DIY car maintenance

Vehicle maintenance may seem daunting, but there are plenty of checks you can do yourself. Between regular car services the following easy vehicle checks will help prevent any unnecessary breakdowns.

Tyre maintenance & changing a tyre
The tyres on your car are the only contact your vehicle has with the road, so it’s essential that you regularly check the tyre pressure, tread depth and tyre condition. Not sure how to go about it, this helpful blog by Bognor Tyres will show you the basics.

Check your vehicle handbook for the location of the basic toolkit for the car. This toolkit should contain at least a jack and wheel removal tools. Familiarise yourself with the jacking points used to lift the car, and take some time to know the basics of fitting your spare tyre should you have a puncture. You can find a useful guide here, alternatively get someone who knows how to show you.

Engine oil
Make sure you check the engine oil dipstick at least once a fortnight and before any long journey. If it’s been some time since you last checked your engine oil and need a reminder of how to do so check out this helpful youtube video. By checking your engine oil regularly it will help you identify the rate of your oil consumption. If this seems unusually high it can indicate problems with your car engine (If you’re having a problem with your engine oil or simply need an oil change don’t hesitate to give our Bognor Regis garage a call).

Windscreen, wipers and screen wash
These three components will greatly impact visibility if not properly maintained. Screen wash needs to be topped up regularly even in the warmer months. When doing so take some time to check your windscreen for stone damage and minor chips as these can develop and eventually cause your windscreen to crack.

It is recommended that you replace your windscreen wipers at least once a year for best performance. However, if your windscreen wipers have started smearing it’s likely that they’re worn and need replacing. This is relatively easy to do yourself. Raise the wiper arm and removing the blade by pushing the locking tab inwards, keeping hold of it whilst you move the wiper towards the bonnet of your car. Using your remaining wiper arm to compare which way the new blade will fit in. Then repeat the process in reverse to fit your new wiper blade until it slots in with a click, keeping hold of the arm in the process. Unsure of what wipers you need and aren’t quite confident enough to fit them yourself? Call our Bognor Regis garage and out helpful mechanics will be happy to order you the right replacements and fit them to your vehicle.

Check and replace car lights
We previously wrote a car maintenance blog discussing the importance of carrying out regular lighting checks, and how to do so. If any of the bulbs aren’t working they can be easily replaced with a little know-how. If you don’t have time to head to your local garage changing the bulbs yourself is far better than driving around with broken ones. A quick web search will bring up some useful guides and videos for how to change the bulb on your particular car.

We’re here to help you maintain your car
Sticking to your recommended service schedule is a great way to maintain your car. However, knowing a bit about your vehicle can help you flag up when something’s not right. We’re here when you need us, and we’re happy to help you with any of the areas discussed above. Equally, if you only visit our Bognor Regis garage for your regular service, yearly MOT or emergency car repairs that’s fine too…

Need us? Give us a call on 01243 870600 or email contact@ad-autosltd.co.uk.