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10 Car Maintenance Tips to Save You Money on your used car!

by Trevor Riggs - Posted 3 years ago

10 Car Maintenance Tips to Save You Money on your used car!

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 to discover on your used car is your spare is flat while you’re pulling the jack out of your trunk. That’s when you’ll need to call a tow truck—which can run you hundreds of dollars. It’s better to spend a few dollars on an air pump to inflate your spare. That way you’re spared the cost of a tow.

2. Change the oil.

How much can your car’s oil affect your budget? Oh, plenty. Oil problems can be some of the costliest car maintenance issues to fix, since oil affects a lot of your car’s functions. It’s better to spend as little as $25 to get the oil changed than to put it off and risk wearing out your engine—which costs a lot more than $25 to replace.

  • Deals on Wheels will do FREE fluid checks for our customers

3.Check Your Battery. Corrosion (which looks like white or bluish powder) can form on the terminals of your battery. If you don’t keep them clean, the battery could develop a crack or not function properly, leaving you stranded. Since a quality car battery can cost upwards of $100—and a tow can run you even more—buying a $5 wire brush and keeping the terminals looking spiffy is money well spent.

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. A new set can cost up to $300 for all four wheels, plus the labor charge if a professional installs them. We know that price tag may seem hefty. But being able to stop before rear-ending that Lexus in front of you is priceless.

  • Deals on Wheels has relationships with several local used car mechanics and can save you money on repairs

 

 

5. Replace your air filter.

Your car’s air filter keeps pollutants from coming in through the vents. The air filter has a pretty important job, so you want to treat it 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. Replacing your full AC unit can run anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000.

6. Get new windshield wipers.

Depending on the make and model of your car, buying new windshield wipers can run you from $30 to $50 for the pair. While that seems like a hefty price tag for something so small, efficient wipers are a necessity when you’re out on the open road. After all, if you can’t see the road, you really shouldn’t be driving. And if you don’t clean the windshield, dirt can build up over time and may even cause the glass to break down. Just remember, new windshield wipers are much cheaper than a brand-new windshield ($100 to $500).

7. Get your tires rotated.

Did you know you can easily extend the life of your tires just by rotating them every so often? It’s true! All four tires on your car do not wear down in the same way. Sometimes the front or back set of tires can wear down at different rates depending on your car, your speed and your roads. Rotate those tires and you can extend their life and save yourself $400 to $800 for a brand-new set of four.

8. Check the shocks, springs and struts (suspension system).

The suspension system is one of the intricate parts of your car that you most likely take for granted. Most of us rarely think about it—until it stops doing its job and makes a roller coaster ride out of your ride. If you find that one of the shocks does need to be replaced, make sure to replace all four of them. We know, it’s sad but true.

9. Check your coolant.

If you don’t stay on top of changing your coolant, you run the risk of serious corrosion inside your car. The coolant affects everything from the heater and air conditioner to the radiator and water pump. For something that impacts that much of your car’s overall health, you don’t want to skip the maintenance on this one.

  • Deals on wheels offers free fluid checks to our customers for the entire life of their loan.

10. Inspect your belts and hoses.

Giving your belts and hoses a once-over can save you from a huge mechanic bill later on down the road. Worn-down belts can cause other damage to essential components of your car. And if you have a weak radiator hose, it could go belly up completely, which would cause your engine to overheat and not run at all. That’s bad news.