You want to take your car in to have it checked out by a professional mechanic anytime you feel there is an issue with it. This way, the mechanic can pinpoint the exact issue and repair it for you. This is the best way for you to make sure your car stays safe and runs well for as long as possible. However, there are some things that you can do yourself to properly maintain the car between those visits to the mechanic. Here are some of the things you can do on your own with regards to that maintenance:

Change your air filter

You should be changing your car's air filter once a year or after you have driven it about 12,000 miles. If you take on the simple task of changing your own air filter, you will only have to dedicate a few minutes to the task and you won't even need any tools. You will find your air filter in a black box of a rectangular shape that has metal clips located on the side of it. You will open the box using the clips and take a look at how the air filter is positioned. Take out the old one, replace it with the new one and put the case back on while securing the clips. This is going to help your car run better and make sure you are getting good gas mileage.

Maintain your battery's condition

Many people ignore their car battery until they end up needing a jump when it won't start. You can get more out of your battery by following a few tips. You want to remove your negative (black) cable from the terminal and then remove the positive (red) cable from its terminal. Use some baking soda, water and a wire brush to clean off the posts to remove any corrosion so you know there is a good connection. Use a rag to dry the posts and put the cables back in place. Also, pop the covers off the cells on the top of the battery (if applicable) and make sure they have water in them.

Check the air pressure in all your tires

You want to purchase an air pressure gauge to check the air pressure in your tires and make sure the pressure matches the suggested pressure level that is stamped on your tires. This will help your tires last longer, make your car safer to drive and give you better gas mileage.

For professional help, get in touch with a company like Car And Truck Services Inc.