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When was the last time you took your vehicle in for a checkup?  I bet it’s been a while. Your vehicle needs routine care in order to perform at its best. Most of us don’t worry about car maintenance until something goes wrong. Don’t wait, do a little preventative maintenance now and save on auto repairs down the road.

There are many parts of your vehicle that need care. Checking for wear and tear on a monthly basis can help you save money on big auto repairs down the road. You should check the following items every month.

Your car battery is the heart of your vehicle. A multimeter can tell you the voltage output of your battery, which should measure between 13 and 15 volts while running. If you don't have a multimeter a mechanic can easily check this for you. Keeping your battery in good shape is key to keeping your vehicle cruising down the streets.

Belts & hoses don't seem like a big deal but they can actually cause a lot of problems if they fail. Which means, they should also be inspected on a monthly basis. A belt or hose failure can cause a power steering failure, overheated engine, and many other issues. It's often difficult to check all the belts in your vehicle on your own. If you do attempt this you need to look for cracks, splits, fraying, and breaks.

Make sure that your tire pressure and tread depth are measuring where they should be. Tire tread can be checked in a flash, just use a penny and insert it into your tread groove. Lincoln should dive in head first and if your tread needs to be replaced you should still see all of his head above the trendline. Pressure can easily be checked with a tire gauge. Refer to your owner’s manual for proper inflation guidelines.

The Last step, for the monthly check, is to make sure your vehicle stays hydrated. Several fluid levels should be looked at including oil levels, engine coolant levels, brake fluid levels, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, and wiper fluid. While the fluids are getting topped off don't forget to take a quick look underneath the vehicle and make sure nothing is leaking out!

If you need assistance with any auto maintenance come to Pacific Coast Tire & Service in Santa Monica, CA. We can help you with any of your monthly checklist items or do the monthly check for you. Take a little time for preventative maintenance and save yourself from auto repair costs in the future.