Archive for the ‘Automotive Maintenance’ Category
Are you concerned about your vehicle maintenance? Here are some good tips to keep your car on the road and out of the shop.
The first thing to remember is to follow the manufacturer’s maintenance steps. This is critical if you want to maintain your car warranty and it will save you money in the long. If your warranty does not say that a dealer has to do the work, feel free to have your own mechanic do the work for you. That should save you a small fortune.
Next is to keep track of when the dealer says you should replace parts such as fuel filters, belts, timing belts and other parts that wear out. Plan ahead to have those parts replaced. This will allow you to save up for the repair. Do not wait until the parts give out because when they fail they can cause more problems.
We have a car that we neglected to perform the recommended service on and we paid dearly when the problems from not replacing a $9.00 part ended up costing nearly $1000.00 to fix. If we had gone to the shop, it would have been about double that price.
Once your warranty has expired, you can do the work for yourself. I recommend that you find a repair manual for you vehicle. They are available at most parts stores or online. I have even seen articles that tell you how to get them free. I have never followed the links and do not know what they require from you.
Unless you have containers for your used fluids, you should go to a shop for oil changes. Do not just go to an open area and let the oil drain on the ground. Most maintenance is simple to perform and you may find that you actually enjoy doing it.
Be sure that you have all of the parts and tools necessary to complete whatever task you are working on. There is nothing more frustrating than having to run to the parts store in the middle of a repair. When you look for parts, check the prices online. Many parts stores have great savings online and the shipping costs are not too expensive for most parts.
The most important thing to remember is safety. If you are working under a car, use jack stands and other safety devices to protect yourself. Remember to disconnect the battery before working around the wiring. If you do not disconnect the battery, you will get a good light show and a not so pleasant sensation in your arm. Do not try to replace a part if you are not sure how to replace it.
In this second edition of automotive maintenance tips, we’re going to be dealing again with fluids. Who would have imagined all the liquid that a car consumes, besides gasoline? Well, other than mechanics and people who find cars fascinating in anyway.
In the previous article of this series, we learned about oil and brake fluid. Next on our list of must know maintenance pointers, will be radiator coolant. Your operator handbook, or owner’s manual will tell you if, and what type of radiator coolant is best for your car.
Radiator Coolant
This fluid is extremely crucial to your car, as it is what prevents the engine from overheating. Allowing the coolant level to get too low, can cause severe damage to your cars engine, leading to repeated breakdowns and costly repairs.
Adding coolant to the radiator.
If your car is pre-1970, then you will have to add the coolant straight into the radiator. Some of the newer model German and Swedish luxury or sports cars also require the coolant be added directly to the radiator.
1. Park your automobile on a level part of your driveway.
2. Allow your engine to cool down for about a half hour before you proceed.
3. The radiator cap should be located at the front of the engine, near the middle.
4. Be very careful when you remove the radiator cap, touching it when the engine is hot, could result in severe burns.
5. Once you have twisted off the cap (use rags or a thick glove), look into the radiator, and determine if the fluid level is pretty close to the top. If it isn’t, then pour in the coolant until you can see the fluid easily.
6. Make sure that when you twist the radiator cap back on, you have it screwed on tightly.
Radiator fluid container.
Most American and foreign cars that are available today, have a plastic cistern, or container that holds the radiator coolant.
1. The plastic coolant container will most likely be located close to the radiator. In some cars, it is even labeled. There will be a rubber or plastic hose leading from the radiator to the container.
2. Again, ensure that the engine is not hot when you remove the cap. If the fluid level is lower than the “full line”, add coolant until it reaches that line.
3. Do not try to remove the cap if the car has overheated, the reservoir holding the coolant could have become pressurized, and cause any remaining fluid to spray out at you when you twist off the cap. Allow the engine to cool sufficiently.
4. If your car overheats because of low coolant, DO NOT put in straight water, as this can cause further damage. Radiator coolant is half anti-freeze and half-purified water. It is a good idea, to keep a bottle of coolant in your trunk, for situations such as this.
Radiator fluid comes in attractive bottles, and has a somewhat sweet taste. Always keep it out of the reach of children. And if it should spill, clean it up immediately because pets, like kids, only understand that it tastes good, not that it is poisonous.
http://www.juble.com/articles/a306-radiator-fluidcoolant-monthly-automotive-maintenance-part-2.html
This is the third installment of our automotive maintenance “How to” series, and again we will be learning about fluids. Performing monthly routine checks on the fluids in your car will save you money, time, and stress when it is time to take your car in for its regular tune-ups. Keeping your vehicle in good condition will also help you avoid situations such as breakdowns and accidents.
Most of the fluids that your car needs to function well, do not get used up, they run continuously through the engine from the reservoir and back again. Therefore, if you do find that any of your fluid levels are significantly low, there is a leak somewhere. Leaks are a hazard to the engine, and to your safety, and should be fixed as soon as possible. If you are unable to find and repair the leak yourself, take the car to a mechanic or technician to be checked before your scheduled tune-up.
Power Steering Fluid
Checking the power steering fluid is important because if the level gets too low, damage to all of the steering components could ensue, and repairing the steering system is a costly endeavor. The following steps will teach you easily how to go about the process.
1. In most vehicles today, that are equipped with power steering, the fluid container is usually labeled. If not, then you should look for the power steering pump and belt. On top of the pump, you will find, either a round metal or clear plastic reservoir.
2. If your power steering fluid container is metal, then there will be a dipstick attached to the cap. Marked on the dipstick with be two level lines, one for hot and one for cold. You will fill the reservoir to the proper level depending on whether you are checking while the engine is hot, or cold.
3. If your reservoir is clear plastic, then you only need to look at it to determine if the fluid level is below the fill line.
4. Make sure that you are adding the type of power steering fluid that is recommended for your make and model of vehicle.
If your fluid level was extremely low, and you hear a loud, high-pitched squeal when you turn the steering wheel, you need to check the power steering belt. Damage caused from lack of fluid could have worn out the belt, or caused the belt to slip. If the damage has gone too far, or been left neglected for too long, you may need to have the entire power steering pump replaced. To find out if this indeed the problem that is causing the noise, you should have a qualified and reliable person take a look. Waiting until your tune-up is only going to make the problem worse. It is possible to perform these types of basic repairs on your own, but not a good idea if you are new to the inner workings of your vehicle.
http://www.juble.com/articles/a305-power-steering-fluid-monthly-automotive-maintenance-part-3.html