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The Five Most Commonly Neglected Vehicle Maintenance Items

The Five Most Commonly Neglected Vehicle Maintenance Items

by | Aug 14, 2019 | Preventive Maintenance

When most of us think of ongoing vehicle maintenance, we tend to only focus on oil changes, wipers or wiper fluid, or tire air pressure. While these are important to check regularly, there are some other important maintenance items that are often overlooked and neglected by vehicle owners.

The five most commonly overlooked items are below with some explanation on the risk of not addressing them, signs that you may have a problem, and what can be done to ensure proper maintenance is completed.

What’s the Risk? Early Warning Signs What Should You Do?
Power
Steering		 Power steering fluid is the hydraulic fluid that transmits power in your vehicle’s power steering. Over time, power steering fluid may get dirty and could easily clog the components of your steering system.
  • If you hear a squealing noise when you turn the wheels, it might be an indication that power steering fluid is low.
 If you think your power steering fluid might be low, have it checked by a professional who can determine if fluid needs to be added, or there’s a possible leak in your power steering rack.
Wheel
Alignment		 Alignment refers to your vehicle’s suspension and its connection to your wheels. Pot holes or bumpy roads can throw your wheel alignment off, resulting in quicker wearing of your tires.
  • If the steering wheel pulls to the left or right during driving, that may be a sign that your alignment needs adjusting.
  • Also, uneven or rapid tire wear may be a sign that your alignment needs correction.
 Check your tires for any uneven or excessive wear. You should have your wheels aligned at least once a year.
Transmission Fluid and Filter While newer vehicles have reliable transmissions, it is still possible to have issues with your fluid or filter. Transmission fluid can become dirty with particles over time and clog your transmission filter. Or, your transmission fluid could have a leak, leading to further complications with your vehicle’s transmission.
  • When dirty fluid clogs a transmission filter, you may notice a burning smell when the engine is running.
  • Or, you may even see smoke coming from your engine.
 Stick to your vehicle’s maintenance schedule for changing transmission filters or fluid. If you have a burning smell or smoke, get it into a repair shop as soon as possible.
Timing Belt The timing belt is an important part of your crankshaft system that helps open and close the vehicle valves during operation. Typically, a timing belt will break and cause major damage to your engine. Belts break as a result of wear and/or cracking.
  • If you have a bad or failing timing belt, you may hear a ticking sound coming from the engine.
  • Or, your engine will not turn over or it may misfire.
 Stick to your vehicle’s maintenance schedule for replacing a timing belt. If you notice any of the signs, get it into a repair shop as soon as possible, otherwise, you may risk engine failure.
Cooling System Your engine’s cooling system is what keeps the vehicle from overheating during use. Sometimes coolant can become clogged, which then affects your radiator and the ability to cool the engine. Coolant may also leak, which could lead to engine corrosion and further complications with your engine’s health.
  • If you find a pool of coolant under your vehicle, this may be an early warning sign that you have a coolant leak.
  • Also, if your car often overheats, the radiator may be clogged and continuous overheating can lead to serious engine damage.
 Replacing coolant may only be a temporary fix to prevent the vehicle from overhearing. If you have any issues with leaking coolant or overheating, get your vehicle into a repair shop as soon as possible.

Remember, having a safe and efficiently working vehicle takes ongoing maintenance. Stay alert to the signs that your vehicle’s engine might be telling you to take action. Get in touch with a service technician today at Campus Repair, Fort Collins, Colorado, if you would like us to review your vehicle for any of these five maintenance issues.