What Are the Most Common Types of Car Maintenance?

Tony Mers • October 1, 2021

Keeping your car in good condition is important for a well-functioning vehicle that will serve you for a long time. It also ensures that you're safe while driving on the road. If you'd like to know more about necessary types of car maintenance, River North Collision Repair is here to explain four of the most common examples.

Levels of Oil and Coolant

To avoid extensive problems with your engine in the future, make sure to check the levels of your oil and coolant while your engine is cool. Do this just before going on a long road trip, after every few gas fillups, or every month, whichever comes up first. Keeping track of your fluid levels and refilling them whenever necessary will keep your engine functioning at optimum ability, and give you a long period with an unproblematic car for the most part.

Tread Depth and Pressure of The Tires

Well-maintained tires will not only ensure that you're safe while on the road, but will also help you get more miles off of your gas. Give your tires a visual inspection often or visit your local auto body services center for this. Make sure that the tread depth is deep enough to afford you a good grip on the road even in rain and snow and rotate your tires every time you notice wear on one side to make sure your car is well balanced and the tread wear is even.

Lights

The brake and parking lights, turn signals, and headlights all need to be inspected to make sure they're working and none is broken. This can affect the lights' function over time due to the accumulation of dirt and water. At least once every month, have someone stand behind your car as you engage the brakes to make sure their lights work, then park in front of a flat surface, turning on your headlights to make sure they're positioned well and work as they should. You could also head to an auto body services center for this checkup.

The Battery

One of the most common types of car maintenance will involve your vehicle’s battery, as these typically only last for a few years before they need replacing. Your car's battery supplies the electrical current necessary to run the engine, starter, and all other appliances that require electricity. This makes it one of the most important components of your car. Since extreme temperatures affect the battery's performance, you should test it regularly to make sure it has the necessary power.

Don't let your car be part of the 77% found to be in need of repairs and maintenance in a recent survey. To avoid experiencing issues with your car, don't neglect the necessary types of car maintenance to keep your vehicle in pristine condition. When you have a bigger job that requires more muscle, you can always seek assistance from your auto body services shop whenever necessary.

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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.