It's easy to get in the habit of jumping right in your car and taking off without checking things out. However, this can lead to you experiencing unforeseen problems while you are on the road or when you get back in your car. It's best if you can get in a habit of checking the car over once a week or so. This way, you have a much better chance of finding problems right away. The information here can be used as a quick guide for going over your car in the manner of a few minutes so you can save yourself from suffering side-of-the-road breakdowns and other problems.

Checking the brakes

You should be checking the brakes every time you get in the car, before you drive off. When you are backing out of the driveway, you want to come to a complete stop. Make sure you don't hear any odd sounds or feel a strange sensation under the brake pedal. If you do, this means the brakes are worn and you want to get the car in to have the brakes replaced right away.

Checking the battery

It's very easy to check the battery. You just need to open the hood of the car and look at the posts. They should be free of corrosion. If there is corrosion on them then you can clean it off by pouring a mixture of baking soda and water directly on the posts. If it's very hot where you live, you may also need to put water in the battery cells during the middle of the season so you can prevent your battery from dying.

Checking the transmission

Take the car around the block while making sure you take it through the different gears the best you can. Pay attention to the way it reacts when switching gears. It should glide smoothly through them. If you feel it slipping or feeling off when going into the next gear, then you should get the car in to have the transmission professionally looked at. Don't forget to check the transmission fluid every so often as well.

Regular maintenance

You also want to make sure you keep up with your cars regular maintenance. This means taking it in for its regular oil change. When you get each oil change, they will put a sticker in the corner of your window letting you know when the next one should be done. Also, have your tires rotated regularly to prevent uneven wear. Contact a business, such as Chabill's Tire & Auto Service, for more information.