Originally Published May 2020

When the economy tightened and social distancing measures were implemented nationwide during the coronavirus pandemic, many drivers took time to catch up on mantenimiento del coche.

Conducting car maintenance is essential if you’re using your car less. Performing essential car maintenance can be done in the comfort of your own home and at a fraction of the cost. We’ve outlined some tips for your downtime and ways to protect your car from future breakdowns.

Limpieza del interior de su coche

Many of us like to drink coffee on our way to work or eat something quick while running errands. Here is a tip to help remove those pesky stains that might result from this. For this car maintenance step, you will need a spray bottle, hot water, dish soap, a thick-bristle brush, and a vacuum.

• Mezcle agua caliente y jabón para platos en una botella con atomizador.
• Spray down the seat
• Brush with a thick-bristle brush
• Suck the wet area with a vacuum
• Repita hasta eliminar la suciedad o la mancha.

Another option is to use a high-power carpet-cleaning machine. They are great at removing deep dirt that settles into carpet fibers and stubborn stains. The machine sprays the mat with a solution of water and cleaner and then sucks the dirt and grime into a reservoir. Retailers like Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Menards offer carpet cleaning machine rentals.

Limpieza del cuero del coche

Regularly cleaning the leather interior of your car can help avoid any headaches in the long run. Waiting may lead to lipstick, ink, and dye transfers from clothing or plastic shopping bags, which can become permanent if not handled.

Before applying any homemade or store-bought cleaning solution, we suggest vacuuming the seats first. Once all the dirt and debris are removed, begin cleaning by applying your preferred cleaning solution. Make sure to use a non-bleach-based solution, as it can damage the leather. If you do not have access to a commercial cleaning solution, here’s an alternative route:

• Mix warm water with liquid dish soap in a medium to large-sized bucket
• Utilice una proporción de 5:1 de agua y jabón.
• Humedezca un paño con su solución casera y limpie la sección deseada.
• Make sure not to over-saturate the seat with the solution because that may stain the leather
• Limpiar con una segunda toalla húmeda.
• Secar bien con una toalla seca.

Make sure to read more about how to maintain your car when spring approaches.

Cómo desempañar los faros

Have your headlights been looking a bit foggy? We’ve got a quick hack for you. All you’ll need is some toothpaste. Weird, right?

•  Use un poco de pasta de dientes y frótela sobre toda la cubierta de plástico de los faros.
•  Déjalo reposar un rato, luego enjuágalo con agua limpia y sécalo. Esto eliminará la capa opaca que los cubre.

Reemplazo del filtro de aire

We recommend replacing your car’s filtro de aire every 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. You can save yourself time and money by taking 10 minutes out of your day to do this, instead of paying a mechanic and losing your car for the day.

•  Encuentra el filtro debajo del capó de tu coche. Está en una caja rectangular negra con clips metálicos en el lateral. Consulta el manual del propietario si no lo ves al levantar el capó.
• Open up the casing and check how the air filter fits inside. Make a note of which way the filter faces.
• Retire el filtro de aire viejo e inserte el nuevo exactamente como estaba colocado. Recuerde cerrar los clips metálicos al terminar.

Cómo comprobar la batería de su coche

A properly connected battery helps keep your car running smoothly. Only a few specks of crunchy white residue on the posts can prevent your car from starting. A visual check of your battery will indicate whether this process is needed. Keeping up with your battery is a vital form of car maintenance that you may have never done yourself, so give it a try now!

• Retire los terminales de la batería, lo cual debería ser bastante sencillo. Asegúrese de retirar siempre primero el cable negativo. Si están atascados, use un destornillador plano para aflojarlos.
• Aplique generosamente el líquido a los postes y límpielos vigorosamente con un cepillo de alambre. Enjuague el líquido limpiador con un poco de agua.
• Seque los postes con trapos.
• Reemplace los terminales de la batería.
• A dead battery can be one of the most frustrating car problems because it’s usually so simple to avoid trouble. Especially if you’ve had the same battery for a few years, pop your hood every few months and check it to see if it needs a quick cleaning.

Protéjase de futuras averías del coche

We’re committed to reducing the burden of unexpected repairs and keeping America on the road. The last thing we want you to worry about is a sudden car breakdown. An garantía extendida del automóvil or vehicle service contract is an essential investment. Endurance pays the mechanic directly for both covered parts and labor, so you can spend more time relaxing than stressing.

If you’re interested in an Endurance vehicle protection plan, Solicite una cotización GRATIS. Our team is ready to find you the La mejor cobertura for your budget and needs.