Brake break
Posted on May 10, 2009
Filed Under Brake, Car Parts, Tips | Leave a Comment
Have you seen those TV shows where the brakes fail on an unfortunate soul while driving? Brr… we sure don’t want that to happen to us, do we? In any case, here are some signs that you have brake problems:
Brake warning lights flash
Irregular noises such as squealing
Unusual pulsations in the brake pedal
Steering wheel shakes
Stopping distance increases
Car pulls to one side when you stop
So be sure to have your breaks checked and your break pads replaced regularly. Ask your mechanic for assistance regarding this. It is always better to be safe than be sorry.
Source: Cars.com
Mile Maintenance I
Posted on April 10, 2009
Filed Under Tips | Leave a Comment
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.
Change oil: This one can be done every 3000 miles. Don’t forget to change the oil filter at the same time. Other details you may need to look into are the fluids, air filter, tires, hoses, and belts. Battery cables and terminals may have corroded at this point so check them too. These can be cleaned with sandpaper. But if you are not sure on how to go about it, then it is better to have your car checked by a professional.
Tire rotation: Have your tires checked and rotated every five to ten thousand miles. Check the pressure of each tire and be on the look out for signs of tread wear and damage. There is a system to tire rotation in order to get the optimum performance for your tires. Ask your mechanic on the details for this.
Keeping it clean
Posted on March 10, 2009
Filed Under Cleaning, Tips | Leave a Comment
I’ve seen a lot of cars with Wash me written on them and I always shake my head at that. Don’t these people know that (squished) bugs, bird droppings, and limestone dripping can not only leave permanent stains but they can also ruin the paint? Dirty cars keep moisture in tact and they cause corrosion. And what does that leave you? Rust trouble. Preventing it is as easy as washing your car at least once a month or twice if you come into contact with dirt roads a lot. It will also help if you had your car pressure-washed to get to those hard-to-reach areas.
Checking the engine oil
Posted on February 28, 2009
Filed Under Oil | Leave a Comment
1. Park you care in a secure and level spot.
2. Pull out the engine oil dipstick and wipe it with a clean piece of cloth. If you don’t know where the engine oil dipstick is, consult the manual for the location.
3. After wiping, put the engine oil dipstick back into its place, and the pull it out. The oil level should be somewhere near the full mark, and should be changed when the color is black or dark brown. If the color is white, then you have an engine problem and should have your car inspected as soon as possible.
4. Refilling your engine oil is easy. It is recommended to use the same brand of oil you used before, pouring the oil slowly. Wait for the oil to settle before measuring the level again. Be very careful not to overfill it.
Summer’s Here – Check em’ Hoses
Posted on January 17, 2009
Filed Under Brake, Car Parts, Information, Tips, Warnings | Leave a Comment
Any automobile has a number of rubber hoses under the hood which is mostly used for the cooling system where an isolated link is needed between an externally mounted part and the engine itself. They are quite cheap but can cause major headaches should they fail without warning so best to include them in your regular inspection and replacement schedules. Check all of them, making sure they have no drips and leaks which is sure sign of pending failure. The large hoses are mostly for the engine cooling system connecting the radiator to the engine itself, taking away excess heat and cooling the engine properly. Warped or bloated hoses will eventually burst so replace any that show such signs.
There are also hoses in the fuel system, brakes, and the clutch that need inspection for any failure in these rubber hoses will cause major headaches. A burst steering hose will cause you to lose power steering immediately and can even damage your steering pump. For the brake, it’s more air lines but leaks can render them useless, unable to obtain enough pressure to drive the breaks. Fuel lines have rubber hoses connecting the metel lines to the fuel filter which can affect fuel economy. Checking and replacing these simple rubber hoses can save you a lot, in terms of major engine problems so take a good look and drive safely.
Overheating engine…… What to do???????
Posted on December 29, 2008
Filed Under Information | Leave a Comment
You are driving as usual, stereo blaring and then all of a sudden your engine dies and hissing steam comes rushing from under the hood. What do you do? Steer to the side of the road and set the hazard lights on, place the EWD’s(the reflective triangles) in place, but don’t open the hood just yet. That steam is hotter than boiling water so kill the engine and let it cool a bit. If the hissing has stopped, the high pressure has dissipated and it is therefore safe to open the hood (but not the radiator cap!!!). Take a good look at the engine compartment and any visible problem would be apparent such as a punctured/cracked hose, a hole in the radiator, a broken fan belt (if your vehicle has one for new cars have totally electric fans) or it may simply be the radiator cap set improperly. Nothing out of the ordinary, get a towel or rag to protect your hand from the hot radiator cap, push down and twist ever so slowly (at the slightest hiss, twist back and let cool some more). Get your hands on some water but do not fill the radiator just yet, start the engine and once it idles, pour water till it’s full. Filling an overheated engine with water/coolant without the engine running is suicidal for the water circulation pump is not running. Hot metal plus cold water means cracked engine, and that’s bad(very very bad). Run slowly to the nearest garage but keep your eye on that temperature gauge, stopping and killing the engine to let it cool again. The engine cutting out is due to a circuit breaker that is set to cut electrical power to the engine protecting it from blowing up. Get to a garage fast and get the problem fixed quick for it won’t go away. Also replace the temperature sensor for they get cooked easily and may not work properly after an overheat as well as the radiator cap for good measure.
