Wash the undercarriage
During the winter months, salt and stuff accumulates on the bottom side of your vehicle and it can cause rust, corrosion and other problems. Take your car to a car wash that offers undercarriage washing to get off those substances that can reduce the life of your car.

Check the tire pressure
Tire pressure changes when the temperature changes. In fact, the pressure could change as much as one pound for every square inch for every 10 degrees that the temperature changes. That is why it is important to keep an eye on the tire pressure when moving from the colder months to the summer months. While you’re at it, there’s no harm in rotating the tires, either.

Flush the cooling system
Flushing and filling your car’s cooling system helps rid any corrosion particles and dirt from the system. You can probably go without doing this if you did it at the beginning of the last spring season, but you should do it this year if it has not been done in a couple years.

Clean it out
During the colder months, it is difficult to keep the inside of your car clean because you do not want to spend time in the frigid temperatures. But now that it is getting warmer, take some pride in your car and make it look presentable. Give it a good vacuum and shampoo the carpets if you have not done it all winter. You will feel better driving around this summer  in a clean car!

Start Early
One of the best ways to find a good service station for your used cars is to start looking for one before you need it. Check out various service garages around town when you need an oil change, a tire rotation or something else that is minor. That way, when you need something major done, you will have an idea of which mechanic you are comfortable dealing with.

Research from Home
With the beauty of the Internet, you can find consumer reviews about almost any service garage in your area. If a particular facility has a lot of negative comments, take them off your list of possibilities. Look for one that has more positive remarks to expect a better experience.

Talk to the Service Manager
If you are still unsure about a certain facility, take a few minutes to talk to the service manager. Do they take the time to explain things in a way you can understand them? Do they make you feel hurried or do they seem bothered by your questions? Evaluate how they treat you before giving them the keys to your car.

Chris Hedgecock bought a car for less than $1,000 more than two years ago. In order to dispel the notion that used cars are unreliable, he decided to drive it across the country. He recently made a stop in New Orleans on his voyage to do interviews about his plan.

The car he bought for the journey was a 1974 LeMans. He had to give it some TLC in order to make sure it would drive across the country, but he said he only spent about $200. After that, it was “ready to hit the road from San Diego to Miami.” Hedgecock said he has not had any problems with the used car the entire trip.

The best part about his purchase is that he owns the car free and clear. Since used cars are generally less expensive than new ones, he does not have any car payments. “You might have to learn how to fix a car yourself,” he explained, “but at the end you’re going to have a car and no debt.”

Don’t let the naysayers sway your decision to purchase a used car. With a little car and dedication, you can run your used car just like it was new!

• Most importantly, make sure the engine is off before you check your belts. If you try to do this with the engine running, you may lose a finger or cause damage to yourself.
• Look for the belts around the engine. For most cars, there will be two belts. Most newer used cars have serpentine belts that run the engine. The belts should not be hard to find.
• Find the area of the belt that has the longest span between pulleys. Press on this area with your thumb to see if it has much tension. If you can push it more than an inch, it’s going to be time to change it soon.
• Look for cracks or stretches. If there are any noticeable cracks or areas where it looks burned or stretched, it probably won’t last much longer.

Belts are a part of a car that wear out after several thousand miles regardless of how well you take care of your engine. Be a little proactive, however, and you can fix these minor problems before they become major.

Jerry Goodson, the owner of Jerry’s Automotive in Bristol, Virginia, has been in the repair business for over 40 years. He says his mechanics are keeping very busy these days and he doesn’t think business is going to slow down any time in the near future. In recent months, he said his business has increased by 20 percent. “I’ve never seen it quite as bad as it is now,” he said in an interview. “Customers are saying that they just can’t afford to buy a new car.”

Goodson also says that there is no reason a person shouldn’t be able to keep their used cars as long as they take care of them over the years. “I’m seeing cars on a regular basis with 100,000 and up miles on them,” he said.

Don Beach, another repair shop owner in Virginia is reporting similar findings for his shop. “I’ve had a lot more major jobs like clutches, engines, valve work where you gotta pull apart the engine valve,” he said.

If you’ve been trying to decide if you should just get a new car or hold on to your used one, evaluate your reasons. If your used car is still running decent and just needs a little work, it’s likely best to keep it and invest some money in it instead of going all out and buying a new one.