{"id":1993,"date":"2021-09-29T09:00:11","date_gmt":"2021-09-29T14:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carwise.com\/blog\/?p=1993"},"modified":"2021-09-29T09:00:11","modified_gmt":"2021-09-29T14:00:11","slug":"three-things-to-know-about-minivan-maintenance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carwise.com\/blog\/2021\/09\/29\/three-things-to-know-about-minivan-maintenance\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Things to Know About Minivan Maintenance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For many families, minivans\nare one of the most practical vehicle types. They offer plenty of room for\nchildren, pets, and storage, plus they offer lots of safety features to boot. Yet\nthey also pose vehicle maintenance challenges that you\u2019ll want to keep in mind\nif you own a minivan. Below are three features of minivans to be mindful of if\nyou want to keep yours in safe working condition for as long as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Sliding Doors <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One feature that minivans\nhave that nearly no other car has is sliding doors. These are convenient when\nparking, are easier for children to operate, and allow passengers to exit the\nvehicle without the car parked next to the van. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, sliding doors\nrequire maintenance \u2013 ideally on the same schedule as your oil is changed. The\ntracks need to be routinely lubed and cleaned to ensure the doors continue to\nopen and close smoothly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sliding doors operate via an electric motor, and sometimes these components can malfunction and create safety issues if they don\u2019t open or shut properly. It\u2019s not only important that doors latch correctly to protect passengers while the minivan is being driven, but also that they open easily when passengers need to exit the vehicle \u2013 especially when an accident occurs. If you notice an electrical issue on the door, it\u2019s best to treat it promptly. Trying to disconnect the sliding door motor or repair it yourself could lead to electrocution, so seeking professional help is strongly recommended. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Lower Auto Body<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because of how minivans are\nbuilt, the auto body tends to be lower to the ground. A low center of gravity\nmakes the body style safer, but it can also cause some maintenance challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, it\u2019s important to\nkeep this in mind when driving. Some items in the roadway may be easy for a\nnormal vehicle to drive over, but for a minivan it could be dangerous. Drive\ncarefully and be mindful of potholes, road debris and speed bumps to avoid\ndamage to your vehicle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another challenge of being\nlower to the ground is that salt or debris can build up quickly on the auto\nbody and undercarriage of your vehicle. It\u2019s important to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carwise.com\/blog\/2021\/07\/23\/can-a-car-wash-damage-your-cars-finish\/\">wash\nyour minivan regularly<\/a> to prevent<a href=\"https:\/\/www.carwise.com\/blog\/2021\/04\/02\/should-i-get-those-small-rust-spots-on-my-car-fixed-2\/\">\nrust<\/a>, particularly before and after the wintertime if you live in a snowy\nclimate, or if you live in a coastal area where ocean salt can also erode the\nvehicle finish. Rust may not seem like a big deal at first, but left\nunattended, it can lead to major auto body and mechanical damage down the\nroad.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Safety Features <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Minivans come loaded with\ntons of safety features, giving many parents peace of mind. From extra airbags\nto safety sensors in front and rear bumpers, the goal of a minivan is safe\ntransport for the whole family. Those extra safety features may provide security,\nbut because they\u2019re managed through sensors embedded in the auto body, they are\nsusceptible to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carwise.com\/blog\/2021\/05\/06\/types-of-hidden-damage-caused-by-fender-benders\/\">hidden\ndamage<\/a> after an accident, even minor fender benders. If you\u2019re in an\naccident, be sure to ask your body shop to check for hidden damage before and\nafter any repairs, to make sure all your safety features work properly should\nyou ever need them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Find an Auto Body Shop\nNear You<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you\u2019re looking for\nsliding door repair, rust repair, or collision repair after an accident, a\nprofessional auto body shop near you can help restore your minivan to like-new\ncondition. To find a reputable auto body shop near you, search Carwise.com and\nread reviews from real customers, find shop hours and locations, before and\nafter photos, and certifications. With more than 21,000 shops to choose from,\nCarwise.com will help you find your perfect fit. Get started today: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carwise.com\/auto-body-shops%20\/\">https:\/\/www.carwise.com\/auto-body-shops \/<\/a> .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1995,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[90,96,168,197,240],"class_list":["post-1993","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-maintenance","tag-car-maintenance","tag-car-repair","tag-family-minivan","tag-minivan-maintenance","tag-sliding-door-maintenance"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Three Things to Know About Minivan Maintenance - Auto Body Shop Blog - Carwise.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carwise.com\/blog\/2021\/09\/29\/three-things-to-know-about-minivan-maintenance\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Three Things to Know About Minivan Maintenance - Auto Body Shop Blog - Carwise.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"For many families, minivans are one of the most practical vehicle types. 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