The life of your car is in your hands. That sounds heavy, but it's true: the more you take care of your car, the longer it will last. And that means saving money in the long run and reducing emissions too! Here are five common maintenance services every driver should know about:
Oil Change
An oil change is a routine service that should be performed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles depending on your vehicle. An oil change involves draining the old oil and replacing it with new oil. This prevents any build-up of dirt and grime in your engine, which can cause damage over time. It also helps extend the life of your car's engine because you're keeping all its important parts clean and properly lubricated.
If you have maintained your car well by following manufacturer recommendations for changing the oil at regular intervals, then an annual or semi-annual checkup should suffice as long as there are no warning signs indicating that something needs attention (such as a rattling under the hood). If not, consider having someone else do it rather than trying yourself if you're not familiar with what might go wrong—or worse still: causing further damage!
Tire Rotation
Tire rotation is a crucial auto repair New Jersey that many people forget to think about. Tires wear unevenly, so they need to be rotated every 5,000 miles or six months in order to even out the wear on each tire. If you don't rotate your tires, you risk having one of them blow out while driving, which can be dangerous (not to mention expensive). The best way to rotate the tires is by rotating front-to-back, side-to-side and diagonal (each rotation will take up 3/4 of the tread).
Brake Inspection
Brakes are the most important safety feature on your car. There's a reason why they're called "safety brakes," after all. They need to be checked regularly, especially if you're driving in an area with lots of hills or mountains, which require more braking power than flat roads do. In general, you should have your brakes inspected at least once a year if you drive frequently—and more often if you use them heavily.
The first thing that should be checked is whether the pads (the part that actually touches the metal disc) have worn down to less than 1/16th of an inch from their original thickness (this is usually measured from where the pad meets the rotor). If so, it's time for new ones; otherwise, resurfacing may be necessary instead. Brake discs also wear down over time—many manufacturers recommend replacing them every 25,000 miles or so depending on how much you drive and what kind of discs were installed in your car when it was built. Some manufacturers offer lifetime warranties against warping for premium grade replacement rotors; others will charge extra for this feature since it's not guaranteed by federal law but rather by state laws requiring certain standards of quality control at certain intervals during manufacturing processes etc…
Transmission Fluid Service
Transmission fluid lubricates the transmission, allowing it to shift gears smoothly. As a result, transmission fluid is one of the most important fluids in your car—it keeps your car running smoothly and effectively. That’s why it's recommended that you change your transmission fluid at least once every 20,000 miles (32,000 km).
You should also consider changing your transmission fluid if:
You hear a whining or grinding sound when shifting gears
The steering wheel shudders when braking or accelerating quickly
There is a burning smell coming from under the hood
Battery Inspection
A battery inspection is a quick way to make sure your vehicle's battery will start the car when you need it. If the battery terminals are corroded, or if there is water inside the battery case, this may be an indication that there is a problem with the electrolyte solution in your battery. You should also check for corrosion on the positive and negative cables themselves as well as wear on their clamps. To perform a thorough inspection of your car's battery:
Remove any corrosion from around each terminal using sandpaper or an abrasive sponge
Check that there is no more than one-quarter inch (0.6 cm) of fluid between the bottom of each cell and its cover (you'll know if there isn't enough by how much they bubble when you shake them up). Also ensure that there aren't any bubbles rising through your solution; this means it needs to be replaced
Check all connections for corrosion or wearing away of insulation material
Maintaining your car will help it run better for longer
Routine car maintenance is important because it helps your car run better for longer, which can save you money in the long run. Regularly maintaining your vehicle is also a good way to avoid costly repairs and breakdowns.
In order to find a good mechanic, look at customer reviews and make sure they have experience working on cars similar to yours. It's also important that a mechanic has access to parts for your make and model of vehicle; if you have an older car or one that was made by a smaller manufacturer, there may not be many auto repair shops in Jersey City that have the necessary parts available at their shop. But don't just take our word for it! Here are some questions you should ask any mechanic before agreeing on work:
How much experience do they have? What kind of training did they undergo?
Do they offer warranties? Are those warranties honored by another shop if needed later down the line?
By taking care of your car, you can keep it running smoothly for a long time. It’s important to remember that regular maintenance doesn’t just mean changing the oil—you also need to make sure that other parts of your vehicle are in good working order as well. That way, when those big repairs do come along (and they will), you won’t have any surprises about how much work is needed or what kind of bills might be coming down the line. By taking these simple steps now, you can save yourself from spending more money later