バッテリーの寿命
Posted on December 24, 2008
Filed Under Imp @ja | Leave a Comment
画像転載元:tayna.co.uk
自動車のバッテリーの寿命は使用する車の種類、アクセサリー、車の使用頻度、そしてバッテリー自体のタイプによって変わります。
最近、それを実感する出来事がありました。豪雨の中、筆者が車で仕事場から自宅に帰る途中のことです。 突然、車のワイパーの動きが遅くなり、ダッシュボードの光が点滅し始めたのです。 右に曲がろうとウィンカーを出そうとした時も、見えるか見えないかの光しか点かず、クラクションの音も出ませんでした。 ご想像のとおり、ひどく不安な経験でした。原因は幾つも考えられるし、何が問題なのかわからないからです。 幸い、その少し前に整備士が筆者の車のバッテリーが充電が必要になっているというアドバイスをくれていました。 さらに、信じられないことがありました。そのバテリーを買った時に、日付を書き込んでいました。 それを見ると、そのバッテリーの寿命は2年間でした。しかし、その型のバッテリーは15ヶ月程度しか持たないはずのものだったのです！
バッテリーの寿命を延ばすには、適切な整備が必要です。 バッテリーにメンテナンスが不要だというのは間違いで、定期的な水位チェックが必要です。 電極とリード線を常に綺麗にして、接続をよくしておくことも同じくらい大切です。 リード線はスチールブラシまたは専用の電極クリーナーで清掃できます。 バッテリー が正しく取り付けられていることも確認してください。走行中にバッテリーが揺れないように、ストラップで固定されていなければなりません。 バッテリーが安定していないと、でこぼこの道を走る時などの衝撃がバッテリーの劣化を招きます。 それだけで、バッテリーの寿命を6ヶ月から8ヶ月縮めると言われています。 自分の車に必要な電力量をカバーできるタイプのバッテリーを取り付けるとも大切です。 必要な電力より余裕のあるバッテリーを使う方が、足りなくなるよりいいでしょう。 最後に、バッテリーを買った日付けをシールに書いてバッテリーに貼っておき、正確な寿命を把握しましょう。バッテリーが切れたときに、寿命が適正だったこと、そしてあなたが頑張って稼いだお金が無駄にならなかったことを確認するためです。
Wiper Blades
Posted on November 23, 2008
Filed Under Car Parts | Leave a Comment
Image Source: bosch.com.au
Wiper blades remain to be the most neglected component of a car these days. More often than not, we tend to just ignore the wiper blades even if you can obviously see that there are cracks, tear or just plain worn out and basically needs to be replaced. or sometimes, you wont be able to see any torn part but it just doesn’t wipe well. It is important to take care of the blades most especially in the rainy season because your visibility conditions will greatly affect your driving. Ideally, car technicians recommend that wiper blades be replaced every 6 to 12 months. Rubber deteriorates over a period of time. So when you hear your blades chattering, squeaking or just not wiping properly, its a signal for you to replace them ASAP.
Battery Life
Posted on October 6, 2008
Filed Under Tips | Leave a Comment
Image Source:tayna.co.uk
Car batteries lifespan depends on the type of car we use, the accessory we added, how often we use the car and what type we buy.
This happened to me just recently, when I was going home from work and it was raining hard. My wiper suddenly starts to slow down and my dashboard light was blinking. When I tried to use my signal light to turn right, it was vague and my horn hardly made a sound. Yes, it’s terrifying when you don’t know the problem because their maybe a lot of reasons to think of. Good thing our mechanic warned me already that my battery needs to be changed any moment now. To top it all we even marked the battery when it was bought. Unbelievable! It lasted two years when the kind of battery I bought should be for fifteen months only.
To extend the life of the battery we need to make sure that the battery is properly serviced. If it is not maintenance free, make regular water checks. Every so often battery terminal and leads are to be cleaned to ensure a good connection. Leads can be cleaned with a steel brush or a terminal post cleaner. Check if battery is properly installed, battery straps should keep the battery from rocking. An unstable battery will receive bumps, especially from driving through potholes. It will knock about 6-8 months off the life of the battery. Install the appropriate battery to meet the power requirements of your vehicle. It is better to have reserved capacity than too little. Lastly, label your battery from the date purchased so you can be sure that when it dies it is the time expected and your hard earned money was well spent.
Indicator is blinking fast
Posted on July 4, 2008
Filed Under Warnings | Leave a Comment
This has happened to me once. I was driving and signaled a turn but then the indicator was flashing fast like hell the other way. I thought I’d be zapped into a parallel universe that I scurried off to a garage. My mechanic assured me however that the bulb has blown and had to be replaced. Now, if ever this happens to you, the first time, go to your friendly service station and take note of which type of bulb your car carries as it is different in every make and model. Watch as they replace the bulb and ask questions.