Car repairs can hit even the most frugal person like a ton of bricks. Nothing can put a damper on your finances like unexpected vehicle repairs. Thankfully, there are many ways to protect yourself against the worst-case scenario. If you want to avoid costly vehicle repairs, follow these maintenance tips, and thank me later.
1. Check Your Spare Tire
Your spare tire is one of the most essential parts of your vehicle, yet it is arguably one of the most overlooked. Every few months, check the quality of your spare; if it’s underinflated or worn, it will be useless in any situation where you may need to use it! Towing your vehicle is prohibitively expensive, and it’s far cheaper to slap on a spare tire temporarily than to tow your vehicle and buy a new tire outright.
2. Wash the Underside of Your Vehicle
I’m surprised how many drivers ignore their vehicle’s undercarriage! Most cars and trucks (especially 4×4 vehicles) have exposed undercarriages prone to rust over time. So the next time you wash your vehicle, give preferential treatment to the underside of it, or else you may be faced with significant repair bills down the road once rust takes hold.
3. Check Your Tire Treads
Uneven wear on your tires could mean many things, from improper wheel alignment to defective tires. Get ahead of a potentially catastrophic situation by thoroughly inspecting all four tires every few months.
Trust me, you don’t want to be driving when one of your tires fails. Replacing a tire is easy and relatively inexpensive compared to the sky-high cost of getting into an accident because a tire blew up.
4. Change Your Oil
Most independent garages or oil-change chains charge anywhere from $30 to $60 per oil change on average, but for just a few dollars, you can do it yourself and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with it. Changing your oil is arguably the most common maintenance tip; the more you change your oil, the more you will stave off unexpected mechanical breakdowns in your engine!
5. Keep the Battery Clean
Your vehicle’s battery has many corrosive components, so keeping the battery (and its surrounding engine compartment) as clean as possible is in your best interest. Pay special attention to the connectors, as they are most likely to fall apart over time.
While batteries aren’t expensive to replace in the grand scheme of things, keeping overall repair costs down is the goal every driver should consider.
6. Don’t Drive Like a Maniac
In all likelihood, you (along with the rest of modern drivers) probably drive like an absolute maniac.
Aggressive driving can contribute to wear and tear on your vehicle in countless ways. Your engine, radiator, brake system, electronics, and numerous other vehicle parts can take a beating, but only to a certain point; eventually, they’ll need replacing. You can extend your car’s or truck’s lifespan (and avoid costly repairs) by driving responsibly.
7. Don’t Overload Your Vehicle
Think about it: Your car will suffer when overloaded with people, luggage, and other heavy things. Your vehicle’s suspension is finite; over time, it will sag and need repairs, so it’s up to you to be responsible enough to ensure that the suspension isn’t excessively weighed down.
Replacing a suspension is one the most costly repairs a car owner can encounter, so protect yourself by never volunteering to help your friends move (and other weight-saving measures)!
8. Replace Your Cabin Air Filter
Changing your cabin air filter is one of the most straightforward forms of vehicle maintenance. In most modern cars, it’s as simple as opening your glove box, finding the “hidden” door that covers your air filter, and then swapping out the used filter for a new one. Cabin filters can be found on Amazon for a few dollars, making it far more economically feasible than paying a mechanic to do it.
9. Rotate Your Tires
Uneven tire wear can cause your gas mileage to go down in a best-case scenario, but the worst-case scenario involves tire blowouts while speeding down a busy highway. Always remember to rotate your tires regularly; this will help them wear evenly and prevent unforeseen trips to the tire shop. Experts advise rotating your tires every 5,000–8,000 miles.
10. Use Your Air Conditioning in Winter
Car air conditioning units have thousands of moving parts, and trust me, you don’t want to find out how much money it takes to repair them! While there’s no surefire way to ensure your air conditioning stands the test of time, you can shift the odds in your favor by turning on your air conditioning as much as possible, even in winter! By doing so, you’ll decrease the chances of any moving parts seizing in cold weather, which you do not want to happen.
11. Don’t Ignore Small Nicks or Damage
You should never ignore little nicks, dents, and other minor damage to your car’s exterior. Chips in windshields can grow into large cracks, and tiny dents can quickly develop rust if left unattended. Vehicle maintenance is all about thinking two steps ahead and doing your due diligence to ensure you’re never faced with an unexpected repair bill, so keep your eyes peeled for minor damage that can be easily fixed!
