Like any machine, cars need routine maintenance to ensure optimal performance and safety. With so many parts, it can be difficult to determine which ones need the most attention. It’s obviously costly to do complete overhauls on your car regularly, so it’s better to focus on the parts that wear down quicker. The following are the most common auto parts that require you to do routine maintenance:
Transmission
Aggressive driving, insufficient gearbox oil levels, and incorrect shifting can cause issues with your transmission, which will then affect the performance of your car. Your vehicle might not be able to move, take a long time to go into gear, and leak transmission fluid. You should get your car examined thoroughly at a transmission repair shop, of which are plenty in Salt Lake City. They’ll be able to inspect your transmission to see if there are problems and recommend the appropriate services to be done.
Brake Pads
Brakes keep you safe on the road by allowing you to bring your vehicle to a complete stop. The mechanism for braking includes a ceramic pad that presses against a metal disc which then stops your car. Since braking is as essential to driving as accelerating, the constant use of this feature means that the ceramic pads wear down quickly over time and need replacing.
If you notice that your brakes make a screeching sound, vibrate excessively, don’t respond quickly, or if your car pulls to one side, it’s probably a good idea to consult a professional mechanic to assess the condition of your brake pads.
Spark Plugs
Spark plugs are located in your car’s engine. They’re what generates the spark that ignites the air and fuel in your car which, in turn, powers your engine. Spark plugs corrode over time and if you don’t replace them soon enough, they can misfire and put stress on your car’s converter, cause internal power issues, and waste fuel. There are plenty of ways to know when to change your spark plugs, but the most obvious ways to tell would be if you have trouble starting your car or if your engine is producing a rough, jittery sound while idle.
Battery
Your car battery is one of the more neglected parts of your vehicle since it’s hidden under the hood. It’s also one of the most important parts of a vehicle. For this reason, you should remind yourself to regularly check its condition and replace it if it seems that the voltage is dropping significantly. Ignoring it could lead to a dead battery and you run the risk of becoming stranded anywhere.
Most cars will have a check engine light on their dashboard to inform owners that their battery isn’t working at full capacity. A weak battery results in things like inefficiently powered electronics (such as your light and radio), a slow starting engine, and a misshapen battery case.
Tires
Without tires, your car would just be scrap metal. It’s important to keep your tires in good shape to ensure your safety on the road. Always make sure that your tires are inflated and aligned before you go for a drive. Worn-out tires could easily blow out and put you in serious danger in inclement weather. When you change your oil, you should have your tires checked and rotated too.
Your car is a durable machine, but it also needs to be taken care of too. You can avoid costly auto repairs and ensure your safety by doing routine maintenance on your car.
