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Maintenance is one of the most serious tasks as a car owner. It determines the performance and durability of the vehicle you drive. Checking your vehicle includes more than taking care of its external paint job and keeping it shiny.

This means taking care of all the parts, even under the hood. These are the ones that concern the performance of your vehicle. To have a good idea about the vehicle's routine maintenance is to go through the owner's manual. A little knowledge about mechanics may help you to maintain your vehicle. Some most important things to be checked regularly are the engine, electrical system, brake system and the tires.

The Engine

The engine is the one that makes the car move. Proper maintenance is a must to obtain a smooth run, less fuel consumption and extend the life of the engine. In this area it is necessary to check if there's a leak in your engine, worn out fan belts, dirty spark plug and the air filter. You may also include checking the transmission fluid level, power steering fluid level and coolant level.

The Brakes

The life of the driver depends on the brake, it is necessary to check your brake system from the lines, brake fluid level, handbrake cables and the brake pads. While driving always check the pressure build by the brakes, because sometimes it is unexpected that brakes would fail while you*re on the road.

The Tires

The tire wears especially when the car is used every day. It is necessary to check the tire pressure and the thread of the tires, do not forget to also check the condition of the spare tire. Any foreign object from the road may puncture the tires such as nails and other pointed object so always check for those things.

The Electrical System

This would include the bulbs of the car's headlight, parking lights, fuses, and the battery terminals and its connection. Sometimes the cars don*t run because the problem is not in the engine but in the electrical system. Be careful when checking especially the battery terminals because of some hazardous element such as acid deposits.

The screws and bolts must be checked if they are still in good condition or tightened well. Also check the wiper blades if the rubber blades need to be replaced to avoid damaging your windshield. Visiting your most trusted mechanic or any quality service station is not a bad idea, besides they have all the tools and expert mechanics to fix any car problem.

The car can be maintained while driving; a proper driving style may help to maintain the car. A poor driving style can wreck the car anytime like over revving the engine etc. No matter how much time and money you spend just to check your car's engine and other parts everyday for maintenance, with a poor driving style this can be meaningless.