3 Common Car Maintenance Mistakes To Avoid

Tony Mers • March 24, 2022

Do you want to ensure your car lasts for the long haul? Help it run better for longer by learning about these three common car maintenance mistakes to avoid.

Ignoring Dashboard Warning Lights

You’ve probably had that moment while driving where everything seems fine, then a warning light on your dashboard turns on all of a sudden. Whether it’s a tire pressure or check engine light, it can be easy to feel like there’s no rush to get it checked. The car feels fine, right?

However, if a warning light is going off on your dashboard, you should always take it seriously and act quickly, especially if it’s your check engine light. Your car may feel like it’s operating adequately, but a check engine light could warn you about a problem that can worsen over time.

It’s better to be safe than sorry. Therefore, when your dashboard warns you about something, you should attend to it immediately. If your check engine light comes on, then take your car to River North Collision Repair. We provide collision repair in Chicago.

Neglecting Car Fluids

You may get your oil changed when you should, which is good. But that’s not the only fluid you should keep tabs on in your car. Your vehicle has numerous fluids that help it operate correctly, such as engine coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, wiper fluid, and power steering fluid.

Can you accurately state the levels of these fluids in your vehicle? Do you know the last time someone checked and replenished them? While getting service, be sure to have all the fluids checked and replaced if needed. Your car will thank you.

Not Inspecting Brakes

We don’t need to explain how important your brakes and brake pads are to ensuring that your vehicle runs safely. Brakes are essential. Still, it’s easy to forget and overlook them, which can lead to added wear and tear on your brakes and the rest of your car.

The biggest giveaway of malfunctioning brake pads is a squealing sound when applying them while driving. Roll down your windows to try and hear your brakes while coming to a stop. If you notice squealing, that’s a sign your brake pads have become worn. Replacing brake pads can be expensive. However, if you don’t do it in time, you can damage the rotators, which will be much more costly to replace.

Many of the most common car maintenance mistakes to avoid come down to people neglecting and ignoring minor problems but can grow into severe damages.

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Why Ignoring Small Dents Can Lead to Bigger Problems

January 30, 2026

It is an awful feeling when you walk out to your car after a long day and see a small dent on your passenger door. While it may appear to be just a cosmetic issue, you should still get it fixed, because ignoring small dents can lead to bigger problems for your vehicle. Don’t let small dents on your car go untreated; let's talk about why you need to tackle these issues ASAP. Rust Loves Chicago Winters We all know the drill here in the Windy City. We have beautiful summers, sure, but we also pay the price with brutal winters. And what comes with winter? Salt. Tons of it. Your car’s paint job acts as a suit of armor protecting the metal body underneath. Even a minor dent often comes with microscopic cracks in the paint—sometimes too small to see with the naked eye. Once that seal is broken, moisture and road salt sneak in. They settle against the bare metal and start a chemical party you definitely don’t want to host. Oxidation begins immediately. By the time you notice bubbling paint or that tell-tale orange stain a few months later, the rust has already been eating away at your door panel from the inside out. Resale Value Takes a Nosedive For many people, maintaining their car is a valuable part of purchasing a new vehicle. When that day comes, curb appeal is everything. Used car buyers (and dealership appraisers) will judge your car by its exterior appearance. If they see a vehicle riddled with door dings, bumper scrapes, and ignored scratches, they see a car that wasn't cared for. They assume that if you didn't care enough to fix the outside, you probably didn't care about the rest of it either. It lowers the perceived value instantly. Maintaining your car’s body and its paint is an investment in your future trade-in value. Paint Damage Spreads Like a Virus When a dent or scrape compromises the integrity of the paint, the surrounding paint loses its grip. High-pressure car washes, wind, and temperature fluctuations cause the paint to flake away from the initial injury site. A scratch the size of a quarter can grow into a patch the size of a softball over a couple of seasons. It’s Easier (and Cheaper) Than You Think Here is the good news: fixing these things early is surprisingly affordable. Modern body shop technology is amazing. For many small dings where the paint isn't cracked, we can use techniques that massage the metal back into place without spraying a drop of paint. River North Collision Repair offers paintless dent repair in Chicago to fix minor dents. Regardless of what nicked your door, we can help remove the dents and maintain a seamless look for your vehicle. Don’t Wait for Problems Don't let minor dents turn into a big nightmare. Save your future self the headache (and the cash). Swing by River North Collision Repair for your quick and easy repairs. Because driving a car you’re proud of? That’s a feeling you can’t put a price on.