Before starting any long trip or after every 50,000 miles of use, check all of the engine's accessory belts. Today, many cars are equipped with a serpentine belt that runs all of the accessories, so if that belt breaks, you can lose your power steering, water pump and charging system immediately. Inspect the engine and look at the belt (or belts) to see if there is visible damage, abnormal wear or small hairline cracks. Replace any belt that shows signs of wear. Even if a belt appears to be in good condition, it should be replaced every 50,000 miles as preventative maintenance.
8-Brakes
Your vehicle's most critical system is its brakes. Many people never look at the master cylinder until they have brake failure. In late-model vehicles, the master cylinders are often made of semi-opaque plastic that allows inspecting the fluid level without taking off the cover, as is the case with cast-iron master cylinders.9-Lubrication
Adequate lubrication is one of the key factors in keeping your engine running well. The fluid level should be checked weekly, and the oil should be changed frequently (every 3,000 miles in older engines) to keep it clean. The most common effect of neglected oil inspection is an engine seize or some other type of catastrophic failure. Checking the oil level is a lot more convenient than replacing and engine.10-Degreasers
Your engine compartment can be kept looking as good as the day you purchased the car by cleaning it once a month. Degreasing can be done when you wash the car.11-Wash & Polish
All of the automotive paint manufactures have to meet current EPA standards, so automotive paints have been evolving over the past several years. New vehicles are painted with urethane products and most factories use two- and three-stage paints. As a result, it's important to use car -care products that are designed for these finishes. Carefully read the label prior to buying the wax or other surface treatment to assure paint compatibility.12-Glass Care
There's nothing worse, or more dangerous, than looking out of a dirty windshield. Dirty glass deflects the light and can make visibility dangerous at best, impossible at worst. 
