Maintain my car

... but I could do much better when it comes to maintaining it.

I sat down last weekend and calculated that over the last 5 years I’ve spent about $65 per month on owning my used car (that includes the initial shipping charges (it was a graduation present from my parents who were living in GA while I was in CA), oil changes and repairs. That doesn’t include car insurance, which I would be paying whether the car was old or new.

If I can help it I will drive my car for another 150,000 miles or more if possible. Two things I would like to fix on it though would be the radio (it decides when it wants to come on, often once I’m pulling up to my final destination), and the paint job (it’s peeling on the roof and trunk). Other than that it’s a very dependable car that has saved me lots of money over the years :-)

Here are the specs:

1997 Honda Accord
~249,000 miles (I know :-)
Recently replaced:
Distributor O-Ring Cap
Radiator Heater coil
Soon to replace:
Transmission Fluid

Will need later in the year:
New tires and possibly brakes

After doing a little online research and consolidating some of the tips I ran across, here is what I’ve come up with. I think this is a realistic schedule to stick with, both time-wise and money-wise.

• check engine oil level (must be within the two marks)
• check coolant level (50% water and 50% coolant/antifreeze on my car)
• clean out car interior, wipe down surfaces, replace freshener id needed

• check washer fluid, transmission oil, brake fluid and power steering fluid levels
• check tire pressure (26-32psi) and wear patterns
• check lights
• check belts if frayed or if glazed underside
• check coolant hoses for leaks or cracks
• wash car if needed

• get a tune-up

This goal is still a work in progress for me, but looking up a few tips helped me jumpstart my car maintenance plan.

Here are some of the things I need to implement, perhaps tweaking it a little as needed.

1. check manual for: oil change, tire rotation, fluid checks, and tune-up recommendations
2. develop the habit of checking the oil and coolant every time I fill the car with gas (for me, this seems too frequent so I’ll have to figure out something else…)
3. use the first of each month as a reminder date for checking washer fluid levels, transmission fluid, brake fluid, lights, tire pressure and wear patterns
4. occasionally check if need to replace belts that are frayed or have glazed-looking undersides and check coolant hoses for leaks and cracks
5. get in the habit of filling up with gas on my way home instead of on the way out (efficiency and timeliness purposes)
6. store the following in the glove compartment: owner’s manual, maps, vehicle registration information, insurance info, notepad, pen, disposable camera, flashlight, tire gauge, paper napkins
7. keep emergency kit in vehicle with booster cables, a tire gauge, a screwdriver, pliers, a first aid kit, work gloves, a blanket, an old towel or rags, a jug of water and motor oil

Its a start. So far, I opened the hood to check the coolant level. My tires are looking flat though… Perhaps tomorrow…

...to be more vigilant of my car’s needs, to regularly check fluids, to take more pride in keeping my car clean and clutter-free, to be more interested in how my car functions, to learn how to do minor car repairs.

It’s such an important resource for me. I need to take the time and energy to better care for it. I am still paying off my car loan and I want it to be a dependable car for many years to come.

need to get a tune-up, new tires, a car wash and a vacuum. maybe next weekend…