Taking care of your vehicle and doing business with a car repair shop in Phoenix does not have to be frustrating or time-consuming. There are simple things to do to make sure you car is safe.  Staying safe is not expensive, take advanced car maintenance knowledge, or time-consuming. Below are some suggestions to take into consideration.

Check tires
Tires play a crucial role in driver and vehicle safety. Regularly check your tires to be certain they are properly inflated.  Both over-inflated and under-inflated can lead to an accident and expensive auto repairs.  The correct pressures for your car will be on the listed on the inside of the drivers door sill.

This sticker on your drivers car door or sill will show you what tire pressures are recommended for your car.

Buy a tire pressure gauge and keep it in your vehicle’s glove compartment.  If you do not have a tire gauge here is a link to a Consumer Reports article to help you choose the best one.  If you don’t know how to use a gauge or to locate the correct pressures, find a car repair shop professional who can help you free of charge.

Look at your tires and remove any large pebbles, tacks or other debris from the treads or grooves. These obstacles can eventually erode your tire’s materials, causing you to need new tires. If you notice a nail head anywhere on your tire, immediately find a trusted car repair shop that does tire repair work. The shop will probably patch the area, saving you money and time in the long run.  To increase tire tread life rotate your tires every 6,000 miles.

Check your Belts
Belts keep your vehicle operating at optimum levels. When cables become dirty, cracked, dislocated, loose and if broken will strand while driving on the road.  Whenever you find a belt that looks unusual, find a reliable car repair shop.

Look at your battery cable. It might be surrounded by corrosion. Remove this corrosion by scraping it away with a firm bristled brush. Be sure not to get any  the corrosion on you or your clothes since the substance is very toxic. It can burn a hole in your clothes and cause skin irritation. Protect yourself by wearing gloves.

Check windows
Look at your windows, from both the internal and external viewpoint. Get into your car and look outside through all windows. Are there any streaks, bug splatterings, accumulated mud or dirt, or other vision impairments? If so, get a window cleaning solution and cleaning cloth. Immediately clean both inside and outside of your windows. Having your vision impaired while driving can lead to disastrous results.

Check glass
The condition of your vehicle’s glass can play a role in your safety.  Check your headlight glass. Are they covered in dirt, mud, or dead bugs?   A simple cleaning with a wet cloth might serve the purpose for new dirt that has not accumulated over time.  For more serious dirt levels, a number of headlight cleaning solutions are available.  Clean headlights enhance nighttime visibility for both you and other motorists by making sure they’re clean.

Check all glass mirrors in your vehicle. Dirty mirrors can play havoc on driving visibility. A convenient way to clean mirrors would be as part of your window or headlight cleaning regime is with a window treatment solution. Cleaning them by simply using the same wet cloth that cleaned your headlights can cause streaks and impaired visibility.

Simple ways to improve safety can save you time, frustration, and money in the long run. If you are uncomfortable with any of these car maintenance tasks, it would be a perfect idea to find a car repair shop near you that can help. Using an auto repair referral service can make the process easier.