How do I perform regular maintenance on my car?

Jeremy Donohue: Change the oil every 3000 miles (most important maintenance you can do on a car).Rotate tire every 5000-7500 miles.Flush and refill cooling system 1nce a year.Tune Up once a year.Owners manual has complete maintenance schedule.Chiltons or Haynes manual will give step by step instructions on how to do various maintenance jobs.Another point to consider if you don't think you can do the maintenance and repairs yourself:Just because the owner's manual says to take it to a dealer doesn't mean you HAVE to take it to a dealer. There are plenty of good shops around that will be happy to maintain your car for a fraction of what the dealerships charge. Just ask around and get some referances to some good shops in your area. As for step by step instructions on individual maintenance procedures, I can't sit here and write a whole book as an answer to this post. However, if you have specific questions, post back and someone will usually give you a specific answer. As I! said though, telling you how to do maintenance is too generalized. There has actually been entire books written on the subject....Show more