Car Maintenance Tips for Beginners

Although many people dream of owning one of the shiny new motors… or even pre-owned motors somewhere like Universal City Nissan, the sad reality is that not everybody has the funds to do it. The problem is that although some people can’t afford to switch their trusted old vehicles until they get way beyond their “”best before”” date, neither can they afford to pay large sums on repair bills to keep them plodding along.
If you are the sort of person who would love to call the service center and book your car in whenever you hear an unusual rattle but just can’t afford to do so… read on. You just might find something useful if you keep on reading, you are certainly not alone.
According to researchers and people who ask a lot of questions in the name of knowing what’s happening in the World, the average age of cars on the American roads… privately owned cars that is… is more than a decade. Yep, there are a lot of cars driving through your neighborhoods which have been around for more than ten years. Whatever the optimists say about things getting better and picking up soon, there’s no sign that this particular statistic will be changing in the near future.

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So you see, you’re not the only one driving along in a car which smells of stale burgers, has a dulled dash from being parked in the sunshine for far too many summers and smokes more than your Granddad on Christmas Eve when Grandma isn’t looking. So what are the main tricks and tips to follow when it comes to making sure that these trusty old reliable steeds remain trust and reliable?
Lubricate – older people will tell you that their bones creak more as the years advance, and the same goes for motor vehicles. Lubrication is needed to make sure that everything runs smoothly. Okay, so even older cars have warning lights which flash when oil levels are getting low, but if this light goes on the levels are generally far too low. Don’t wait for the light to remind you to top up your oil levels, instead make the effort to check them regularly.

Dash with no oil pressure and service engine light on
Dash with no oil pressure and service engine light on

Remember too that there are lots of different parts in the motor which all need individual lubrication – the brake and transmission fluid for example.
Read the Manual – every car comes with a manufacturer’s manual or handbook and the chances are that even if your car is old and tired, the manual will still be sitting in the glove box looking as good as new. These manuals are supplied for a reason you know, and are packed with all kinds of useful information. Read the manuals and follow their advice, they have been written by people who really know what they are talking about . . . particularly about your specific motor.

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Pressures – having the correct tire pressures is not only crucial for safety and handling purposes but it can also help your tires to last longer and even help you to get more miles for your gas. This information will be found, yep, you’ve guessed it . . . in the manual.
Now that’s firmly in your head it can’t do any harm to check out http://www.downtownnissan.com and dream a little. You might be surprised at some of the fabulous motors and deals they have . . . in fact you might find that you can afford to switch your vehicle after all. You should still remember these tips though.