Common Sense Vehicle Care For Long Life
While automobile ownership and maintenance has changed over the years, there are basic items we can easily attend to with minimal time spent. Most repairs are maintenance items which are easily diagnosable using OBD-II and other methods. Independent mechanics ("indies") partake in a network of other indies to share ideas when they're stuck, and they update their skill sets regularly whenever manufacturers adopt new technologies. As such, using a qualified indie is preferable to the dealership. For DIY-ers, the full technician's manual for nearly every vehicle can be purchased at a dealership, and the OEM parts referenced within the guide can be purchased online at steep discounts. For the less mechanically inclined, following are some easy steps to ensure your vehicle is properly maintained.
Join a Forum: You've made the investment, now find a good online forum for your vehicle and ask questions. Typical etiquette applies; search first.
Share information: Have a buddy that also has the same car? Talk to that person at length about your model, and encourage him or her to join the same forum(s). More quality members helps the community.
Find a mechanic: In your forum, ask for some suggestions on local shops. Also contact the dealership about recalls or service bulletins as they would be the only official source.
Documentation: Peruse the operator manual, specifically for recommended maintenance intervals.
Paint: Washing and waxing prevents rust and promotes long life. The car care products mentioned below can be found at waxstation.com.
1. Wash weekly or bi-weekly, including the wheels and undercarriage, with a hose and a sheepskin or microfibre mitt. Mothers California Gold is recommended. To dry, use a microfibre towel.
2. Twice per year, wash and wax: Use a pre-wax cleaner after washing & drying to strip the car of its existing wax and stubborn road grime. Buff to a haze all around, then use a clean cloth to wipe off the extra haze that has dried since you started. Repeat the buff-and-haze process with clean cloths, using a liquid wax. A mechanical buffer is not recommended.
Do-it-yourself & general checkups: Open up the hood and the trunk, and open the operator manual. If your engine has a large plastic cover, remove it temporarily.
1. Keep a cloth for checking oil in the trunk, as well as a flashlight and a quart or two of the proper oil. Jumper cables and even a battery charger are also recommended.
2. Become familiar with the tire iron and jack included with the car. Learn how to remove a damaged tire and mount the spare.
3. Learn how to check and fill the oil. Oil level should be checked at every fillup, when the engine is off and the car is level. Ensure the oil is golden brown on the dipstick. Check to ensure the oil level is adequate; locate the oil fill cap for when oil needs to be added. Keeping the engine parts lubricated is absolutely essential to long life and avoids early engine burn-out.
4. Use the proper petrol grade: If your car is designed for premium fuel, use it. Using the wrong petrol grade can wear down the oxygen sensors and, ultimately, catalytic converter(s).
5. Locate other fluids while under the hood: power steering, brake, transmission, coolant. These are located in easy - to - access reservoirs. Check the manual for maintenance intervals. This will ensure long life of the associated systems.
6. Tire Pressure: Check the tire pressure at each fillup with a pressure monitor; a small, pen-like device. Cold tire pressure recommendations are listed in the front driver's doorjamb in most cars. Keep the tires at the PSI level listed as "half load". Note that on hot days or after driving the car for more than a few minutes, the tire pressure reading increases slightly. "Max load" should be used with full occupancy or with heavy items.
7. Tire care: Tires should be rotated every 10,000 miles or so. This equates to one or more tire rotations per year. Also consider having your car aligned and the brakes checked at these appointments. Dangers of an out of alignment car include uneven tire wear, which can cause the tires to puncture or wear more easily.
8. Brake care: Symptoms of failing brake pads and rotors include shaking while the brake system is engaged, or a noticeable drop in braking performance. Pads should last about 30,000 miles, and on some brands, rotors may need to be replaced at the same time. Parts can be purchased online at steep discounts compared to dealership prices, and labor will be cheaper at your indie.
9. General Maintenance items:
a. Engine Air Filter: All cars have easily-accessible air filters, which should be changed every ten to fifteen thousand miles. This is easy to locate and can be replaced within minutes.
b. Know your light bulbs. Europeans take vehicle lighting very seriously; visit danielsternlighting.com for more information on the importance of proper vehicle lighting. Know how to change out a burnt-out headlamp and carry one or two extras in the trunk, and learn how to aim them properly. Proper lighting is an important, preventative safety measure.
c. Change the internal cabin filter. This filter is normally easy to find & replace, at the same time as the engine air filter. This will likely not be in your manual; see if someone from the forum has taken a shot.
d. Get to know the different engine sounds when healthy (ideally, right after a checkup or oil change). This will help keep you attuned to unexpected sounds. Find other maintenance items you can do yourself using the forum.
10. OBD-II Data Port & Standard - All cars are required to feature a data port using a standard known as "OBD-II" (On-Board Diagnostics, Version 2), as of 1996. It is recommended to invest the $30 or so in the cheapest handheld code reader at harborfreighttools.com. When your vehicle trips the Check Engine Light, it's specific to a certain system. The code reader will help identify which system. This is valuable information when taking a car to your indie as you can share what you've already found. If the engine light is on, plug the OBD-II reader into the data port (located underneath the steering wheel) and view the associated codes. A google search or your forum can assist in more specific diagnosis based on the code(s) output. If there's ambiguity about the code(s), go to your mechanic armed with your information. Your mechanic will have a much more sophisticated OBD-II machine, and he will check the readings to find the source. Some codes pop up frequently in a particular make, and at times a visit to the mechanic is unnecessary.
Following the above, simple steps will result in long life of your vehicle and a more enjoyable ownership experience. Keep yourself informed and keep the vehicle's systems properly maintained. Even though car monitoring systems have become increasingly complex, the basics have not changed.
Special thanks to Tony D. for content and Alex Birch for editing.
Written by Frank U.
|
| 