It’s one thing to buy a roadworthy car, but it’s something else entirely to keep it that way. Any car expert will tell you to have regular check-ups for your car, but you may not know when certain parts need to be replaced.
To help you keep the car you bought from your Volkswagen dealership in Albuquerque, NM running efficiently, here are a couple of useful tips to know when certain parts of your automobile need replacing.
Windshield
Wipers
You might
not think much of them, but windshield wipers are one of the most
important parts of the car. You need to have good visibility when
you’re driving, and your car’s wipers ensure that you can see the
road even during the heaviest of rains.
Once your wipers start making streaks and are just pushing the water around your windshield, that’s when you know you need to replace them. Changing them should be simple enough, as most windshield wiper boxes come with installation instructions. You can also have your mechanic replace them if they look tricky for you to do yourself.
Oil
Oil
helps the different components in your engine move around without any
friction. But over time, you will have to replace the oil since it
will have gathered filth. Most modern cars, like the one you bought
from your Volkswagen dealer in Albuquerque, NM, would need an oil
change once they reach between 3,000 and 5,000 miles. You should
check your oil once you notice your car has hit this mileage, and
replace it if necessary.
Brakes
Having
working brakes keeps you and the other drivers safe on the road. The
whole braking system has three components that you should check:
brake pads, brake rotors, and brake fluid.
Both the brake pads and rotors should be replaced every couple of years, but this may vary between different models and use cases. Once you notice squealing or grinding sounds when you brake, or vibration and wobbling when braking, that’s the cue for them to be replaced. The brake fluid, on the other hand, should be replaced depending on what your car’s owner’s manual says, which is usually somewhere between every four to five years.
Tires
Your
tires are one of the most important parts to keeping your car
roadworthy. Worn-out tires risk getting flattened more easily,
putting yourself at a bigger risk of an accident. The lack of tire
traction will also increase your accident risk on smooth or wet
surfaces. Generally speaking, worn-out tires should be replaced at
once.
Rotating your tires will also ensure that they wear evenly. This will make them last longer, saving you more money on tire replacements. It’s good practice to rotate your tires every 5,000 to 7,000 miles, but you should also consider having them rotated every time you have an oil change. Your tires may also wear differently depending on the surfaces where you drive. If you’re driving on dirt roads, like the ones around Albuquerque, NM, then you could be wearing your tires out sooner than you think.
Lights
Visibility
is key when you’re on the road. This is especially true when you’re
driving at night, or in the middle of a heavy rain. It’s also
against the law to drive around without proper lights. Flickering
lights mean that you need to replace the bulb. Luckily, cars are
designed so that you can easily replace the bulbs yourself, sometimes
even without any tools.
Proper car maintenance is just one way to ensure that you have a roadworthy vehicle, however, not all cars will keep running efficiently with just these tips. Some will have to end up in the junkyard. So if you know you’ll be needing a new car, you can check out the wide selection of vehicles at your Fiesta Volkswagen dealer in Albuquerque, NM.
