Auto Maintenance or Vehicle Maintenance is one area that can be nightmarish to a car owner. If not handled properly, it can cause havoc not only to the well-being of the car but also to its owner, in addition to leaving him or her down by a few thousands.

Vehicle Maintenance generally describes the inspection and testing of car condition and subsystems, which means everything under the hood of the car, including repairs and servicing. Regular vehicle maintenance is absolutely essential for ensuring the following critical factors:

• comfort,

• drivability,

• longevity,

• reliability and

• safety.

As part of vehicle maintenance, several parts may be replaced in accordance with 'wear and tear' conditions to avoid further damage as well as for safety reasons.

A variety of vehicles are available in the market which are manufactured with different looks and features. And they need proper servicing to remain functional for longer. And auto service centers play a significant role in this regard.

Accidents may happen anytime and with anyone. But centers are present to help car owners in case of any minor or major accident. Apart from accidents, one may face problem due to old or expired body parts of vehicle. And for this, a good centre is required.

If it is looking like in the family car is in need of a check-up or repair, there are a variety of choices available. There are many repair and savage shops that are able to take on the problems a car might be experiencing. But, for the more straightforward issues, it might well be possible to self complete the repairs.

The scheduling of vehicle maintenance checks depends largely on the model and make of car, year of manufacture, mileage driven, driving conditions and last but not least, driver behavior. Why, it may be asked. A majority of drivers drive rashly treating their vehicles in a negligent manner resulting in faster wear and tear that could cause serious accidents and disability. While sedans and small-sized cars may not be called on for period vehicle maintenance if they are used and maintained in regular condition by the owner, others like SUVs and CUVs for example may be recommended 'ideal servicing schedules' by the vehicle manufacturers based on what they call 'impact parameters', which are:

• number of trips a day and distance travelled

• extreme weather or climate conditions

• drives on bumpy or mountain roads, or dusty roads that do not have smooth upper surfaces

• long-distance cruising vs. stop-and-go trips

• towing another vehicle or a load

If the issues with the car aren't too complex, many people prefer to carry out the repairs by themselves to save on the cost of the repair shop bills. Many of the more straightforward procedures can be completed at home with a little assistance from the vehicle's repair manual. Replacing a dead battery, topping off fluids, replacing the oil filter and air filter, and similar such basic services can easily be self completed. Although for those that aren't mechanical minded, it is generally best to leave the repairs to the professionals to avoid any worry or concern that the attempted repairs aren't being carried out to a satisfactory standard.

Service maintenance of vehicles is usually recorded in a service book by the service centre on completion of vehicle maintenance checks. This service history is known to significantly enhance the resale value of vehicles.

A vehicle maintenance check-list could look like this:

• Brakes - check frequently, replace every two years

• Tires - once the treads reach minimum safety levels or approx. five years

• Coolant - every two years

• Engine belt and timing belts - 3 years or 30,000 miles for engine belt; 60,000 miles and above for timing belt

• Spark plug - approx. every 30,000 miles driven

• Air filter - replace every year

• Battery - typically every four to five years

• Power steering fluid - check level with every engine-oil change

• Automatic trans fluid filter - every two years

• Checking fuel filters - usually every two years

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