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10 Key Car Checks & Repairs To Keep On Top Of

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Being a car owner definitely, makes life easier for us all. Not only can you hop in your vehicle at a moments notice and head to wherever you like, but you can also get around so much easier on an everyday basis. There’s nothing quite like the freedom of car ownership. But, owning a car comes with a lot of responsibility too. The roads can be dangerous, so you need to make sure that your car is not only safe to be on the road, but safe for you to drive too.

Whether you own your own car or you’ve found something suitable with auto finance, you’ll know that there are a few checks that you ought to keep on top on. For both safety and reliability, and to ensure that your car stays in good shape for as long as possible, there are ten key checks that you should aim to keep an eye on throughout the year.

Engine Oil

Most cars run with oil in the engine. Because these engines need oil to function, we need to make sure that the oil levels are topped up and never fall below the minimum. If you stick to the service recommendations that the manufacturer has stated, the auto shop should make sure that your oil is where it should be. But, if you’re heading on a long journey, you should check the levels yourself and top them up if they’re too low. This can help prevent a breakdown

Glass Repair

It’s important to make sure that all of the glass in your car is clear and scratch free, but your windscreen is often the most important to keep on top of. Because you tend to use this more than the other windows, and it’s at the front of the car, it can often get dirtier and marked a lot more than any other. If you find a chip on your windscreen, you may need to get someone like http://www.actionglassmi.com/auto-glass-grand-rapids/ to take a look at it and make any necessary repairs. This will prevent further cracks or breakages in your windscreen.

Seat Belts

We all know that one of the most important safety features in any car is the seat belts. They’re there for our own protection. However, sometimes, simply putting them on isn’t enough to ensure that we’re safe. We need to make sure that they are still working correctly. Your dealer may check this for you whenever you have a service, but it’s worth giving your seat belts an extra check over every time you get in the car. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

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Tyres

Tyre health and safety is extremely important on any car. If your tyres are unsafe, they can often burst while you’re driving. And if this were to happen when you’re drying on the freeway or at a higher than average speed, it could cause a dangerous accident. So, you’re going to want to make sure you check your tyres regularly. This will be done at your service, but you need to ensure that the pressure, tread, and depth are all in line.

Lights

When the mornings are a little misty or the nights are dark, using our lights is like second nature. But is checking them? You don’t want to wait until you have a long night journey to discover that you have a bulb out. Instead, you’re going to want to do a quick every now and again to make sure that your lights and brake lights are all working correctly. It’s important that they are to prevent accidents.

Brakes

Up there with the idea of our seat belts being one of the most important safety features in any car are brakes. To be able to stop your car safely and quick, especially in emergencies, your brakes need to be working well. Again, these will be checked at any auto shop when you have services done, but you need to make sure that they’re working at all times. This link www.dummies.com/home-garden/car-repair/brakes-bearings/how-to-check-disc-brakes/ can help you to check your brakes yourself, just to be sure.

Engine Water

Like oil, car engines also need water to run. This is to ensure that they don’t overheat while you’re driving. So, if you let your engine water run low or completely run out, your engine may overheat if the fan can’t do enough to cool it down. To stop this from happening, you’re going to want to make sure that your engine water levels are between the minimum and maximum at all times.

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Airbags

Also, another key safety feature in every car is the airbags. Whether you’re checking your car, your husband or wife’s car, or even the car your teen drives, it’s in your best interest to ensure that the airbags are working correctly. If you were to be in an accident, you’re going to want to make sure they’re not faulty. This is something you should speak to your dealer about.

Screen Wash

As with your windscreen glass check, you’re going to want to make sure that you can keep your screen clear of dirt, as well as chips and scrapes. To be able to drive safely, you need to be able to see out of your windscreen clearly. This is where your screen wash comes in. If it dries up, you need to refill it as soon as you can, because if your screen gets dirty and you can’t see, it could cause an accident.

Toolkit

Having a toolkit in your car can be super handy, especially the basics like this http://uk.complex.com/sports/2013/06/12-things-every-man-should-keep-in-the-car-at-all-times/a-basic-toolkit. If you were to have a problem, you could then do your best to fit it, or at least get your car running so that you can take it to the nearest shop.