Vehicles are no longer luxury items but indispensable cogs of day-to-day life in the 21st century.
To keep your car in tip condition, regular maintenance and servicing is needed. While the costs associated with routine servicing may leave car owners unimpressed with how much goes out of their pocket, in the long run, prevention is always better than cure.
The costs incurred can be minimised by informing yourself on when and the exact kind of servicing your vehicle needs. Such research has been made easier in recent years by the availability of numerous online resources.
Furthermore, the motor industry has introduced regulations that direct and limit what a garage or mechanic can charge for a car servicing session. The rules list in detail what components and replacement parts to include in each interim or major service.
When to service
The rule of thumb is that every 19,300 kilometers or every 12 months, a car should have a full service. As per Wikipedia this includes :
• Oil change
• Oil filter change
• Brakes including brake pads and brake fluid
• Car horn
• Steering wheel system
• Checking or replacing the engine oil
• Rubber belts and hoses
• Check the suspension
• Check for fluid leaks
• Windscreen wipers and wiper fluid
• Indicator lights and dashboard lights
• Checking whether tires have the required pressure
Routine servicing and maintenance such as oil change, replacement of filters and the spark plug is mandatory if your vehicle is to run normally. Such servicing is not scheduled and is carried out whenever the car requires it.
When the transmission fluid starts to get dark, it needs changing. Gulfnews.com recommends replacing the transmission fluid every 60,000 kilometers. Only manufacturer-approved ATF should be used. Common transmission problems that may indicate that the transmission needs service include: unfamiliar noises in the bonnet, difficulty in shifting gears especially when accompanied by a grinding noise, and overheating
