HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR CAR

Your car seldom broke down?

The key to keeping your car in tiptop shape is regular maintenance from the day you drive it home for the first time.

Maintenance isn't just about having your oil changed every 15,000 km or so, it's about small, but important checks that will help to keep your car running smoothly and reliably, and safely.

Establish a checking routine as soon as you take possession of your car and stick to it. Pick a day of the week and allocate a few minutes to go over a few essential things.GET TO KNOW YOUR CAR

• Take the time to read the Owner's Manual to familiarise yourself with the systems and features on your car.

WEEKLY CHECKS

• Familiarise yourself with the location of the engine oil dipstick, automatic transmission fluid dipstick, windscreen washer reservoir and cooling system reservoir and how to check the levels and replenish the fluids when needed. Checking these once a week will take no more than five minutes, and may save you thousands of dollars by preventing a breakdown.
• Also familiarise yourself with the tyre inflation pressures which should be checked weekly and reset as necessary. The recommended inflation pressures can be found in the Owner's Manual and on a sticker attached to the body. It's usually on the passenger's side door pillar, but it may be located elsewhere. It's location is detailed in the Owner's Manual. When checking the tyre pressures don't forget the spare tyre, there's nothing more frustrating than suffering a puncture and finding that the spare is flat.
• While checking your tyres inspect them for damage that could end in a blow-out. Particularly look for bumps and bruises on the sidewalls front being driven into or over kerbs etc., and check the tread for cuts, splits and nails.
• It's also worth familiarising yourself with the jack and how to change a wheel in the event of a flat. That way you won't be stuck by the side of the road trying to work out how to use the jack while the traffic is thundering past a metre or so away.
• Familiarise yourself with your car's warning lights and what they are telling you when they light up on the dash. The lights should all light up when you turn the ignition on as a way of checking they're working. If any don't come on during that ignition-on phase then have them checked because a faulty warning light may cost you thousands of dollars in repair bills if you miss aren't aware of a fault.
• If a warning light comes on while driving, check it out. Don't keep driving and assume it will go out. It's worth taking a few minutes to investigate and assess the potential danger before driving on. Have a mechanic check the reason the warning light is illuminated.