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Now is the best time to give your vehicle the extra attention it has been longing for. Proper care of your vehicle will not only make your investment last longer, but it will save you money down the road on costly repairs and most importantly - keep you safely on the road.

We know you are busy, and this is the last thing you wanted to think about, so schedule a FREE vehicle inspection today. It doesn’t cost anything and after our certified technician has checked your vehicle over he’ll give you an estimate of everything we recommend. If it doesn’t need fixing we won’t fix it and we won’t do any work until you give us the go ahead. If you’re the Do-It-Yourself type, here are a few things to check to give yourself peace of mind.

1. Check all the fluids, engine oil, and filters. Oil should be changed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Power steering, brake and transmission fluids as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant should be checked just as often. There are a number of filters that will need inspected regularly including cabin air filter, fuel system and oil filter, just to name a few.

2. Inspect the belts and hoses to make sure they are not leaking, brittle, rusted or cracked.

3. Inspect the battery and make sure the connection is clean, tight and corrosion-free. At Hilltop Tire Service, we’ll do a battery check for free to see if your battery is charging correctly.

4. Look over the brake system, this should be done as least once a year and have the brakes, rotors and drums inspected at each oil change.

5. Check the exhaust system for leaks and damaged or broken supports if there is any unusual noises. Exhaust leaks can be dangerous and must be fixed as soon as possible.

6. Schedule an engine tune-up to help the engine perform at its best, delivering the correct balance of power and fuel economy and produce the lowest level of emissions.

7. Inspect the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Proper heating and cooling is needed for safety reasons such as defrosting as well as interior comfort.

8. Check the steering and suspension system, this should be done annually. This includes inspecting shock absorbers, struts and chassis parts for example tie rod ends, ball joints and other related parts.

9. Inspect the tires. Check the tire pressure and tread depth, looking for any bald spots or bulges. Uneven tire wear usually means you need a wheel alignment. Make sure to rotate your tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles to prevent uneven wear.

10. Check the wipers and lighting so that you can see and be seen. Check that all interior and exterior lighting is working properly and replace worn wiper blades so you can see clearly when driving during wet weather. We recommend changing your wiper blades every six months.

Whether you DIY or bring your car over for a FREE vehicle inspection. Make sure you get all your vehicles inspected this month to prevent costly repairs in the future.