Look for unusual tire wear. Check all four tires. If one or more of them shows excessive wear on one side of the tread or wear in a cupped, scalloped, a diagonal stripe pattern across the tread, or feathered edges on the treads, an alignment is probably needed (along with shocks or struts).

Unusual steering. If the vehicle steers “stiffer,” or does not return to the center position when released, you may need an alignment.

Cocked steering wheel. If the steering wheel is not centered when the vehicle is parked with the wheels pointing straight ahead, you almost certainly need an alignment.

Crab walk. If you notice that your vehicle wants to move “crab-like” down the highway, that is, with the rear end cocked off to one side while you are driving straight, you need an alignment immediately.

Pulls to one side. If your vehicle noticeably pulls to one side you may need an alignment. Before you rush off to the front-end shop, however, check to make sure your tires are properly inflated. A vehicle, which has one of the front tires over inflated or under inflated, may noticeably pull to one side. Once the tire pressures have been adjusted, if the vehicle still pulls, an alignment will be necessary.

If you are driving in stop-and-go traffic and you notice the temperature gauge climbing or the warning light comes on, odds are your vehicle is running hot due to excessive heat build up. To bring operating temperature back into the normal range, turn off the air conditioner and turn on the heater and put the fan in the high position. The heater core is part of the cooling system, consisting of an “extra” radiator and fan. Turning the heater on allows the excess heat to escape and brings coolant temperature down. If the temperature doesn’t come down, pull over to the shoulder and turn off the engine.

If you are driving at normal highway speed and the vehicle starts to overheat, turn off the air conditioner, turn on the heater and immediately pull over to the shoulder. Odds are if the vehicle starts to overheat at highway speed, there is a problem in the cooling system such as low coolant, a clogged radiator or a broken drive belt or burst hose. Once at the shoulder, shut off the engine, open the hood and let the engine cool down – 20 minutes minimum. Once any overboiling stops and the engine has cooled, look for obvious signs of trouble. DO NOT attempt to open the radiator cap unless the engine is off and the top of the radiator is cold. If there is no noticeable problem such as a broken drive belt or burst hose, you can then add a coolant/water mixture to the radiator or overflow reservoir, start the vehicle and drive slowly to a service facility.

It is impossible to determine the condition of the coolant in the radiator just by looking at it. Coolant, a mixture of ethylene glycol and water, breaks down with age, picks up contaminants that cause sludge, and becomes acidic. When this happens, it can cause corrosion within the radiator and cooling passages of the engine. To determine its condition, coolant must be checked with coolant test strips that measure PH balance. Coolant is an environmentally hazardous substance. It pollutes the water table and is poisonous to people and animals and therefore must be disposed of as a hazardous waste.

f you hear a grinding or squealing sound when the pedal is applied, you probably need new brake shoes or pads. Brakes shouldn’t make any noise as they operate. Even if the actual problem turns out to be something minor, the only safe assumption is this one: noisy brakes are unsafe brakes. Postponing service is unsafe and could raise the cost of repairs later. If your brakes are making noise, get them inspected or serviced right away.

The term “tune-up” actually applies only to older cars without electronic ignition (before 1981). On these vehicles a tune-up would generally be required every 15,000 – 20,000 miles and consisted of replacing the spark plugs, ignition contact points, rotor and distributor cap and adjusting the ignition timing as well as the carburetor.

On modern vehicles equipped with electronic ignition, fuel injection and computer controls, the term “engine performance maintenance” is a more accurate term. A “tune-up” for these newer vehicles is an orderly process of inspection, computer diagnosis, testing and adjustment to maintain peak engine performance, maximum operating efficiency and low exhaust emissions. During this process, spark plugs, plug wires, sensors, and modules may be replaced. The frequency at which a newer vehicle needs a tune-up is dependent more upon driving conditions than mileage and recommended tune-up frequencies vary between 30,000 – 100,000 miles, depending on the manufacturer. To learn how often your vehicle needs a tune-up, check your owner’s manual or speak with your local automotive service provider.

According to automotive experts, regularly scheduled oil and filter changes are the single most important item for prolonging engine life. Most new vehicles have recommended oil/filter change intervals of 7,500 miles and some have recommended oil change intervals of 11,000 to 15,000 miles under normal operating conditions.
Short hops to the store, stop-and-go rush hour driving, driving on dirt roads and inclement-weather operation are all considered severe operating conditions that can cause impurities to build up quickly in the oil, resulting in increased wear and tear on internal parts. That is why most owner’s manuals and mechanics recommend changing the oil and filter every three months or 3,000 miles (whichever comes first) to assure that maximum engine lubrication occurs while a minimum of impurities are suspended in the oil.

Follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual for your type of driving.
Some repair shops create their own maintenance schedules, which call for more frequent servicing than the manufacturer’s recommendations. Compare shop maintenance schedules with those recommended in your owner’s manual. Ask the repair shop to explain – and make sure you understand – why it recommends service beyond the recommended schedule.

Many parts on your vehicle are interrelated. Ignoring maintenance can lead to trouble: specific parts – or an entire system – can fail. Neglecting even simple routine maintenance, such as changing the oil or checking the coolant, can lead to poor fuel economy, unreliability, or costly breakdowns. It also may invalidate your dealers warranty.