Car maintenance: how to keep your vehicle in good nick
If you look after your car properly, you’ll have less to worry about, fewer repair costs and can potentially achieve a higher resale price. Comparis explains what maintenance work you can carry out yourself and what to watch out for when choosing a garage.
Service, repairs and inspections
Any major work should be left to the professionals. A garage will take care of services and repairs and ensure that your vehicle passes its compulsory inspections.
Using a garage
It’s not always easy to find a good garage. Document any damage to your vehicle before taking it in for a service or repair. This will help you avoid any disputes with the garage.
Repair or sell
Basically, it’s only worth repairing your vehicle if the cost does not exceed the current value of the vehicle. It may, however, make sense for classic and modern classic cars.
Motor vehicle inspections
Cars and motorcycles must undergo regular motor vehicle inspections. The first inspection must take place four years after the vehicle's first registration.
Car tuning
In Switzerland, you are allowed to use chip tuning to improve the performance of your engine by 20%.
Regular maintenance and care
You can take care of certain regular maintenance tasks yourself. These include washing the car properly, checking the oil and carrying out special checks in winter.
Washing your car
Salt, Sahara sand and pollen can take their toll on cars. It’s important to wash your vehicle regularly and thoroughly to spare you the expense of fixing paintwork damage.
Care in winter
Did you know...? Vaseline is not just good for dry lips – it can also be used to lubricate rubber seals on your car. How to take care of your vehicle through the winter.
Martens
The bonnet of a car is the ideal hiding place for martens. But for you, it can result in chewed cables. The only way to protect your vehicle from marten damage is by means of electricity.
All you need to know about tyres
Having the correct tyres is important for reasons of safety and fuel economy. You can now buy new tyres and wheels online. It’s easy fit wheels yourself if you have the right instructions.
Buying online
Tyres are also available for purchase online. When choosing an online tyre supplier, make sure the store lets you return the tyres if necessary, and check customer reviews and ratings.
Changing wheels
When fitting new wheels, ensure that the tyres rotate in the right direction and tighten the nuts using a wheel wrench. If you want to change your tyres yourself, you can follow these instructions provided by Comparis.
Tyre pressure sensors
Since 1 November 2014, all new cars in Switzerland must be equipped with a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). But not all sensors are equal.
Balancing
Once you have changed the tyres on your car, you should get them balanced straightaway. This is because even minimal changes to your tyres can cause imbalance.
Winter tyres
In Switzerland, there is no legal requirement to fit winter tyres. Comparis explains when it is nevertheless a good idea to fit winter tyres and what to watch out for when buying them.
Special rules in Italy
You are not allowed to drive on Italian roads with winter or all-season tyres in summer. If you do, you can expect a hefty fine and your vehicle may even be confiscated.
Car maintenance in winter
Cars need special care in winter. You should measure the depth of tread on your winter tyres: if it is less than 4 millimetres, you need to replace your tyres.
