Dodge Maintenance 101: Avoiding Common Pitfalls

For as sophisticated as today’s automobiles are, it’s surprisingly simple and affordable to take care of your car. By ensuring that your vehicle receives consistent Dodge maintenance, you can avoid a lot of the issues that arise when an automobile isn’t serviced regularly. Here are seven areas that Helfman Dodge Chrysler Jeep® RAM FIAT customers should pay close attention to.

Battery

Without a healthy battery, your car will have a hard time going anywhere. It’s important that the battery’s charge is checked regularly and that it’s case and terminals are kept clean and corrosion-free.

Tires

Tire maintenance is an oft-overlooked but critical part of automotive service. You should check your car’s tire pressure and tread depth regularly. Also, every 6,000 – 8,000 miles you should schedule a tire rotation at our Houston, TX Dodge dealership.

Fluid Checks

Several fluids are essential to a healthy car. Chief among these is engine oil, which should be replaced every 3,000 – 5,000 miles. Other important fluids include coolant, transmission fluid, and brake fluid. The levels of these fluids should be checked and topped off regularly, and replaced according to your car’s maintenance schedule.

Filters

The three key filters in your car are the air filter, engine filter, and oil filter. The frequency at which these are replaced depends on a few factors, but our service and Dodge parts specialists will inspect all three every time you bring your car in for maintenance.

Brakes

Several components comprise a car’s brake system. The component that wears out fastest are the brake pads, usually in the 30,000 – 50,000-mile range. Other parts that need to be maintained are the brake rotors and brake shoes.

Belts and Hoses

If you’ve ever looked under the hood of your car, you know that several belts and hoses play an important role in car safety and performance. Of special concern are the timing belt and serpentine belt, which should be checked periodically for signs of wear. If any of these belts or hoses snaps or breaks, it could cause significant damage to the engine.

Schedule Dodge Maintenance Near River Oaks, TX

Follow these straightforward maintenance tips and you’ll be pleasantly surprised with just how well your car performs, and how little you’ll have to spend on repairs. Before you schedule your next maintenance appointment at Helfman Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM FIAT, check out our latest Dodge service specials for great savings on a variety of common maintenance tasks.