Basic Car Maintenance

Basic car maintenance tips

Raffy — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:24:54 +0000

After purchasing a new car, be reminded that you are lucky to have a three-year warranty. If you notice something wrong with you car, don’t hesitate to take it to the dealer and ask them to check it out, of course since it’s covered by the warranty, it’s free of charge. This cover is applicable not just to the original buyer, but also to the car. Bear it mind that when the three years warranty are up, the cost of extending the warranty is usually on a reasonable price. You can shop around for quotes regarding the breakdown cover and carefully compare it with the level of cover you are getting.

Car wax

wewei — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:34:32 +0000

Never underestimate the power of consistent car waxing in ensuring that your car is in its top form. It is recommended that you do wash your car at least three times a month. Wax helps protect the car paint from tarnishing and coats it with a protective layer that helps fight the damage caused by seasonal changes. After waxing, you might want to start claying. The process removes and prevents asphalt, excess paint, and helps even out bumps on your auto’s skin. Just make sure that you use the clay over your regular car shampoo to serve as its lubricant, be generous in the application of the said shampoo in order to achieve faster and better results.

Motoring Guide – Car Maintenance

Raffy — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:57:03 +0000

Basic car maintenance is something every car owner should know. Being able to check the engine oil, the pressure of the tyres and the overall condition of the brakes can save you money, and you won’t need to rely on the skills of a mechanic to do everything. All you will need is some basic tools to do the job and of course some time!

Plastic crises

wewei — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:48:42 +0000

Road trips are fun and so is driving fast, real fast, but was there ever a time wherein you were alarmed by the distinct stench of burnt up plastic in your car? Well, it’s actually a pretty common problem, see due to the world’s patronization on cheap plastics, it’s pretty usual to have them flying around like birds, and with you driving at top speed and all, it’s not an uncommon occurrence to have them sticking under your vehicle—thus the burnt smell of plastic is caused by an indeed, burning plastic. In this case, there is no easier way than getting down there and manually removing the piece of garbage. Better do this as early as possible so that it doesn’t glue itself hard on its engine while it’s on melt down.

The electrical fault light

Raffy — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:49:58 +0000

How do you know if your car’s electrical charging system is faulty? You usually get a warning from the dashboard when the picture of a battery there stays on after you’ve turned the engine on. Usually it happens when the alternator (every car has one, it’s like a car battery charger) works improperly or if the drive belt to it snaps. This almost always requires a new or refurbished alternator.

Checking oil

Raffy — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 08:57:17 +0000

A car’s engine must always have the right amount of oil. Otherwise, it can be seriously damaged. Checking the oil level of your car is pretty much simple and does not require the attention of a mechanic.

The oil dipstick is usually can be found sticking on one side of the engine. Newer car models have dipsticks that have brightly colored handles such as yellow, red, and orange for easy spotting.

Check the oil level at least every other week (I do it once a week). Make sure that the engine is cold and the car is on a level surface (no point in checking if your car is parked on an inclined street).

To check, have a rag handy. Pull the dipstick and wipe it clean with the rag. Return it, making sure that the stick is fully inserted. Pull it once again and check the oil mark. If it is between upper and lower limits on the dipstick then the oil is still fine. If it is below the lower limits (and if the oil�s color has become really black), then your car is in need of an oil change.

Changing headlight bulbs

Raffy — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:49:23 +0000

Try to avoid touching the headlight bulbs when changing car headlights. It’s like this. Most bulbs made for car headlights are filled with halogen. If you handle the glass with your bare hands, chances are you will leave invisible trace amounts of grease and oil on the glass of the headlights (oohh…. very CSI!). When the headlights are turned on, the bulb heats up and the traces of grease and oil on the glass will get hotter which eventually will cause the glass to crack. So when changing headlight bulbs, hold them at the metal base or use clean gloves.

Condense clean-up

wewei — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 03:33:34 +0000

Make sure that you clean your car’s condenser to prevent the air-conditioning from

Make sure that you clean up your car’s condenser to prevent the air-conditioning from clogging-up,(which may result to slow cooling). Never use your air-conditioner with an open fresh air mode, this may slow down cooling. Never use the air-conditioning without a refrigerant system to compress it early. See to it that you moderate refrigerant use; excessive consumption results to minimized cooling while too little could also cause the same problem. See to it that the cables between the air-conditioner and the refrigerant are properly adjusted to make sure that air circulation is contained.

Rotate ‘em wheels

Raffy — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:52:49 +0000

Think of it as re-assigning your tires to different positions. You see, the position of your car’s tires can be detected by the wear pattern on them. Rotating your tires every 5,000 miles (8,000 km) can even out the wear so you don’t have to change them often. This is a good idea if you are on a budget and you want to get the best out of your existing tires. The actual swapping of the front wheels with the back also depends on the type of your vehicle. So if you’re a little apprehensive about it, you can ask your mechanic for some advice.

Source: Car Bible

Mile Maintenance II

Raffy — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:49:53 +0000

More on mile maintenance! You can schedule your car maintenance by the vehicle’s mileage. By keeping these tips in mind, it will be easier to remember scheduling car check-ups.

Air filter: The air filter can be changed every 15,000 miles. Why do this? It not only is essential to better air circulation, but it also saves your car fuel. You wouldn’t know about it but a clean air filter can prevent engines from stalling eventually. Other things to check is your brake system -the break pads and shoes shouldn’t be worn out. The break fluid should also be adequate and clear. If you hear an uncanny noise when the brakes are applied or if you experience shaking of the steering wheel shakes, then your brakes need some replacing.

Transmission fluid: This is done every 30,000 miles. Which fluid should be used can be verified on the owner’s manual. Don’t forget to do a little tune up. Replace the spark plugs and wires if needed.

Coolant: Change the coolant every 50,000 miles.