You may have heard the term “preventive maintenance” used when referring to your vehicle. When you maintain your vehicle on a consistent and regular schedule, you should be able to prevent major breakdowns from occurring. It’s important to get in the habit of caring for your vehicle by keeping a maintenance schedule . The best way to do that is to select one auto repair shop for all your service and repair needs. At Geller’s Automotive, we keep a record of all your visits so we know what’s happening with your vehicle and can let you know when something needs to be replaced. There are also some basic measures you can take to keep your vehicle running its best.

1.  Read the owner’s manual for your vehicle. It will show all you need to know about caring for your vehicle – how to check the fluids, what fluids to use, and how often you should have your vehicle maintained.
2. Regularly change the engine oil and filter. For standard oil, the best schedule is every 3,000 miles. The schedule for synthetic oils differs so check with your auto technician.
3. Once a month, check the fluids (e.g. engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, etc.) to make sure they are clean and at the appropriate fill levels.  If you don’t know how to check the fluids or have questions about the proper maintenance schedules for the different components in your vehicle, ask us. We’ll be happy to show you.
4. If you notice or feel like something is not quite right – like an odd noise, strange vibration, a fluid leak, or one of your warning lights comes on – have your vehicle inspected as soon as possible. Taking care of a problem right away means you’ll avoid a breakdown and major repair later.
5. Know what each dashboard light means. We can’t stress this enough. Lights that are RED are critical warning indicators. If a red light comes on while you are driving, safely pull over and have your vehicle towed to us. “Yellow” or “Orange” lights will alert you to a component that is not functioning properly. Since they aren’t critical warning lights, you don’t need to have your vehicle towed in for service; however, you should have it repaired as soon as possible to avoid a larger repair bill later on.
6. Check tire pressure and tread depth/wear once a month. Remember, the CORRECT pressure for inflating your tires is that which has been provided by the manufacturer of your vehicle – NOT the “maximum” inflation on the tire’s sidewall. You can find the correct tire pressure on the labael inside the driver’s side door jam, as well as in your owner’s manual.
7. Change windshield wipers at least twice a year – before winter and in the spring.
8. Wash and wax your vehicle to keep the car finish shiny and protected from corrosion. Clean and vacuum the interior.

By taking these basic steps in caring for your vehicle and partnering with Geller’s Automotive, in Byram, New Jersey, to handle your auto repair and maintenance, you’ll be able to keep your vehicle on the road for years.

Start today by scheduling your next service or repair. Don’t forget to sign up to receive coupons in your inbox and save on your car care needs.