12. Keep Tire Valve Caps On
Here’s an eye-opening statistic: On average, 11,000 collisions occur annually due to blown tires. So, if you’re keen on keeping yourself (and other drivers) out of the hospital while ensuring your car doesn’t end up in the shop, employ common-sense logic like keeping your valve caps on. This tactic will ensure air leakage is kept to a minimum and your vehicle’s tires operate correctly.
13. Keep Diligent Records
A significant aspect of maintaining your vehicle is keeping proper records. Many drivers confess that it gives them peace of mind and a sense of satisfaction because they can easily track the work done on the car. Without proper records, any random mechanic can claim your vehicle needs any number of repairs! Keep mechanics on their toes by keeping diligent notes of your vehicle’s history.
14. Clean Your Upholstery
Front seats wear out, leather cracks and fades, and synthetic surfaces can crumble over time. Maintaining your car’s interior is just as important as keeping the exterior in good shape, so don’t let anything slide under your radar. Replacing entire seats is expensive, so it’s always more cost-efficient to fix minor problems in your upholstery than letting your car seats slowly erode.
15. Check Radiator Coolant
As a teenager, I ignored my father’s desperate plea to pay attention to the coolant level in my Jeep’s radiator. I was young and dumb then and ultimately paid the price via an outrageous repair bill at my local mechanic.
Don’t be like me—check your radiator’s coolant level every few weeks, especially if you live in a warmer climate. It’s one of the simplest ways to stay on top of your vehicle’s recommended maintenance schedule.
16. Park Away From Other Cars
A good rule of thumb is to always treat your car like it’s the most expensive vehicle on the block. Using this methodology, do whatever you can to ensure your car stays pristine. I always park away from other vehicles in parking lots, avoid street parking, and only let others drive my car if I ride with them. Although it seems obsessive, it’s the only way to ensure I don’t have to pay for repairs when my car gets accidentally dinged.
17. Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated
Maintaining your tires is more than always being mindful of their tread and general wear; keeping them properly inflated is paramount! Improperly inflated tires can cause blowouts, affect fuel economy, and negatively impact your suspension, shocks, and vehicle frame. Sometimes, the easiest maintenance is the most straightforward: Keep your tires inflated to the manufacturer’s suggested air pressure and steer clear of the repair shop.
18. Inspect All Belts and Hoses
Ask anybody about the most ludicrously expensive car repair bill they’ve ever had, and there’s a decent chance they talk about their disbelief at how much a serpentine belt costs to replace! Belts and hoses wear down effortlessly over time, and you can save time and money by regularly inspecting them. To sweeten the deal even further, most engine bay hoses are incredibly easy to replace yourself.
19. Protect Your Vehicle From the Sun
Your vehicle’s paint will fade over time, but it’s up to you to decide how long that process will take! Repainting your car is no small cost, so combat that potential expense by continuously protecting your vehicle from the sun. For some, that will mean parking it under shade; for others, it means using a pop-up carport to protect it. Whatever choice you make, keep your car’s best interests in mind.
20. Make Sure All Lights Operate Correctly
When your lights go out, accidents are sure to follow. From your brake lights alerting vehicles behind you what you’re doing to your headlights illuminating the road ahead, every light in your car has a purpose. When one fails, the odds of an accident increase, so ensuring all lights are in good working order will help keep costly repair bills at bay.
21. Never Ignore the Check-Engine Light
A general rule of thumb is that if the check engine light is on, you should take your car to a shop at your convenience. However, if the check engine light is blinking or (even worse) pulsating, stop driving immediately! The critical element is not letting your check engine light advance to the blinking or pulsating stage, which is a surefire sign of a costly repair in your future.
22. Get Frequent Washes and Waxes
Although most high-end hand washes and waxes are prohibitively expensive, they are a bargain compared to the cost of painting your vehicle from top to bottom down the road. A quality wax offers unparalleled protection for your car’s paint job. Prospective car buyers regard a well-cared-for paint job as one of the surefire signs that the vehicle has been taken care of, so don’t overlook this vital aspect of vehicle ownership.
23. Clean Your Engine
Keeping your engine bay clean is one of the most underrated aspects of routine vehicle maintenance. Dirt, dust, and other small particles can easily trap themselves in corrosive areas underneath your vehicle’s hood, leading to costly repairs. After ensuring the engine is cold to the touch, feel free to use a clean, wet rag and wipe away as much dirtiness as possible.
24. Always Secure Roof Loads
Stowing luggage on your vehicle’s roof is an efficient way to haul things without attaching a trailer to the back of your car or truck. However, avoid senseless wear and tear on your roof by properly securing anything you put on top of it. Simple tools like bungee cords and rope go a long way in preserving the lifespan of your roof; I’ve seen many crumble under the weight of too much luggage.