There are things you can maintain on your car by yourself and things that only your mechanic can touch (unless you have mechanic training yourself). There are also systems that only your technician can handle, specifically your car computer, the errors it displays, and maintenance of the different sensors of your vehicle.
Your brake pedal, for example, should not be pumped on a car with ABS or Antilock Braking System. Just step on it normally once and let the ABS controller handle the rest when it comes to opening and closing valves. Extra pumps add undue pressure to the system so just trust the ABS to maintain the integrity of your brakes.
Dealing with Modern Cars and Their Newest Features
- Getting Used to Technological Advances: If you're used to driving vintage cars from the 1990s and back, then you might do unnecessary things when you're suddenly tasked to drive a 2000s or 2010s hybrid or any modern car with a computer. Like spinning your steering wheel excessively when you have power steering. Or thinking that your AB System requires service or maintenance (it usually doesn't until it breaks down).
- ABS Steering Is Automatic: When your dashboard's ABS light is activated or an error message is displayed on your console, then that means the system is disabled because of a system error. That's when your AB System is disabled and requires diagnosis and repair from an expert. A disabled ABS means you can't stop and steer your vehicle while it skids. Your brakes will lock and you'll have to wait the skid out, which can be dangerous on icy roads.
- Computer Consoles and Error Messages: Other errors can pop up on your console like if your headlights are broken, your battery is dead, your spark plugs have issues, you need to change your oil, and so forth. Usually, you need to look up the message on your user manual to know what it is. Barring that, the technician for your car can figure it out. Or you can look it up on the Internet. At any rate, it pays to have this computer and its sensors alert you when something is wrong in advance.
- Advances Like Power Steering Require Their Own Liquids: The more systems that are added to the modern car, the more different lubes you'll need aside from oil to keep them working. Power steering has its own fluids to keep tabs on, along with the brake and clutch. You should change them every 50,000 miles. Ditto with differentials and transfer case fluids. As for transmission and engine coolant fluids, they wear out every 30,000 miles. Engine oil should be replaced every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.