subject: Take Care Of Your Vehicle A lot more By Checking Over [print this page] Take Care Of Your Vehicle A lot more By Checking Over
It's that time of the year, spring will probably be here soon, following that, hot summer days (I hope)
Anyway it'll be time to get our cars and trucks ready for spring and summer:
Under the hood
Oil, I propose that you change both the oil and filter,
Coolant (level, colour and strength) Don't run with only water, and keep the antifreeze at -45 C or -50 F
Air condition, try it out now, do not wait until summer when it is hot out, (your wife and children will not be quite happy if it does not work)
Transmission, Is it due for a Transmission service? How does the oil smell? Is the colour nice and red? How does it perform? (slippage, hesitation, bump, slow engaging) Is the level within limits? Do you see any leakages?
Power steering, again check the level, smell and leaks.
Belts and hoses, check for cracks and/or frayed hoses, check hoseclamps and if there are spring sort clamps, give them a close look (I have seen them break in half, and the radhose came off) You can guess what was next!
Battery and Cables, keep the clamps clean and tight, check the battery charge, charging system.
Sparkplugs, when was the last tune-up? Some engines have long life plugs in them, but in the event you have 60,000 km or miles on your vehicle, pull one or two plugs to see what they look like. Check the plugwires (Corroded, Oil soaked, cracked) replace them, it may well be that you go up a long hill, you discover that the engine is bucking ( maybe just one or two wires)
Airfilter, I believe that the filter is possibly the most forgotten item under the hood. Can you see light via it when you hold it up to a lamp (lamp on, of course, LOL) I have seen some pretty dirty 1 where no air can pass via, if the engine doesn't get sufficient air, it just works harder to breath and uses more fuel, at today's price of fuel......well, you fill within the blank. You are in a position to clean the filter by tapping it against a wall, check it once more, replace if required.
Windshield washer fluids, what I do is any more I start adding the summertime washer fluid, you are aware of the pink stuff (the bug remover fluid). If the container is clean just add to it, that way you'll still have some antifreeze washer fluid ( just in case it still get cold).
Under the vehicle
Exhaust system, check for leaks, damage, rusting muffler, etc.(remember exhaust fumes can kill)
Steering, check all steering parts for looseness, (bear in mind that pothole you hit?)
Suspension, check ball joints, struts, springs, shocks. (all these parts can make your vehicle act like a donkey on a narrow path) (can you picture this?) All kidding aside, failure in any of these parts can make you loose control over your motor vehicle!
Ride height, search for low hanging parts, i.e.. low exhaust system, brake/fuel lines, wire harness, etc.
Engine/transmission mounts, Swaybar, check all bushings for fractures or wear.
Beyond vehicle,
Wipers, replace those winter wiperblades, if last years blades are still good, try them. (exact same with the wintertime blades, if still very good, keep them until next fall)
All lights, check all bulbs, replace those which are out. (the most forgotten light is the centre brakelight and licenseplate bulbs) Check also for headlight beam height, fog and driving light included. ( we have all had a car coming towards us with high adjusted lights)
Tires, Off with those studded tires, (most states or provinces have a law against studded tires at a particular date) Remember AWD's and 4WD......Same size tires all around (I suggest: same size, identical brand!)
Tire pressures, as shown on the drivers door or in your owners handbook.
Within the vehicle.
Brakes, how does the brake pedal feel? If the pedal is spongy or the brakes do not work as excellent as they really ought to, you could have air within the system and/or the brake rotors/drums, pads/shoes are worn. (remember, poor brakes makes for a slow stopping vehicle.........whoooo there Nellie)
Brake and warning lights, (bulb check on the dashboard) these ought to come on for a number of seconds whenever you very first begin the engine, if all OK detonate and stay off.
General, I believe we all know that a clean vehicle runs and rides better, so give baby a nice warm bath and slap an excellent coat of carpolish on her and she'll hum like a happy bee.
