Midas - Victoria

As with all preventative maintenance performed on a car, major services can prevent a myriad of problems from occurring on a vehicle.

The filters can clog with use and prevent flow, starving the engine of fuel or air affecting fuel economy.

Spark plugs have a recommended service lifetime and old spark plugs may cause engine misfire.

As an engine accumulates miles over time, the oil is diluted. This causes the oil to break down. If the oil is not changed often enough, you can end up with accelerated wear and all the engine problems that come with it (loss of performance and fuel economy, and increased emissions and oil consumption).

A major service includes:

• Checking fluid levels and topping up if required
• Replacing worn out parts such as spark plugs, fuel, oil and air filters
• Draining and replacing the engine oil
• A thorough inspection of all moving parts to check for wear and tear.

The minor service is designed for vehicles between major services, and is even more useful for people doing a lot of miles. During the minor service you will receive oil and oil filter change plus a range of checks over the main elements of the car.

Many automatic gearboxes require transmission fluid to be changed regularly, not only to prolong the life of the gearbox, but also to ensure it performs at its best. This is considered so important that it's often part of maintaining a new car's warranty. When old transmission fluid is flushed out of the system, transmission coolers, lines and torque converters should be drained to prevent the possibility of sludge remaining.

Regular exhaust system maintenance requires the inspection and, in some instances, various other procedures to occur at selected kilometre and/or monthly intervals.

If regular exhaust system maintenance is not adhered to, additional engine noise, poor fuel economy and serious personal injury can result. A leaking exhaust system can result in carbon monoxide (CO) to enter the vehicle interior.

It is recommended that the brakes are inspected at routine intervals and manual adjustment/service be performed at that time, too.

Brake fluid is one of the most neglected fluids in vehicles today, yet is vitally important for safe driving. Consequently, professional technicians should be checking the fluid and recommending that the brake fluid be changed if it is contaminated. The issue is old brake fluid may not be safe if moisture contamination is above a certain level.

Brakes are the single most important safety factor in your car. One of the easiest ways to tell if they're working is to check your brake warning light. If it's on, they need attention. Other warning signs can be:

• Your car loses grip when braking
• Your car pulls to the left or right when braking
• Your brake pedal is low, hard, soft or spongy
• Your steering wheel shudders when you brake
• Your brakes screech or squeal
• Your car takes longer to stop than normal

Air conditioning systems are designed to provide a pleasant environment for driving, allowing for better concentration in traffic.

However, air-conditioned vehicle often cause runny noses, inflammation to eyes, sore throats and irritation of bronchial tubes. Moreover, air-conditioning systems often give off an unpleasant smell.

This is caused by growth of mould and bacteria on the surface of the evaporator.

The air conditioning deodorizer cleans the evaporator, refreshes the air ducts and the passenger compartment.

If your vehicle requires an inspection and you wish to renew your registration, you need to get an e-Safety Check first.

An e-Safety Check (formerly known as pink slip) is valid for 42 days from the date of issue.

All vehicles need periodic inspection, adjustment and replacement of certain key suspension components.