Preventive maintenance
Keeping up with your car maintenance probably isn’t the most thrilling item on your to-do list. But paying a little bit of routine attention (and cash) on your vehicle is completely worth it—for your safety and your savings. We’ve got 13 car maintenance tips that can keep your car out of the shop, and keep you from having to buy a new vehicle as long as possible. Take a look!
1. Check your spare tire.
It’s just as important to keep the backup tire inflated as it is the four tires under your car. The last thing you want is to discover your spare is flat while you’re pulling the jack out of your trunk. It’s better to spend a dollar at the air pump every few months to inflate your spare than to spend hundreds on a tow truck in your time of need.
Maintenance tip: Test the air pressure of your driving tires and your spare tire once a month.
2. Change the oil.
How much can skipping oil changes affect your budget? Oh, plenty. Oil problems can be some of the costliest car maintenance issues to fix, since oil affects pretty much everything your car does. So don’t skip it. Getting your oil (and filter) changed costs around $35–75.1 For the price of a family dinner at a higher-end fast food joint, you’ll lower the risk of wearing out your engine—which costs a lot more than burgers and fries to replace.
Maintenance tip: Change the oil every 5,000 miles or follow your car manufacturer’s recommendations.
3. Keep the battery clean.
Over time, corrosion (which looks like white or bluish powder) can form on the terminals of your car’s battery (those little metal knobs on top). If you don’t keep them clean, the battery could develop a crack or simply not function, leaving you stranded. Since a quality car battery can cost upward of $250—and a tow can run you even more—buying a $5 wire brush and keeping the terminals looking spiffy is money well spent.2
Maintenance tip: Test your battery twice a year and inspect it for corrosion.
4. Replace the brake pads.
Do you hear a squeaking sound when you hit the brakes? If so, your brake pads could be on their last legs. Replacements can cost up to $300 per axel, plus the labor charge if a professional installs them.3 We know that price tag may seem hefty. But this isn’t something to mess around with. You can’t just screech to a stop with your feet like Fred Flintstone. Don’t get in an accident. Keep your brakes working.
Maintenance tip: Check the brake fluid every time you change the oil to be sure it’s not dark in color. If it is, you’ll need to change the brake system sooner rather than later.
5. Replace your cabin air filter.
Your car’s cabin air filter keeps pollutants from coming in through the vents. It’s a pretty important job, so treat your air filter well. Plus, using an old air filter long past its life can lead to major problems for your air conditioning system. And trust us, you don’t want that. Servicing the AC unit can cost around $430–521, but replacing it is more like $1,319–2,515.4
Maintenance tip: Change your cabin air filter every 12 months or 12,000 miles.
6. Get new windshield wipers.
Depending on the make and model of your car, buying new windshield wipers can run you $50–61 for parts and labor.5 While that seems like a hefty price tag for something so small, this is another time when safety is the priority. After all, if you can’t see the road, you really shouldn’t be driving. It. Isn’t. Safe. Repairing or replacing your car after a crash will cost you way more than new wipers.
