I have had it for almost a year now, and I haven’t done anything except get the oil changed. It’s a 2005 Dodge and it used to be a rental car. I want it to last as long as possible, so what kind of preventative maintenance should I do to help it last?
Posted in Maintenance & Repairs
transmission fluid & filter change w/gasket
Consult the owners manual, it has all the pertinent maintenance items in there.
well alot of it depends on the milage that the car is at..but here are some good things to keep in mind.. timing belt should be changed around 80 thou miles.. transmission service is usually around then to…. as well as radiator, you may want a tune up around a 100 thou…
depends on how many miles you have on it… you should probably do a transmission and radiator flush and if you have the money have them clean the engine too..
Just as a general rule of thumb here….obviously your driving habits and conditions can affect these numbers….
Engine oil and filter……every 3,000mi
Transmission oil and filter…..every 24,000-36,000mi
Spark plugs and wires……every 50,000mi
Fuel filter…….every 30,000mi
Air filter……..every 12,000mi
Lubricated all seals and hinges annually
These are just the basics, but if you keep up with these your car will always treat you right. Good Luck.
I agree with looking in the owner’s manual. That will give you the best guidline to maintenance. Alot of what you should do does depend on 1. Total miles drivin. 2. If you drive mostley in town or on the highway and 3. The climate in which you drive.
It’s awsome that you’re chaning the oil hopefully it’s getting the proper grease as well. I would get the tires checked and rotate them every other oil change to keep wear even. The brakes are also very important. Make sure you have them inspected to make sure there isn’t any uneaven wear or the rotors are in good shape. I would also agree with the others that recommend servicing the transmission with fluid as well as a radiator service and the timing belt.
Rental cars aren’t treated nor taken care of very well. Most rental companies keep them for 6 mos max and don’t do anything but change the oil. Should you have any questions outside of the owners manual, consult your local Chrysler dealership service dept. They can give you alot of guidence. Any work they recommend, can be done elswhere probably for half the cost. Good luck with your vehicle!