A Beginner’s Guide to Toyota Corolla Maintenance
The exciting part of buying a car is always the purchase. The less exciting but no less important aspect is car maintenance.
It’s extremely important to keep your car in good working order to ensure that you’re able to get where you need to go at any time.
A few of the most common issues to keep an eye out for can be easily handled with the right knowledge.
Changing a Tire
Surprisingly, how to change a tire is one of the most frequently asked questions by car owners. The good news is that changing a tire on your Toyota Corolla is actually very simple.
If you find yourself with a flat tire, first you’ll need to pull over. Make sure your Corolla is in a safe location before beginning any work.
Next, remove the hubcap on the wheel. This will give you access to the tire and allow you to loosen the lug nuts.
Once this is done, jack your car up. It’s important to get your car up to about 6 inches high. Be sure not to place the jack in a position that could cause damage to your vehicle.
Now you’re ready to remove the tire. Take the lug nuts off (but keep them handy!) and pull the tire straight towards you.
Finally, place the new tire on the car. Push the tire straight on, and fasten your lug nuts to secure it in place.
Changing the Oil
Before you decide to change the oil yourself, make sure you have all the necessary tools and supplies. You will need:
- An Oil Collection Pan
- 4 Quarts of Oil
- A Funnel
- An Oil Filter
- Plenty of Rags
Begin by sliding the oil pan under the drain plug. The drain plug is located below the engine.
Next, use a wrench to remove the drain plug. The oil will drain into the oil pan. Once the drainage is finished, you need to remove the oil filter.
Use your rag to wipe away the oil from the filter. Now take a clean rag, add some oil to it, and wipe the edge of the new filter.
You can now install the new filter and replace the drain plug. Next, open the oil tank and pour in the new oil.
Give the car a moment before using the dipstick to make sure you have enough oil inside.
Voila! Just like that, you’ve changed the oil. Make sure to close the oil tank again once you are finished.
Cleaning Your Vehicle
To ensure you enjoy your car every time you step into it, always have cleaning supplies on hand. We like to store these in the trunk just in case anything happens, such as a spill, or while driving a bunch of bugs stick to the car. Another option is always finding local car detailers who will often have monthly subscription services so that you can take it to them to have it cleaned as often as you’d like.
Replacing Wiper Fluid
The wiper fluid level is another part of your vehicle that needs to be continuously checked. Windshield wiper fluid isn’t crucial, but not filling it can certainly lead to a messy car!
To refill the wiper fluid, you don’t need to do a whole lot. First, remove the front bumper so that you can access the wiper fluid pump.
Next, remove the wiper fluid pump from the reservoir. Discard the reservoir, open a new one, and insert the pump into the new reservoir.
Put all the parts back into place and close the bumper again.
While car maintenance is key to keeping your vehicle running, it’s best to get a healthy vehicle in the first place. Give us a call today to get a car in tip-top shape!