Buying a used car is a great idea for many reasons. Even so, you should take time to learn about some basic maintenance before buying your first used car. If you’re buying it from somebody else, don’t let them neglect the basics and think that they know what they’re doing when it comes to the used cars in sacramento. They might not know when parts need replaced or oil changes, and that will be costly at best.

Here are tips to help you safely maintain a used car.

Know your model

This is very important. Many used cars are in poor condition because they are not maintained properly or because their parts don’t work. That will lead you to buying a new car, which will be wasting your money if you don’t know how to maintain the one you just bought.

Know the history of your car

Examine the car and figure out how long it has been in use, so that you can tell how long it’s been since its last maintenance. A car that has been on the road a long time will require more maintenance and repair. You can also look at its history to see if it was well maintained before you buy it.

Check for recalls

Sometimes, a vehicle may need some part replaced, but you wouldn’t notice this because the car just feels or looks fine. Most of these parts are not visible, so you might end up driving with a broken car until something major happens and you need to stop driving it altogether.

Check the fluids

The most common fluids in a car are the oil, antifreeze and engine coolant. Before you do any maintenance on your car, you should check it to see if they’re at the right levels so that they won’t break down while you’re driving or when some other problem occurs. You can also check these fluids using your phone or an app, if you’re not sure of how to check them.

Check the tire pressure

Having low tire pressure can cause issues with your car. Check the tire pressure frequently and change it if it’s low, because this can lead to problems such as having a flat tire or having a blowout immediately. Keep in mind that you should always have a spare as well, so you don’t have to stop driving your vehicle if you pull over to change the wheel.