Preventative maintenance saves you money and keeps you safe on the road

IF YOU have your car properly serviced, most if not all these jobs will be done for you.

But with money in short supply, many of us are reluctant to spend money on our cars, that is until it’s too late and they break down.

Preventative maintenance will not only save you money in the long term, it will also help keep you safe and secure on the road.

The following is a list of checks that will help you keep your car on the road over the summer: If you are not confident about doing them all yourself get your local mechanic or garage to do it for you.

Replace Your Air Filter: You should replace your air Filter annually.

Tyres: The tread on your tyres must be adequate for all conditions. Checking the tread depth on your tyres take one minute. While you’re at it, you should check your tyre pressure, too.

Replace Your Windscreen Wipers: Winter weather can be brutal to your windshield wipers, making them almost useless if you get caught in a summer rain shower. Replace them at the beginning of the summer and you wont have to worry.

Inspect Your Brakes: It’s a good idea to inspect your brakes twice a year just to be sure everything is OK.

Car Safety should always be a top priority. Go ahead and check your brake fluid while you’re at it.

Check Your Battery: Corrosion is very likely to build up during winter weather driving. Check your battery terminals and cables to ensure you’ll have no starting problems.

Check Your Headlights: Sometimes you don’t notice that you have a bulb out. Now’s a good time to take a look to see if you need to replace a head- light bulb. Not only is it unsafe to drive with one headlight, you can get a ticket!

Remember that car safety begins with you. It also ends with you, since you’re the one driving the car.