What should be paid attention to during the first car maintenance?
4 Answers
Things to pay attention to during the first car maintenance are: 1. Make an appointment with the 4S store in advance; 2. Bring the vehicle license and maintenance manual. The items for the first car maintenance include: 1. Replace engine oil, oil filter, and clean the air filter; 2. Check the car chassis; 3. Check all switches and lights to ensure they are working properly; 4. Check tire pressure. The benefits of the first car maintenance include: 1. Ensuring the vehicle is in excellent performance condition; 2. Improving vehicle efficiency and reducing the consumption of parts and tires; 3. Enhancing driving safety; 4. Avoiding potential hazards caused by vehicle issues; 5. Reducing noise and environmental pollution; 6. Maintaining the vehicle's appearance and preventing damage.
I just took my new car for its first service a few days ago, sharing some tips. Booking is crucial—dealerships are packed nowadays, so calling ahead to schedule saves you two hours of waiting. Before leaving, I dug out the maintenance manual and purchase documents and placed them on the passenger seat—these are the free service vouchers, don’t forget them. I made sure to jot down all the minor issues I’d noticed recently, like the occasional false alerts from the reverse radar, so the technician could check them specifically. I watched the whole oil and filter change process—the free service list only had about seven or eight items. When I got the final checklist, I carefully reviewed each item since dealerships often push paid cleaning packages—just say no on the spot. Don’t forget to ask about the next service interval—mine is due in 6 months or 10,000 km for the second service.
I remember feeling quite nervous when I took my new car for its first maintenance at 5,000 kilometers. The most important thing was to keep an eye on the scope of free services, which were clearly stated in the manual, to avoid being upsold on unnecessary engine deep cleaning. Calling to book an appointment a day in advance saved a lot of hassle—otherwise, you might end up waiting half a day on weekdays. Before heading out, I spent five minutes checking the car's condition: dashboard warning lights, unusual noises, and tire wear, all of which could be addressed during the maintenance. The mechanic would check the brake pad thickness while changing the oil, so remember to ask about the results. Don’t skip the post-maintenance test drive; take a couple of laps to see if gear shifting feels smoother. On the way back, I deliberately took a bumpy road to test the suspension, as the main goal of the first maintenance is to identify any hidden issues from the break-in period.
Just had my first service last week, here are some practical tips. First and foremost, bring the maintenance card provided at the time of purchase, the electronic version is also acceptable. Free items only include oil and filter change plus a full vehicle inspection, don't sign for any paid services. It's best to schedule the appointment on weekday mornings when there are fewer people and more work bays. Mention your driving habits to the technician, for example, I often drive on highways so I asked them to pay special attention to tire pressure and coolant. Don't rush off after the service, personally check if the old parts have been replaced and whether the air filter box clips are properly secured. Before leaving, take a photo of the odometer with your phone for easy calculation of the next service interval.
