Check the shocks, springs and struts (aka the suspension system). Maintenance tip: Rotate your tires every 3,000–5,000 miles.Ĩ.When you rotate them regularly, they’ll last longer and you’ll save around $187 a tire, which is nearly $748 for a brand-new set of four. Maintenance tip: Check your windshield wipers at the change of each season and replace them when necessary.ĭid you know you can easily extend the life of your tires just by rotating them every so often? It’s true! The tires on your car don’t wear down the same way.Repairing or replacing your car after a crash will cost you way more than new wipers. After all, if you can’t see the road, you really shouldn’t be driving. 5 While that seems like a hefty price tag for something so small, this is another time when safety is the priority. Maintenance tip: Change your cabin air filter every 12 months or 12,000 miles.ĭepending on the make and model of your car, buying new windshield wipers can run you $50–61 for parts and labor.Servicing the AC unit can cost around $430–521, but replacing it is more like $1,319–2,515. Plus, using an old air filter long past its life can lead to major problems for your air conditioning system. It’s a pretty important job, so treat your air filter well. Your car’s cabin air filter keeps pollutants from coming in through the vents. If it is, you’ll need to change the brake system sooner rather than later. Maintenance tip: Check the brake fluid every time you change the oil to be sure it’s not dark in color.You can’t just screech to a stop with your feet like Fred Flintstone. But this isn’t something to mess around with. Replacements can cost up to $300 per axel, plus the labor charge if a professional installs them. Maintenance tip: Test your battery twice a year and inspect it for corrosion.ĭo you hear a squeaking sound when you hit the brakes? If so, your brake pads could be on their last legs.Since a quality car battery can cost upward of $250-and a tow can run you even more-buying a $5 wire brush and keeping the terminals looking spiffy is money well spent. If you don’t keep them clean, the battery could develop a crack or simply not function, leaving you stranded. Over time, corrosion (which looks like white or bluish powder) can form on the terminals of your car’s battery (those little metal knobs on top). Maintenance tip: Change the oil every 5,000 miles or follow your car manufacturer’s recommendations.1 For the price of a family dinner at a higher-end fast food joint, you’ll lower the risk of wearing out your engine-which costs a lot more than burgers and fries to replace. Getting your oil (and filter) changed costs around $35–75. Oil problems can be some of the costliest car maintenance issues to fix, since oil affects pretty much everything your car does. How much can skipping oil changes affect your budget? Oh, plenty. Maintenance tip: Test the air pressure of your driving tires and your spare tire once a month. It’s better to spend a dollar at the air pump every few months to inflate your spare than to spend hundreds on a tow truck in your time of need. The last thing you want is to discover your spare is flat while you’re pulling the jack out of your trunk. It’s just as important to keep the backup tire inflated as it is the four tires under your car. Take a look!ġ3 Car Maintenance Tips to Save You Money 1. We’ve got 13 car maintenance tips that can keep your car out of the shop, and keep you from having to buy a new vehicle as long as possible. But paying a little bit of routine attention ( and cash) on your vehicle is completely worth it-for your safety and your savings. Keeping up with your car maintenance probably isn’t the most thrilling item on your to-do list.
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