Routine Maintenance on Your Car

MT.PLEASANT, MI – Get out your sweaters Michigan, because fall is here! Which only means that winter is right around the corner. While some people are sad to see the summer go and some are rejoicing for snow it’s important do routine maintenance on your car this season. Fall is a great time to take care of your car because you need to prepare it for winter, but it’s not too cold out yet. We have a few simple things you should be doing at least once or twice a year to keep your car running perfect all year-round.

1. Change your wiper blades – Your wiper blades should normally be replaced once every year. It’s best to change them before the colder weather comes because they’ll take more wear and tear from road and snow debris then. You might even want heavier duty ones for the winter. Replacing wiper blades is super easy. You just need the right sized blades for your car – be careful, because some cars have two different sizes – and then just snap them into place.

2. Check your spare tire – You don’t want to be that person on the side of the road shivering from the cold waiting for roadside assistance because your spare doesn’t work correctly. All you need is a tire pressure gauge – which you should keep in your glove box at all times. It takes 30 seconds to do and saves you a lot of time in the long run. Just so you’re aware your pressure drops one PSI (pound per square inch) every 10-degrees the weather drops, which we know changes everyday in Michigan.

3. Check and top off fluids – By fluids we mean your windshield-washer fluid and brake-fluid. Your windshield wiper fluid should have antifreeze in it for the winter so you can deice your car quicker. To check both fluids you need to find the required minimum that is located on the side of the containers and then fill it to the right amount. Make sure you double-check that you’re putting the right fluid in the right area. Dangerous things will happen if you mix them.

4. Change your air filter – The engine air filters should be replaced at least twice per year. The dirtier these filters get the less airflow you have and your car performance decreases significantly. You can find a replacement filter at any auto store. All you need to do is find the air filter cover, take out the old filter, replace it with the new one, and put the cover back on.

5. Check your battery and lights – Check your battery by looking for any corrosion around the connections. If there’s anything there, unplug the connections and use a special brush to clean the bad areas. Make sure you plug them back in tightly when you’re done. Check your lights by having a friend walk around your car while you turn them on and off. Not only is this a safety hazard for you and other drivers, but you can also get a ticket if your lights don’t work properly.

All of these items are pretty simple to complete and you can do them all on your own. Save yourself some time and money and perform routine maintenance on your car once or twice a year. It will also keep you and other drivers safer on the road.

If there’s any auto care that you need help with come into our service center near Big Rapids, MI. We can help you with your oil changes, car repairs, and car parts. Visit us at your Graff Mt. Pleasant Chevy Dealership located at 4580 E Pickard Rd in Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858 or our Buick GMC Cadillac Dealership located at 116 N. Mission St in Mount Pleasant, MI 48858.

Websites: Chevrolet: HankGraffMtPleasant.com and Buick GMC Cadillac: GraffBGC.com

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