First Car Guide for First Time Car Buyers

Proper maintenance is important to keeping your car running smoothly and problem-free.

Following are some basic tips for maintaining your car:

Check tires and pressure

Tires wear faster when not inflated properly. Find the correct pressure for your tires in your owners manual or on the  door-frame sticker on your vehicle. Look for uneven wear which indicates a need for alignment or balancing. Worn tires are unsafe. Insert the edge of a Lincoln-head penny, head down, into the tread valley on your most worn tires. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, you should replace the tires. Your car will ride better with matched tires on all four corners.

The best discounts on new tires can be found online at TireRack.com. They give you the name of a shop in your area who can install and balance the tires after receiving them from TireRack.

Change oil and filter regularly

In most cars, changing oil and filter every 3000 miles is recommended. Some newer cars can go longer. Find the manufacturer's recommendations in your owners' manual. Check your oil level regularly. Add new oil as necessary or run the risk of seriously damaging your engine. Be aware that the oil pressure warning light on your car's instrument panel does NOT tell you when your oil is low.

Check other important fluid levels

Regularly check your brake fluid levels, transmission fluid, coolant, and window wash fluid levels. If you don't know how, refer to your owner's manual. Also check your battery's fluids if your's isn't a "maintenance-free" type. Replace fluids only with the type recommended in your owner's manual. 

Use the correct gasoline for your car

Check your owner's manual to determine the minimum gasoline octane rating for your vehicle. The most commonly offered octane options are 87, 89, and 91. The highest level is generally called "premium" although gas companies often give it various other names. If your car requires only 87 octane, you gain nothing by filling up with 91 octane. However, don't try to save money by using less expensive lower octane gasoline  in a car that requires premium. Although some newer cars can handle it, most cars will "ping" or "knock" with the lower octane gas, which will seriously damage your engine if it continues over a period of time.

Drive sensibly

Jackrabbit starts and sudden stops are hard on your car and cause premature wear, particularly on the transmission, clutch, tires, and brakes. Fast cornering wears tires and suspension parts. High speed wears your engine and transmission.

About scheduled maintenance

Your owner's manual contains a schedule of regular maintenance tasks and checks recommended by the manufacturer. Although it's a good idea to follow the schedule as suggested, some items are more important than others, particularly as the vehicle gets older. For example, many vehicles have timing belts that require replacement at about 60,000 miles. If the belt fails because it wasn't replaced as suggested, it can seriously damage the car's engine. There are no warning signs or obvious ways to determine when a belt is going to break.

Watch for your "check engine" light

The "check engine" light on your intstrument panel indicates a potentially serious problem with your vehicle. If the vehicle seems to be running okay, it may be something as simple as the gas cap not being screwed on tightly, or an emissions sensor that has gone bad. There are dozens of possible reasons for the indicator. You should determine the reason for the light as soon as possible. If you have an AutoZone auto parts store nearby, they will  connect a scanner to your car's computer and tell you the cause of the problem — for free — or you can take it to a local dealer or repair shop.

Don't confuse your "engine check" light with the "maintenance required" light, which is nothing more than a reminder that, according to your current mileage, you are due for an oil change or other scheduled maintenance. Your dealer or repair shop can turn off the light, or you can find out how to do it yourself. Some owner's manuals tell you how; others don't. Search on the Internet for instructions for your particular vehicle. There's usually someone who knows. 

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