The modern day car may have as many as 75,000 parts, and the malfunction of just one can make your car behave strangely. Maintaining your car in good condition will help you to keep it safe, drive it for a long time, and someday sell it for a good price.

There are several things you need to look at to keep your car well maintained:

Tires:
Make sure they are properly inflated to the manufacturer's specified pressure. Tires should be replaced when tread wear indicators are showing between the treads. 

Ask your local garage if you are unsure how to identify tread wear indicators. And also Check your tires every other day for pressure and every week for wear or damage,especially before going on a long car journey. Make sure you have them replaced when they become worn beyond acceptable limits.

Oil:
Have the oil changed every 3,000 – 3,500 miles. While oil manufacturers have claimed that their oil can last 10,000 miles, it is generally best to use the same oil for no more than 5,000 miles to maximize engine reliability and efficiency over the long term. Check the oil regularly, about once a week.

Windows:
Make sure that all windows, mirrors and lights are clean and not broken. Replace any broken lights or mirrors as soon as possible. 

Brakes: 
The braking systems of modern cars are designed to be replaced periodically to maintain maximum braking efficiency. If you notice ANY problems with the brakes, take your car to have the brakes checked immediately. If the brakes fail, you can have a very serious crash.

Belts:
Check the belts or have them checked regularly for wear and tension. 

Battery:
Check the battery once per month for corrosion and clean it or have it cleaned and as needed. Avoid running your battery down!

Interior:
Clean and vacuum the interior as needed. The interior is often a point of selling power when it comes time to trade the car in or sell it. While many may not care about the oil or tires, if the CD player won't work, or the interior looks a little dirty, the deal is off. 

Fluids:
Coolant, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, wind shield washer fluid, brake fluid, and other fluids need to be checked at a minimum of once per week. 

Lights:
 You can check your own lights if you have some place you can park near reflective glass windows, or you can ask a friend to walk around your car while you turn on different lights. Make sure to check your headlights, tail lights, reverse lights, brake lights, and turn signals.

Wind shield wipers:
It's easy to replace worn wiper blades yourself. Replace just the blades once a year as needed before the rainy season.