Auto Repair Checklist for Tucson Drivers: Keep Your Car Running Year-Round

Auto repair work is a fact of life for drivers in Tucson, AZ — and everywhere else. No matter how careful you are while driving, your vehicle could start showing signs of trouble. When that happens, you’ll need to schedule an appointment at a nearby auto repair shop; if you don’t, your car trouble will only get worse.

But if you take car maintenance seriously, you can significantly reduce your vehicle’s risk of developing severe issues any time soon. Read on for our complete auto repair checklist for motorists in and around Tucson.

Prevent Auto Repair Service by Prioritizing Maintenance

Auto repair and maintenance are technically two different types of service, but these categories are closely related. By keeping up with your vehicle’s short-term and long-term maintenance needs, you won’t just reduce its need for repairs but also increase its overall lifespan.

Short-Term Car Maintenance

As part of your short-term maintenance schedule, be sure to do the following:

• Change your oil and filter. Your vehicle’s motor oil is responsible for everything from lubricating your engine’s moving parts to keeping your engine from overheating, just to name a few of its vital tasks. But since motor oil doesn’t stay clean forever, you’ll need to change your oil every so often.
• Rotate your tires. Tires don’t wear down at an identical rate — instead, their position on your vehicle can make them wear faster or slower than usual. To alleviate this situation, you’ll want to schedule a tire rotation service to have your tires moved to different spots regularly.
• Replace your air filter. The oil filter isn’t the only important filter in your vehicle. Your air filter removes particles and debris from the air entering your engine. Like oil filters, air filters need to be changed occasionally; unlike oil filters, this is something the average Tucson driver can do at home.
• Perform tire inspections. In addition to sticking to your tire rotation schedule, you can protect your wheels by checking your tires’ tread depth and pressure level regularly. If you’re unsure how much pressure your tires need, check your car’s manual.
• Look at your vehicle’s lights. Your vehicle’s lights need to be fully functional for you to stay safe on the road. Every month, park your car and turn on your headlights to ensure they work correctly. At the same time, check your turn signals, parking lights, and brakes. If you find that your headlights are yellow, weathered, or need to be replaced, we offer headlight restoration services as part of our car maintenance offerings.

Long-Term Car Maintenance

While these tasks can go a long way toward keeping your car in good shape, they aren’t the only jobs you should include in your car maintenance checklist. As part of your long-term maintenance regimen, you should also:

• Replace your transmission fluid. Transmission fluid functions similarly to motor oil, keeping your transmission’s moving parts thoroughly lubricated. And like motor oil, transmission fluid should be changed occasionally — regardless of whether your car has a manual or automatic transmission.
• Check your shocks and struts. Your vehicle’s shocks and struts play a crucial role in your car’s steering system and help mitigate the impact of driving over bumps. Every 50,000 miles (or whenever you notice reduced control or smoothness while driving), these components should be inspected by a knowledgeable mechanic.
• Get your spark plugs looked at. Cars aren’t just powered by gas — they’re powered by a mixture of gas and air, and spark plugs are responsible for igniting this mixture. Without fully functional spark plugs, your vehicle won’t be able to reach its full potential. Because of that, you should replace failing spark plugs as soon as possible.
• Make sure your car battery is in good shape. Tucson often experiences intense heat (especially in the summer months), and these temperatures can make it harder for car batteries to operate. To ensure your battery is ready to do its job, perform battery tests regularly.
• Change your windshield wipers. It’s a good idea to change out your windshield wipers once a year or so. People who live in areas with snowy winters can also benefit from winter wiper blades, but that shouldn’t be a concern for Tucson residents.

By prioritizing the auto repair service tasks included on these checklists, you can minimize your need for auto repair work. But no matter how attentive you are, your car could still develop problems. When you notice unusual smells, sounds, sights, and feelings in your vehicle, don’t wait another minute to resolve these issues. Instead, visit a trustworthy auto repair shop in Tucson ASAP.

Check Auto Service Off Your List

Auto repair and maintenance both play indispensable roles in the process of keeping your vehicle in good shape. Of course, both types of auto service have something else in common — they should always be handled by qualified professionals.

If you need any auto repair or maintenance work in Tucson, BRAKEmax Tire & Service Centers has you covered. When you visit any of our convenient auto shop locations, your car will be looked at by ASE-certified mechanics. Better yet, you’ll be able to save with our online auto repair coupons. 

Take the first step towards completing your auto repair checklist by setting up an appointment today!