.
Suspension System Inspection
Your suspension system is an intricate part of your vehicle that most people rarely think about, until it stops working and leaving you stranded on the road-side. One of the key elements of your vehicle’s suspension is the shocks and struts, these help maintain a smooth ride, and ignoring this issue can prematurely wear out your tires not to mention causing a very uncomfortable ride.
Maintenance Tip: Have your full suspension system checked every 15,000 to 30,000 miles.
Check Your Coolant Level
Coolant is a very important element of your vehicles cooling system and should always be maintained at a full level. If your coolant gets to low your vehicle can overheat and do some serious damage to your engine. Your coolant affects so many elements of you car from air conditioner to the heater, radiator and water pump and more. Something that impacts that much of your car’s overall health should never be neglected.
Maintenance Tip: Regularly check your coolant level whenever you get gas or are preparing for a long trip.
Check Your Spare Tire
The only thing worse than getting a flat tire is finding out the spare tire is low on air or flat. Resulting in you having to call a tow truck—which not only can take several hours out of your day or night, it can also cost you a lot of money depending on where your tire blew out.
Maintenance Tip: Always check your tires air pressure, including the spare at least once a month. Maintaining the appropriate air pressure will also help your gas mileage.
Belts and Hoses
You should inspect your belts and hoses at least once a year. Perform a visual inspection on your belts and hoses looking for anything with signs of wear and tear. If your belts and or hoses fail they can cause damage to essential components of your engine including but not limited to your cooling system, heater, air conditioner. For those hard to get to belts and hoses feel free to stop by Perez Auto Repair and we will be happy to check them out.
Maintenance Tip: Always follow your vehicles manufacturer’s recommendations for replacing your timing belt and serpentine belt. These are both critical to your engines health and a failure of these components can lead to critical failure in your engine.
At Perez Auto Repair of Phoenix we are always here to help you with any of the above mentioned services and would be happy to work with you on establishing a regular maintenance schedule for your vehicle. Contact Perez Auto Repair online via phone 602-269-3576 or stop into our facility located at 429 S. 35th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85009. Always keep your vehicle in good condition and ensure the safety of yourself, your loved ones, and those around you!