You might not be an automotive technician, but there are plenty of ways to slash costs on maintenance expenses. It doesn’t have to be complicated to take care of your vehicle. We’ve put together some simple car maintenance tasks that you can implement today.

Vacuum the Interior

No matter how good your car looks on the outside, it’s likely you have a bunch of dirt and debris in the cabin. You will likely find trash, food wrappers, receipts and cups once you take a look. Throw all the crap into the garbage. Next, take out the mats and clean them off. Then, grab your vacuum cleaner and pick up all the pieces of dirt. Don’t neglect the seats, trunk and dashboard as well. When you are finished, use a damp cloth to create the perfect shine.

Check Tire Pressures

If you want your tires to last as long as possible, you must monitor the pressures. Find the appropriate pressure by looking at the sticker in your door jamb. For the best results, check the tire pressures before operating the vehicle. Make sure you add or remove air as needed.

You might also consider having the air replaced with nitrogen for car tires.

Clean the Battery

It doesn’t take a lot of effort to clean the car battery. Most importantly, make sure you wear gloves. Then, you can undo the cables, starting with the negative. Take an old toothbrush and apply some baking soda with water. We recommend one tablespoon of baking soda with one cup of water. Then, gently clean it off with straight water and dry it with a towel. Keeping your car battery in optimal condition helps to prolong its life and save you money.

Change the Car Battery

If your battery does die, you don’t need to pay an expensive bill to replace it. Unplug the cables, starting with the negative. Unscrew the latch holding the battery in its place. Then, use the handle (if included) to lift the battery out. Put the new battery in its place and plug it back in, positive first. Make sure you latch it back in place.

Install Wiper Blades

If you have malfunctioning wipers, it becomes impossible to drive during the rain. It’s also quite dangerous. Thankfully, it doesn’t take much to replace your own wiper blades and there’s no reason to pay someone else to handle it.

Simply lift the wiper arm and remove the blade. With the hook-style wiper, you must push the clip and slide the blade out. On the clip-style, just press the tab to release the wiper. Put the new blade on and make sure everything is positioned correctly.

Replace Headlight Bulbs

If your headlight isn’t working correctly, you must replace it. Not only does it create a road hazard, but you also risk getting a ticket. Check the manual to determine what headlights to purchase. Then, turn off your vehicle and pop the hood open. You will have to reach to the back of the light. You will see a plastic or metal ring holding it in. Make sure you remove the retainer and the connector, then grab the old bulb with a gloved hand.

Replace this with your new bulb, also held with a gloved hand. Reattach the wiring and replace the other bulb as well. You want to replace all bulbs as a pair. Otherwise, you might have different light strengths.

Radiator & Coolant Flush

You are going to pay a couple hundred dollars to have this done at the service center. If you have some simple tools, you can do it yourself. Put one side of the vehicle up on jacks so you can get underneath it better. With a catch pan in place, drain the old fluid by removing the radiator tank’s petcock.

Put the vehicle back down and fill the tank with water mixed with a radiator cleaner. Start your vehicle and let this cleaner do its job. Then, turn off the car and drain again, once it is cooled. Refill your radiator with new antifreeze. Make sure you properly dispose of the old liquids.

Change Cabin Air Filters

It only takes 15 minutes to change the cabin air filters and is another simple car maintenance task you can do at home. Open the glove box and slide the pin away to remove the box. You will see latches on the faceplate sides that holds the air filter. Lift them up to get into the housing. Before you remove that filter, take note of the arrow direction. You want the new one to face the same way. Before you put the new filter in, vacuum out the area. Then, put everything back together.

Spark Plug Replacement

As part of the car mileage milestones, you know that spark plugs should be replaced between 60,000 and 100,000 miles, but you might be able to do this by yourself. If you have a basic knowledge of engines, this isn’t a difficult task. Just make sure you have spark plug sockets, a socket wrench plus an extension.

Simple Car Maintenance for You

Even if you accomplish one of these simple car maintenance tips, you have saved yourself money over hiring a professional. Of course, we don’t recommend doing anything you are unfamiliar with. Experiment with your level of comfortability and see what aspects of the maintenance for your car you can handle. Good luck.

It’s not easy keeping your car running smoothly. If you want your vehicle to be reliable, it’s important to provide regular maintenance. Part of the typical maintenance procedures involves learning how to inspect car belts and hoses. A quick inspection can prevent you being stranded on the side of the road when something breaks.

Let’s take a closer look at the best way to inspect car hoses and belts.

