6 Essential Car Maintenance Checks

Power - by Joe Weber - updated on 9/20/2024

Car enthusiasts love keeping every part of their vehicles in perfect condition, but what about the rest of us? What does a typical car maintenance schedule look like? The good news is, you don't need to be a mechanic to take care of your car. Here are six simple maintenance checks anyone can do to keep their vehicle running smoothly.

1. Check Your Vehicle's Battery

How often should you do this?

Every six months (or every 6,000 miles)

Why It's Important:

Your vehicle's battery is sensitive to extreme temperatures, especially flooded lead-acid batteries. Checking its condition often can save you from getting stranded when the cold weather hits.

Tips:

• Drive for 30 uninterrupted minutes at highway speeds at least once a week, if possible. Short driving trips don't give your alternator enough time to recharge your battery.
• Learn how to test a car battery at home using a multimeter.
• Drive over to have Batteries Plus test your vehicle battery for free.
• If you have a vehicle that doesn't get driven very often, a battery maintainer will help keep it charged at a healthy level and ready to go when you need it.
• If you try to start your car and find you have a dead battery, follow these 5 Easy Steps To Jump Start Your Car.

2. Check Your Headlights, Turn Signals, Brake & Parking Lights

How often should you do this?

Monthly and as needed when preparing to take road trips.

Why It's Important:

The lights in your car–inside and outside–play a vital role in allowing you to see at night and communicate your intentions to other drivers.

Tips:

• Testing your lights is as simple as turning them on and walking around your vehicle to ensure everything lights up properly. Or, if they're interior lights, just make sure they illuminate when you turn them on.
• In addition to burned-out bulbs, you'll also want to replace any lights that are dimmer than they should be.
• Batteries Plus offers vehicle bulbs for turn signals, glove boxes, running lights, instrument panels, brake lights and headlights for most vehicles.
• Learn how to find the right headlight bulb for your car or truck.
• Always change headlight bulbs in pairs.

3. Check Your Windshield Wiper Blades

How often should you do this?

Every six months to a year, or whenever you notice that your blades' performance starts to suffer.

Why It's Important:

Old and worn windshield wiper blades are less effective at clearing your windshield, which can hinder visibility while driving in the rain.

Tips:

• Wiper blades can become damaged by exposure to heat, sunlight, moisture, debris, oil or car wax.
• Be sure to regularly clean the rubber squeegee part of your wiper blades with a damp paper towel. This will help to remove any dirt or oil that has built up.
• Check to be sure that the wiper blade frame isn't broken or rusted.
• Look for metal corrosion along the wiper blade's joints and claws.
• Cracks, tears and missing pieces of rubber are all signs that your wiper blades are deteriorating and need replacement.
• Gently flex the rubber squeegee to make sure it is still flexible. If not, the blade will not conform to the shape of your windshield and will leave streaks.
• Rounded edges on the squeegee will prevent the blade from making solid contact with your windshield.
• Batteries Plus offers replacement windshield wiper blades in several different sizes and styles.

4. Check Your Oil & Coolant Levels

How often should you do this?

Monthly. Change your oil every 3,000 miles or what is recommended in the manual.

Why It's Important:

Oil lubricates the components in your engine, helping to cut down on friction and helping to reduce heat. Without proper oil levels, your engine can overheat or even seize. Engine coolant, more commonly known as antifreeze, also helps to keep your engine from overheating by transferring heat and preventing damage caused by freezing or boiling.

Tips:

• Let your engine cool down for several minutes before attempting to check your oil or coolant.
• Don't overfill your engine with oil. Too much oil can also cause damage.
• Only use fluids that meet the manufacturer's specifications. Your owner's manual will provide you with the type of oil and coolant to use.
• Clean around the oil dipstick and coolant reservoir cap before removing them. This will help keep contaminants out of your engine.
• If you notice that your vehicle regularly needs its fluids topped off, have your car or truck checked out at an auto repair shop to check for leaks or other issues.
• Don't forget to have your oil changed every 3,000 miles or six months.

5. Check Your Transmission Fluid

How often should you do this?

Generally every 3 months or at every oil change.

Why It's Important:

Transmission fluid lubricates and cools the mechanical parts of your transmission system. In some vehicles, it may also be used in the power steering system, but most modern vehicles use a separate power steering fluid for that purpose.

Tips:

• Keep the engine running when checking transmission fluid, then test its levels on the transmission dipstick.

  It's important to note that you cannot check the transmission fluid easily on all vehicles. Some require you to check the level using a plug in the transmission itself and should be left to the experts.

• You should also check the color of your transmission fluid. Transmission fluid should be a pinkish/red color indicating that the fluid is still fine.
  • If the fluid is brown in color you'll want to have it changed. Also, consider having the transmission fluid changed every 50,000 miles.
• If the fluid is black, gives off a burnt smell or has visible particles in it, it means that there's something wrong with your transmission and you'll want to have it looked at by a mechanic.

6. Check Your Tire Pressure & Tread Depth

How often should you do this?

At least once a month.

Why It's Important:

Maintaining proper tire pressure is crucial for safety, comfort, longevity, and fuel efficiency. Low tire pressure increases friction, leading to quicker wear, heat buildup, and the risk of a blowout, while high-pressure results in a harder ride with reduced traction and longer stopping distances. Improperly inflated tires wear out unevenly and prematurely, shortening their lifespan, and can also lower fuel efficiency by up to 3%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy  , making proper inflation a simple way to save on gas and extend tire life.

Tips:

• Always fill your tires to the pressure recommended in your owner's manual. This generally falls between 30 and 35 PSI but some vehicles require more. The recommended tire pressure will be stated in the manual and usually on a sticker on the door.
• Check your tire pressure when your vehicle has been at rest for some time.
• Hot & cold temperatures can affect your tire pressure, with tires losing or gaining 1-2 PSA for every ten-degree change in temperature.
• Digital or dial tire gauges are more accurate and easier to read than stick gauges.
• Having a compact air compressor or tire inflator allows you to fill your tires without finding an air pump at a gas station.
• The easiest way to test your tread depth is to place a penny headfirst into the tire tread. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, your treads are worn and the tire should be replaced.
• Don't forget to rotate your tires every six months.

Shop Batteries Plus for All Your Auto Essentials

Visit our Auto Center, your one-stop-shop for everything automotive, including a selection of chargers, jumper cables, auto fuses, cleaning supplies and more. We also offer several additional vehicle services, including car battery installation (at most locations on most makes and models), battery testing, key cutting, key fob battery replacement and new key fob programming.

Looking for additional car maintenance tips? You'll find plenty of useful articles in our blog like "Everything You Need to Know About the Battery in Your Car or Truck" or "How Do You Keep a Car Battery from Dying When Not In Use?".