So you have a new car. And you have saved three years worth of your salary to buy it. Or maybe you were approved a loan that obligates you with monthly payments for the next five years. How would you feel if suddenly, your car gets stolen just like that? It would be a sinking, painful feeling for sure. Well, there are ways to stop that from happening. Here's what you can do to keep your car from getting stolen.
1. Don't park in unfamiliar neighborhoods. If you're new in the place, it is best that you don't park there at all. If you have to stop and ask for directions or anything, look for a gasoline station or convenience store to do that. These places are equipped with surveillance cameras so thieves are not likely to hang around there too much. But just the same, you have to be very careful.
2. Equip your car with an alarm system. While an alarm system would do nothing but squeal for all its worth, it could scare the hell out of a possible car thief. At least, the people around him would know that he's not the owner of that car because the alarm wasn't switched off when he approached. Hopefully, the thief will run away and leave your car alone.
3. Never leave your car unlocked and running. Even if you intend to leave your car for half a minute, it is never a good practice to leave your car unattended, running, and unlocked. You don't know if there's a car thief near you. If your car is in this state, it would take the thief a quarter of a second to slide into the driver's seat, lock the car, drive away, and leave your running at your heels.
4. Engrave your name somewhere on the more expensive parts of your car. While this might not always work, leaving some sort of a personal identification on your car may help you recognize it in the future. You never know but your car stereo may be stolen. Or it could be something as simple as the side mirrors of your car. Thing is, leave some marks on your car so even if they're detached, you will still know that they're yours.
5. Invest on a garage. You might never suspect any of your neighbors taking your car away. But you will never know if somebody from ten cities away drops by the neighborhood with the sole intention of stealing a car in the middle of the night. Cars parked on plain view are easier to steal during the night. So don't waste your garage if you have one. If you don't have a garage, build one. And use it at all times.
6. Don't hide second set of car keys somewhere in the car. Car thieves are intelligent people. Don't underestimate them for a second. It's bad practice to put a second set of car keys under the skirt of your car. Somebody may chance upon it and leave you crying helplessly. If it works for your house, don't do the same for your car.
Check your oil levels every week. Engines run at extremely high temperatures and some models will burn through oil at an alarming rate. You do not want to run dry on oil. This will damage the engine to cease. Once this has happened, you either need a new engine or a new car. Both of these issues are extremely costly. Can you afford to be without your car for a lengthy amount of time?
Change your oil every 3,000 miles. After driving for a certain amount of time, oil becomes dirty and sluggish. Keeping the oil changed regularly reduces dirt circulating in the engine.
Another troublesome issue is the belts. With every oil change, you should have the fan belts and air hoses checked for wear and tear.
Antifreeze should be changed every year. Have a professional flush out the cooling system and replace the tanks with new coolant. This can keep a radiator from developing leaks.
Transmission fluid should be checked regularly. The fluid should be changed every 36,000 miles. If the head gasket leaks, your coolant will leak into the oil system. This is an extremely costly repair, so have them checked regularly to prevent this issue. Always stop first before shifting into drive.
Look regularly in your driveway for leaks. If you spot any, take not of the color of the fluid and then take the car in for servicing. Transmission fluid is pinkish, antifreeze is green, oil is golden brown, and brake fluid is reddish. Knowing which fluid is leaking can help a garage determine the severity of your problem. They can fit you into a busy schedule if the leak is potentially hazardous.
To keep your air conditioning system working properly, run the system every month, even in the winter. The same is true with the heating system. It should be run in the summer to prevent any seizing.
Try to brake in advance. Sudden stops wear down brake pads far more quickly. Have your brakes checked regularly for wear and tear.
Tires should be rotated every 7,000 miles. Inspect them visually every month for tire wear, punctures, and bulges.
Pay attention to your battery. If you see white deposits forming on the terminals, clean them with a wire brush and then clean the battery with a mixture of baking soda and water.
Keep your car rust free by keeping it waxed once per season. Have the undercarriage washed at least twice a year.
Use WD40 to keep door hinges well lubricated. This keeps doors opening and closing properly.
Follow your car manual's recommended maintenance schedule. This guarantees the warranty will cover costly repairs, but also prevents unexpected breakdowns.
All it takes is a few simple checks every month, and you can protect yourself from breaking down in an unfamiliar or remote area. Your safety is that important isn't it?
Both Jay Sander & Gregg Hall are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.