If you want to extend the life of your vehicle, maintenance is key.

Here are some maintenance recommendations from the Car Care Council and AAA:

• Hoses should be checked at each oil change for age hardening or softening by pinching. Replace hoses based on the interval specified in the owner's manual to prevent your car from breaking down.

• Check belts for looseness. V-belts should be replaced every three to four years or 40,000 to 50,000 miles. Replace the timing belt between 60,000 and 90,000 miles or based on the interval specified in the owner's manual.

• Change the oil and filter every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or per the owner's manual.

• Check the tire pressure at least monthly, including the spare.

• Schedule a tune-up annually to optimize your car's performance.

• Have the alignment checked at least annually.

• Inspect the windshield wipers and lights on the car. Lights and wipers play a major role in safe driving. Have small windshield chips repaired to prevent them from becoming cracks.

• Vacuum regularly and lightly shampoo the carpets as needed. Also use floor mats to protect carpet.

• Wipe down dusty or soiled surfaces with a damp cloth. Follow with a UV-protective coating on vinyl and rubber surfaces.

• Clean stains from seats and other interior surfaces promptly to prevent them from becoming set.

• Wash the vehicle approximately every two weeks and wax it twice a year. Be sure to rinse out the wheel wells and accessible areas of the undercarriage.

And save your maintenance record. It can add hundreds of dollars to a vehicle's sales price, and most repairs come with a warranty and documentation of the repair will be needed to support any warranty claim that might arise.

"Money Q&A" and "Company Town" are featured exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.