How to Inspect Coolant and Heater Hoses

Hoses are a necessary component to the car’s cooling system. They are manufactured from flexible rubber that absorbs vibrations as coolant flows from the engine to the radiator and back again. Heater hoses run from the firewall of the vehicle to the engine. With either type, there’s a lot of pressure and extreme temperatures occurring. Over time, these rubber compounds can break down.

Most frequently, the upper radiator hose fails first. Yet, it’s also possible for the water pump bypass hose (on some vehicles) and the outlet heater hose to fail.

If a hose were to fail while driving, coolant would pour out of the break. To avoid this, you want to regularly inspect the hoses. Here are some simple steps to follow.

1. Check the coolant reservoir to ensure there’s enough fluid. There are marks indicating where the fluid should be when the system is hot and cold.
2. With the engine cool, squeeze the hoses slightly with your thumb and forefinger. Squeeze near the clamps, as this is where degradation tends to occur. If the hose is in good shape, it should remain firm, yet still pliable. If it is soft or mushy, it should be replaced.
3. Inspect the hoses for any sign of damage – bulges, cracks, nicks, etc. If you notice any defect, the hose should be replaced.

Don’t ever take off the radiator cap while the engine is still hot. Coolant is under pressure when the engine is hot and you can get seriously burned.

How to Inspect Car Belts

Belts are also susceptible to damage over time. Most cars contain a multi-grooved serpentine belt, responsible for driving the power steering pump, air conditioning compressor, water pump and alternator. Older models may have V-belts driving the accessories. Either way, you want to regularly inspect the belts because they wear down over time. A snapped belt is going to lead to serious issues.

Here are some tips to consider.

1. Inspect the belt for cracks, splits and fraying. Replace at the first sign of damage.
2. Look for glazing on the belt. A glazed belt can crack and slip.
3. Twist the serpentine belt to look at the other side. It could be missing chunks that you can’t see.

If you hear a high-pitched chirping or whining sound, that’s likely an issue with the automatic tensioner. These are needed to keep the belts tight. Without the right amount of tension, a belt slips, generates more heat and fails to operate the accessories as designed.

When in doubt, check with a professional mechanic for maintenance and repair support.

A lot of people make mistakes when selling their car; dealers can even make mistakes. However, you don’t have to be a statistic if you take time and do some research. Continue reading to find out what the 5 top car selling mistakes are, so you know how to avoid them.

1. Not Knowing the Car’s Value

You can’t possibly price your vehicle accurately if you don’t know its selling value. You can use any online website that has a tool to precisely calculate the vehicle’s price. Most of the time you can check the private-party and trade-in sale value, to see the differences.

If you want the most specific pricing for your vehicle, make sure you put in its exact condition, options from the manufacturer and its mileage.

If you would prefer to do it a different way, then you should check the marketplace. You can look at what other people are selling that is comparable to your vehicle’s make, model and year. Furthermore, be sure it is close to your mileage and available equipment. Looking online is a great way to know what is being sold in your area for what price.

2. Repairing It Before The Sale

Before selling your vehicle, you don’t need to fix every single mechanical problem. For one reason, you don’t want to lose money selling the car you’re there to make money on.

You want to handle minor collision or body damage the same way. Repairs like these don’t add more value to the vehicle, so in turn, you lose money.

You should have estimates on all the repairs needed on the vehicle. So if someone offers you $4,000 less because of minor cosmetic damage, but it will only cost you (according to your estimate) $3,000, you should just have it fixed so you can make 1,000. Also, make sure you tell a potential buyer about all the problems beforehand.

3. Taking the First Offer

If you want to sell a vehicle, you have to negotiate. If you take a buyer’s first offer, you will lose money by not making a counteroffer. Even if they offer more than you truly wanted, always make a counteroffer.

There are two reasons you should do this:

1. If the person doesn’t know what they are looking at, they may pay more than it’s worth. It’s okay to do this if you’ve been completely honest with them about the history and condition of the vehicle.
2. If you quickly take the first offer, the buyer may get suspicious about the shape of the vehicle.

If you want to trade-in your car, go to lots of dealers, maybe you’ll get lucky and someone will pay you more.

4. Forgetting to Wash It

A lot of buyers, mostly dealers, will not expect a used vehicle to be flawlessly detailed. With that said, if you don’t clean your vehicle at all, people may think that you don’t care about your car.

