Top 15 'Repair-Bill-Reducing' Maintenance Checks to drive your first car for less for new owners on a budget. - Goh Ling Yong
Congratulations on your first car! The feeling is unbeatable, isn't it? The freedom of the open road, the convenience of getting around on your own schedule, the simple joy of personalising your own little space. It's a massive milestone, and you should be proud.
But with great freedom comes... well, great responsibility. And bills. Fuel, insurance, and the one that strikes fear into the heart of every new owner: the unexpected repair bill. That sudden, four-figure invoice for a part you've never heard of can turn the dream of car ownership into a financial nightmare, especially when you're on a tight budget.
The good news? You have more control than you think. The secret isn't being a master mechanic; it's being a proactive owner. By spending just a few minutes each month on some basic checks, you can catch small issues before they become catastrophic failures. Think of it as financial self-defence for your vehicle. These 15 checks are your first line of defence, designed to keep your car healthy and your wallet happy.
1. The Weekly Tyre Pressure Check
Your tyres are your car's only connection to the road, and their pressure is critical. Driving on under-inflated tyres is like trying to run in clown shoes—it's inefficient and dangerous. It increases rolling resistance, forcing your engine to work harder and burn more fuel. It also causes uneven wear, drastically shortening the life of your tyres.
Performing this check is incredibly simple. First, find the correct tyre pressure for your car, which is listed on a sticker inside the driver's side door jamb (don't use the pressure written on the tyre itself!). Buy a reliable digital tyre pressure gauge—it's a small investment that pays for itself quickly. Once a week, before you've driven the car, unscrew the valve cap on each tyre, press the gauge on firmly, and note the reading. Add or release air as needed at a local petrol station.
Pro-Tip: Check the pressure when the tyres are "cold" (i.e., the car hasn't been driven for at least a few hours). Driving heats up the air inside, which increases the pressure and can give you an inaccurate reading.
2. The ‘Coin Test’ for Tyre Tread
While you're checking the pressure, take a moment to inspect your tyre tread. The grooves in your tyres are designed to channel water away, maintaining grip on wet roads. When the tread wears down, this ability is lost, significantly increasing your risk of hydroplaning and losing control. Worn tyres are not just a massive safety hazard; they can also earn you a hefty fine.
The classic "coin test" is a simple way to gauge your tread depth. Grab a 20-cent coin and place it into one of the main grooves of your tyre. If the tread doesn't cover the outer band of the coin, it’s time to start shopping for new tyres.
Pro-Tip: Check the tread across the entire width of the tyre. If you notice the inside or outside is wearing down much faster than the centre, it's a sign your wheels are out of alignment. Getting an alignment is a relatively inexpensive service that will save you a fortune in premature tyre replacement.
3. Monitor Your Engine Oil Level and Colour
Engine oil is the lifeblood of your car. It lubricates moving parts, cleans away contaminants, and helps dissipate heat. Running your engine with low oil is one of the fastest and most expensive ways to destroy it. A seized engine can cost thousands of dollars to replace—often more than the value of a first car.
Check your oil every two weeks. With the engine off and cool, pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean with a paper towel, re-insert it fully, and then pull it out again. The oil level should be between the 'MIN' and 'MAX' marks. Also, note the colour. Fresh oil is a translucent, honey-brown colour. If it’s dark black, gritty, or milky-looking, it’s overdue for a change.
Pro-Tip: If you have to add oil frequently, you might have a leak or your engine might be burning oil. Look for dark, oily puddles under where you park. Catching a small leak early can prevent a much bigger problem down the road.
4. Keep an Eye on All Your Fluids
Your car relies on a whole cocktail of fluids to operate correctly, and oil is just one of them. Take a moment once a month to visually inspect the transparent reservoirs in your engine bay. You don't need to be a mechanic to see if the level is below the 'MIN' line.
- Coolant/Antifreeze: This prevents your engine from overheating or freezing. If it's low, your engine could overheat, leading to warped cylinder heads and catastrophic damage.
- Brake Fluid: This hydraulic fluid is what gives your brake pedal its power. Low brake fluid is a major safety issue and often indicates worn brake pads or a leak in the system.
- Power Steering Fluid: If you hear a whining noise when you turn the steering wheel, your power steering fluid might be low. Ignoring it can burn out the pump.
- Windshield Washer Fluid: While not critical to the engine, being unable to clear your windscreen in a sudden downpour or after being splashed by a truck is incredibly dangerous.
5. Test Your Lights and Signals
A blown bulb is a cheap fix, but the fine you get for it isn't. More importantly, your lights are your way of communicating with other drivers. If your brake lights are out, the person behind you won't know you're stopping. If your indicators don't work, no one knows you're turning.
Once a week, do a quick "walk-around." Turn on your headlights (both low and high beams), indicators, and hazard lights. To check your brake lights, you can either have a friend stand behind the car or simply reverse towards a reflective surface like a garage door or shop window at night and watch the reflection as you press the brake pedal.
6. Replace Your Windshield Wipers
Wipers are a classic "wear and tear" item. Over time, the rubber degrades from exposure to sun and the elements. You'll know they're on their way out when they start to streak, smear, skip, or squeak across the glass.
Poor visibility in the rain is a massive safety risk. Thankfully, replacing wiper blades is one of the easiest and most affordable DIY car maintenance tasks. You can buy a new pair for a very reasonable price at any auto parts store, and they usually just clip on and off. Don't pay a garage to do this for you!
Pro-Tip: In between replacements, you can extend the life of your wipers by occasionally cleaning the rubber blades with a cloth soaked in windshield washer fluid or rubbing alcohol to remove built-up grime.
