Most hose manufacturers recommend replacing hoses every four years. V-belts should be replaced every three years or 36,000 miles. The incidence of failure rises sharply after the fourth year of service for hoses and third year for belts. The lifespan of a typical serpentine belt is about five years or 50,000 miles.
Diagnostic tests can reveal problems within a car’s engine, transmission, exhaust system, brakes, and other major components, as well as performance issues with the fuel injector, air flow and coolant, ignition coils, and throttle.
The cheapest insurance for your car’s engine are frequent oil changes — with a new filter at every oil change. This prevents contamination of your new, clean oil from anything that might pass out of your old filter and ensures that new oil is as efficient as it can be lubricating engine parts, reducing wear and tear, and keeping operating temperatures in a healthy range.
Your car’s air conditioning system is a lot like your home’s central heating and air, and even more closely resembles the system that keeps your refrigerator cool. It relies on refrigerant to operate – when the refrigerant gets low, the system won’t cool properly, and it might not work at all.
You should have your brakes inspected once every six months. Most people have this done at the same time as they have their tires rotated or their vehicle inspected, so they don’t forget. If you cannot recall the last time a professional examined your braking system, you should arrange an appointment as soon as possible.
When it comes to checking your tires, proper pressure levels aren’t the only thing you should be looking for. Your vehicle’s tires face various terrains, weather conditions, obstacles, and more when you get behind the wheel. Checking in on the health of your tires is just as important as making sure your gas tank is full and your oil is changed.