An automatic transmission depends on the transmission fluid for transferring engine power to the wheels, shifting gears, lubricating moving parts and cooling down the transmission. Check the transmission fluid when your car is serviced and change it as recommended. Different cars have different ways of checking the transmission fluid level; some require the engine to be shut off (e.g. Honda), some cars don’t have a transmission dipstick at all and the fluid can only be checked in a repair shop. Check your owner’s manual for proper procedure. This is how the transmission fluid checked on most cars:
 After the vehicle was driven for a while to let the transmission fluid warm up, place your vehicle on a level ground. Set the parking brake. Make sure the transmission is in “P” (Park) position. Leave the engine running. Find the automatic transmission dipstick (your owner’s manual will tell you where it is located). Pull the dipstick out. |
 Wipe the dipstick off with a clean lint-free rag. Insert it back fully. Pull it out again and check the fluid level. A transmission fluid expands when warmed up, so if the car has been driven for a while (20-30 minutes), the transmission level should be between “HOT” marks. If the vehicle is cold, the level should be between “COOL” marks. Check the fluid condition: a very dirty fluid with strong burnt smell is a warning sign of transmission problems. Normally the automatic transmission fluid should be clean and transparent, as in these photos. |
 On most cars the new transmission fluid comes red (photo on the left). Over the time it becomes brownish, as in the photo below. |
 This is how the synthetic transmission fluid looks after two years of driving – it’s still clean and transparent. If your fluid looks very dark or dirty, check your owner’s manual, maybe it’s time to change it. Some manufacturers require to change the transmission fluid at 30,000 or 50,000 miles others specify that you never have to change it – check what’s your car owner’s manual says. |
 If the transmission fluid level is low, you can top it up, but be careful not to overfill it. Overfilling the transmission can cause problems. It’s very important to use only specified transmission fluid type – check your owners manual or simply visit your local dealer, they always have proper transmission fluid in stock. Incorrect fluid type can damage your transmission. How to top up the transmission fluid: Using a thin funnel, add a small amount of the fluid through the dipstick pipe. Wait for a few minutes – let the fluid drain down. Recheck the level again. Don’t overfill. |
Battery
 Check the battery condition visually. If you see any leaks, cracks or other damage, the battery needs to be replaced. Make sure the battery terminals are tight and not corroded. Corrosion at the battery terminals will cause poor connection, which can result in all kinds of problems, including a no-start.
You may find the tips how to clean the battery terminals in your vehicle’s owner’s manual or online. Just search the internet for How to clean car battery terminals, there are some video instructions available. Be careful, that white flaky corrosion stuff is very acidic. |
Windshield wipers
 Replace the wipers at least once a year or earlier if they don’t clean the windshield properly. If you still have the original wipers installed, you can just replace the rubber refills; they cost just a few bucks and can be purchased from your local dealership’s parts department. Check if the windshield washer jets are working properly. |
Tires
 Check the tire pressure regularly – at least once a month. If you don’t have the tire pressure gauge, it’s worth to buy a good one. You can find the recommended tire pressure in the owner’s manual or on the tire pressure placard (see photo), which might be located on the driver’s door jamb, inside the gas tank lid or inside the glove box. |
 Measure tire pressure when the tires are still cold. |
 Pump or deflate to the recommended pressure. The maximum pressure listed on tires is NOT the proper pressure! |
 There is a safe limit of the tread wear. If the tire is worn below this limit, it’s unsafe to drive. Your owner’s manual has the direction how to measure tire wear or your mechanic can check your tires for you. This tire in the photo is definitely worn beyond the legal limit. |
Feel vibration at cruising speed? Have your tires balanced. Uneven tire wear indicates alignment problem. Improper alignment causes increased tire and suspension components wear and poor handling. If a car pulls aside, wanders or feels unstable on the road, have the alignment checked. Properly done alignment will make your car’s ride a lot more enjoyable.
Tire rotation
 Front and rear tires wear at different rate and have different wear pattern. On a typical front-wheel drive vehicle, for instance, the front tires would wear out a lot faster than the rear ones if not rotated regularly. By rotating your tires regularly, you are making sure that your tires wear more evenly and last longer. Some manufacturers recommend to rotate tires at every oil change, others may recommend to do it at different intervals. Tire rotation pattern is also different for different tires. It’s best to check your owner’s manual or call your local dealer for exact recommendations for your tires. |
Taking care of small concerns in time may save you a lot more
| As soon as you feel there is something wrong with your car like any kind of irregular noise, vibration, shimmer, or you note some leak or any warning light comes on while driving or anything that seems to be irregular, have your car inspected at a dealer or a garage as soon as you can, as it might be unsafe to drive. It’s definitely better to check any small problem before it will cause something serious. |
Regular mechanical inspection
For your safety, I recommend to have your car inspected regularly, at least once a year, by a mechanic. I mean not just visual inspection by one of the fast lube places, but a mechanic that can lift your car and check major components such as brakes, suspension, etc., while having your tires rotated, for example. This is because many components (e.g. ball joints), can not be inspected visually.