You should at least wash and wax the exterior, vacuum the inside, dress the tires and clean the inside of your windows. While you are doing this, you should remove all your personal belongings. Make sure you check places like the seat cushions for items that were left behind. Buyers will think that you maintain the vehicle correctly.

5. Failing to Complete Paperwork

There is one last thing that needs to be done before you transfer the ownership of your car. Make sure you do all the paperwork. Not filing the paperwork correctly can lead to fines or tickets that the new owner receives, but you have to pay.

You need to handle this immediately after the sale. Some DMVs provide you with online resources to make things easier. Make sure you have a copy of every document recording the sale and when it happened.

You also need to get in contact with your auto insurance company so that you are not insuring the vehicle anymore. Obviously, you should only do this when the paperwork has been finalized.

Don’t Make These Car Selling Mistakes

You don’t need to make these mistakes when selling your car. Just make sure you know your cars value, do the repairs under a budget and finalize the paperwork correctly. If you follow these guidelines, you are sure to make no mistakes.

If you would like to earn more on your trade-in, then check out this article: Earn More on Your Trade-In Vehicle

To ensure your vehicle lasts as long as possible, you want to perform some regular tasks, based on the mileage and the season. While we have previously discussed DIY car maintenance, many other jobs should be performed regularly. Our complete car maintenance checklist will show you what to do and when to do it.

You can find the automaker’s recommended service intervals in your owner’s manual or online, but here is a general guideline of what to expect.

Short-Term Car Maintenance Checklist

These tasks are done most frequently to ensure the vehicle runs its best.

Check Fluid Levels

For the common driver, checking your automotive fluids once a month should work well. However, if you spend a lot of time driving, you might want to do this more frequently. Check the oil and coolant when the engine is cold. If you allow either to get too low, you could face serious engine trouble down the road.

Change Oil & Filter

The oil in your motor lubricates all of the moving parts, keeps the engine cool, reduces wear and tear and seals out debris. By keeping it clean, you ensure that the motor runs at optimal levels. Some oils require changing every 3,000 miles or three months, while others can go 10,000 miles. It’s also best to replace the engine oil filter every time you perform an oil change.

Change Air Filter

The air filter regulates the flow that your engine receives. It also keeps out contaminants and debris, ensuring that nothing damages the motor. By changing the air filter regularly, you protect your engine and increase your fuel efficiency while decreasing the emissions. According to MechanicScout, you want to change your air filter every 15,000 to 30,000 miles.

Check Tires

If you want to have a safe ride, you must have decent tires. Inspect the tire pressures and tread depth often to ensure everyone remains protected. You also want to have the tires rotated often to ensure proper tread wear.

Inspect Lights

Also, you want to physically check the lights on your car frequently. Turn on the headlights and test the turn signals, parking lights and brake lights.

Long-Term Car Maintenance Checklist

Here are some tasks to perform less often.

Change Transmission Fluid

Just like the oil, you need to change the transmission fluid to ensure proper lubrication of the moving components. Whether you drive an auto or manual, you want to check and change the fluid at appropriate intervals to avoid expensive transmission repairs or replacement.

Inspect Suspension

Your struts and shocks are vital to your vehicle’s function. As you drive over bumps, these parts control the impact. You want to have the suspension inspected every 50,000 miles by a professional. You may need it done sooner if you notice trouble with the ride control.

Replace Coolant

The fluid found in your radiator keeps the engine cool. You must have this fluid regularly flushed to remove any contaminants that have built up.

Change Spark Plugs

Spark plugs ignite the air/gas mixture to power your vehicle. When the spark plug stops working correctly, the engine loses power and becomes less efficient. Most spark plugs are changed every 30,000 to 100,000 miles, depending on what kind you use.

Replace Belts & Hoses

Take a look at the hoses and belts often to examine for wear. If they look worn out, it’s best to replace them before something malfunctions.

Seasonal Car Maintenance Checklist

There are a couple of things you want to do every time the season changes.

Change Windshield Wipers

You should change your windshield wipers every six months or when you notice the effectiveness decreasing. If you drive in bad winter weather, consider getting high-performance wipers. Make sure you also pull them away from the windshield to prevent the buildup of ice.

Check Battery Performance

If the car battery fails to work, you won’t be able to start your vehicle. Extreme temperatures take a toll on the battery, so test it often to ensure it is charging properly.

By performing a little due diligence throughout the year, you can ensure your vehicle keeps running longer. Contact a professional mechanic if you are unsure how to complete these jobs, and always follow the recommended car maintenance checklist found in your owner’s manual.