7. Clean Your Battery Terminals
Ever turned the key and gotten nothing but a sad clicking sound? It might not be a dead battery. Often, the culprit is corrosion on the battery terminals—that fuzzy, white, or blueish crust that can build up around the metal posts. This corrosion acts as an insulator, preventing the electrical current from flowing properly.
If you see this buildup, disconnect the battery (negative terminal first!), and clean it off. A simple paste of baking soda and water applied with an old toothbrush or a wire brush works wonders. Rinse it with a small amount of clean water, dry everything thoroughly, and reconnect the terminals (positive terminal first!). This five-minute job can save you from a stressful no-start situation.
8. Inspect Your Belts and Hoses
Open your bonnet and take a look at the rubber components. The belts (you'll likely see one big, winding serpentine belt) run things like your alternator, water pump, and A/C compressor. The hoses carry vital fluids like coolant. Over time, this rubber can become brittle and crack.
Once a month, with the engine off, visually inspect them. Look for cracks, fraying, or glazing on the belts. Squeeze the major coolant hoses (when the engine is cool!). They should feel firm but not rock-hard or mushy and soft. A snapped belt or a burst hose can leave you stranded and cause severe engine overheating and damage.
9. Listen for Strange Noises
Your car communicates with you through sounds. Ignoring a new noise is like ignoring a fire alarm. Turn the radio down every so often and just listen.
- Squealing or Grinding When Braking: This is the most common one. It's often the built-in "wear indicator" on your brake pads telling you they're at the end of their life.
- Clunking or Knocking When Going Over Bumps: This could point to worn-out suspension components like shock absorbers or bushings.
- Whining That Changes Pitch as You Steer: Often a sign of a failing power steering pump, possibly due to low fluid.
- Rumbling or Humming That Gets Louder with Speed: Could be a worn wheel bearing.
Don't panic, but don't ignore them. Describing the sound accurately to a mechanic can help them diagnose the problem faster, saving you money on labour.
10. Check Your Air Filters
Your car has two main air filters. The engine air filter prevents dust, dirt, and debris from being sucked into your engine. A clogged filter suffocates the engine, reducing performance and hurting your fuel economy. They are usually in an easily accessible black plastic box in the engine bay.
The second is the cabin air filter, which cleans the air you breathe inside the car. If your A/C seems weak or has a musty smell, a dirty cabin filter is the likely cause. It's often located behind the glove box. Both are typically easy and cheap to replace yourself—check a YouTube tutorial for your specific car model.
11. Wash Your Car (Seriously!)
This isn't just about vanity. A regular wash does more than make your car look good; it protects its most expensive component—the bodywork. Grime, road salt, and bird droppings are highly corrosive and can eat through your car's clear coat and paint, leading to rust.
Rust is like cancer for a car; it spreads and is very expensive to fix properly. Pay special attention to washing the undercarriage, especially if you live in an area where roads are salted in winter. A clean car is a protected car, which preserves its resale value. As we always say on the Goh Ling Yong blog, protecting your assets is a cornerstone of smart financial planning.
12. Pay Attention to Your Brakes
Beyond just listening for squealing, pay attention to how your brakes feel. Your brake pedal should feel firm and consistent. If it feels "spongy," "soft," or sinks slowly to the floor, you could have air or a leak in the brake lines, which is extremely dangerous.
Also, notice if the car pulls to one side when you brake hard. This could indicate a problem with a caliper or a brake hose. Brakes are the single most important safety system on your car. Any unusual behaviour from them warrants an immediate professional inspection.
13. Don't Ignore Warning Lights
That little light on your dashboard that looks like an engine is not a decoration. The "Check Engine Light" (CEL) can mean many things, from something as simple as a loose petrol cap to a more serious engine misfire. Ignoring it is a gamble.
For a small investment, you can buy a Bluetooth OBD-II scanner. This little device plugs into a port under your dashboard and connects to an app on your phone. It can read the error code that triggered the light, telling you, for example, that you have a "P0420 - Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold." A quick Google search of the code gives you an idea of the problem. This empowers you, so when you go to a mechanic, you can say, "My scanner is showing a code for an oxygen sensor," rather than just, "The light is on."
14. Read Your Owner's Manual
This is probably the most neglected book you'll ever own, but it's the ultimate guide to your car. The manufacturer's engineers spent countless hours determining the precise service intervals for everything from oil changes to timing belt replacements.
Your manual will tell you what type of oil to use, what the tyre pressures should be, and when critical components need to be inspected or replaced. Following this schedule is the single best thing you can do to ensure your car's longevity and reliability. Keep it in your glove box and actually read it!
15. Find a Trusted Mechanic (Before You Need One)
The worst time to find a mechanic is when your car is broken down on the side of the road. You're stressed, vulnerable, and more likely to be overcharged. The time to find a good, honest mechanic is when you don't need one.
Ask friends, family, and colleagues for recommendations. Check online reviews. When you're due for a simple service like an oil change, try out a promising workshop. Pay attention to how they treat you. Do they explain the work clearly? Do they show you the old parts they replaced? Building a relationship with a trustworthy mechanic means you'll have a reliable partner to turn to when a real problem arises.
Your Car, Your Control
Owning your first car is a journey, and like any journey, it's smoother when you're prepared. By integrating these 15 simple checks into your routine, you're not just maintaining a machine; you're making a smart financial investment in yourself. You're trading a few minutes of your time for potentially thousands of dollars in savings.
You don't need to be an expert. You just need to be attentive. Listen to your car, look it over, and don't be afraid to get your hands a little dirty. The confidence and savings you'll gain are well worth the effort.
What's your number one money-saving tip for new car owners? Share your wisdom in the comments below—let's help each other drive smarter and for less
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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