The first and most important reason is safety. Any fault in the car such as worn out tires, faulty brakes or engine issues may not be obvious to the owner until it is too late. Regular maintenance helps get this out of the way and ensures your safety. A well-maintained vehicle also gives better performance and reliability. With regular check-ins at the auto shop, your visit for repairs will reduce. This makes things easier and more cost-effective. Especially because of preventive maintenance costs lesser than actual repairs.

As the old saying goes, "An once of prevention, is worth a pound of cure." In other words, take care of your vehicle and it will cost you much less to own in the long run. Also, it is much easier to plan and budget for maintenance than it is for when a breakdown happens at the worst time and causing you to be greatly inconvenienced. Not to mention the expense that was not planned and usually at a much higher expense.

Regular maintenance also keeps the car looking fresh and stainless. Dents, scratches, faded paint are also things that can be taken care of during a regular maintenance routine. A well-maintained car is eventually much easier to sell. If you would like the option of being able to sell your car at a good price to be open, then auto maintenance will do that for you.

And finally, all of us are aware that vehicles can emit harmful gasses. A car that has its engines, automotive fluids, and emissions checked regularly causes lesser harm to the environment. Of course, there is always the option of purchasing hybrid automobiles that are environmentally friendly. Few automobile companies such as Tesla, Ford, and Toyota offer this.

Below is a basic checklist for your auto or car maintenance. The table below may not be an exhaustive list. The list can be printed out and used to check with at the auto maintenance workshop before picking up your vehicle. Remember, a well-maintained vehicle means a happier and safer driver behind its wheels.

Items on your checklist

Mark as done/not done

Engine lights

Lights

Tire pressure and condition

Windshield washer fluid

Air filter

Transmission fluid

Battery and cables

Belts

Exhaust

Fuel filter

Hoses

Oil filter

Power steering fluid

Chassis lubrication

Wiper blades

Polish

Antifreeze

Spark plugs

Steering and Suspension

Article provided to StreetWise Motors via our financing partner Main Street Financial. Get started with the Marion area's premiere auto lender here. 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9957374

Using WD40 or toothpaste will work to clean your lenses and is very quick and simple. This method only requires you to rub the plastic lens with a cloth to remove the dull or frosted look. This will provide a clear surface, which will improve your vision at night.

However, cleaning headlights with wd40 or toothpaste is a temporary fix and will not last long. But, if you are heading out on a trip or trading your car in, then this may be the quick fix you're looking for,

Restoration Kits

The second method is to use a restoration kit. For example, 3M has a kit you can buy that comes with the sandpaper and polish to restore your headlamps.

This method will cost more and require more effort. The kit comes with sandpaper to remove the oxidation of the plastic lens. Once removed, then the plastic lens is polished back to a clean and clear lens. This will provide you with a clear light to provide better night vision for a longer time. Although in time, the plastic with dull out again.

Restore Headlights Using 2K Clear Coat

The third method is to use a 2k clear coat. This method also requires sanding, but instead of polishing the plastic, you will apply adhesion promoter and clear coat to the surface. This method may take a little more work, but this is a permanent fix to repairing your headlights. If you don't have a spray gun, then there is a 2k clear coat available in a spray can.

If you are planning to keep your car for years, then this is the best method to use.

Why Is Headlight Restoration Important?

When you see and drive your car every day, it may become difficult to realize how bad your headlights have become. Night after night they are slowly becoming dimmer due to the plastic becoming yellowed, frosted, or hazed looking.

Just like changing the oil and keeping the tires inflated to the correct pressure, your headlamps lens should me maintained as well.

Not realizing they have started restricting the light to shine through properly at night or procrastinating to restore your them could lead to a preventable accident when driving at night.

In fact, I was talking to a body shop owner yesterday telling me he has an all time high of deer hit accidents. You may not think this is a big deal, but a big percentage of these cars are being totaled. Yes, a deer hit does a lot more damage to newer cars than you may thing. Not that all of these deer hits are due to foggy headlights, but we need to do everything we can to drive safe and prevent these type of accidents. Cleaning headlights with wd40 or toothpaste is a small price to pay to prevent an accident.

Article provided to StreetWise Motors via our financing partner Main Street Financial. Get started with the Marion area's premiere auto lender here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10055207

1. First of all, if ignored, this small problem can turn into a nightmare. If you have a cracked windshield, the crack may turn into a bigger problem due to increased pressure. A large crack is beyond repair. Therefore you may have to replace it which will cost you a great deal of money, especially if you don't have vehicle insurance.

2. Secondly, cracks in your windshield block your view making it harder for you to drive. According to experts, driving with a broken windshield can cause accidents. After all, you don't want to risk your life at any cost. In case of an accident, you may suffer from many injuries. Plus, your vehicle may get damaged, which will cost more money. It will also reduce the value of your vehicle.

3. Thirdly, it is one of the most common safety issues. A broken windshield can have a negative impact on the structural integrity of your vehicle. Most people don't know anything about this aspect of vehicle safety. As a matter of fact, this glass component is important for the structural strength of your car.

The windshield provides support for the vehicle in case of a rollover or crash accident. Aside from this, it also helps with the deployment of airbags, which is important to save your life in an accident.

4. It won't cost you an arm and a leg if you want to repair a damaged windshield. If you have vehicle insurance, you won't have to pay anything for it out of your own pocket. All you need to do is hire the services of a professional. They will fix a crack or chip in a few minutes. You can also do it on your own if you have the required skills.

5. Driving with a broken windshield is also considered a traffic violation. Therefore, you may get a ticket for this violation especially if the crack is too big. In the majority of states, you may get in trouble in this type of situation. Therefore, make sure the glass is in perfect condition. It should not block your view in any way.

To cut a long story short, you need to understand the importance of windshield for your vehicle. After all, you don't want to damage your vehicle structure or suffer from a life-threatening accident. Therefore, you may want to to get it repaired as soon as you can. You can contact a good professional to get the job done the right way.

For windshield repair or windshield replacement, you can contact CPR Auto Glass. They have great experts that can fix your broken windshield in a professional fashion.

Article provided to StreetWise Motors via our financing partner Main Street Financial. Get started with the Marion area's premiere auto lender here. 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10175425