Apr
30
Online Auto Repair
Filed Under Repair & Maintenance | Leave a Comment
The internet is best source of information. It has information on almost every thing on the planet. You can search for anything on the internet to get information on the same. So why do we need to shy away from gaining knowledge on our cars from the internet. In our free time, we can always check out sites that offer free knowledge on cars and their maintenance. This information is available in form of articles. Some sites also offer you manuals at low price.
You may not need the manual because the information therein, gets outdated as the writers on these downloadable manuals cannot keep up with rewriting the entire manual based on the newer technologies. You can still access the latest information that is present in form of short articles and in form of comparison sites that allow you to compare your car with others. Who knows you may get a deal, wherein you can exchange your present car with an upgraded version or a different make.
Many sites on the internet have information on most of the common problems that different models face. They also offer solutions to such problems. Moreover, you can check out what other owners of the vehicle of your make feel about the car. You too can participate in the discussions to make the most of the internet.
Apr
29
Tire Maintenance
Filed Under Repair & Maintenance, Tires | Leave a Comment
Tires are often neglected though everyone knows that it is the tires that help you keep your car steer smoothly. Improper wheel alignment can lead to improper driving. So is the case with tires that do not offer ample friction. If your tires are low on air pressure, you are burning more fuel to get the speed you need.
If the tires do not have the required pressure, you can feel the pickup speed going down. You have to press the accelerator harder to gain the speed. This means you are putting in more fuels as well as more pressure on your engine. Thus, neglecting tires can also affect the health of your engine. Engine repairs are the most costly. You know that.
It is time you wake up and start taking care of the tires. Check out the pressure every now and then. It hardly takes few minutes and you can avail the service while you are refueling the car. Also, check out for the wear and tear on the tires. Though each tire manufacturer claims longer tire life, the actual life depends on the terrain on which you are driving the car. If the symmetry is not visible properly, it is time to go for a tire change.
Apr
25
Auto Maintenance Checklist – Overview and Implementation
Filed Under DIY Tips, Repair & Maintenance | Leave a Comment
Car maintenance checklist is a list of regular checks that you should perform on your car. It also includes a list of services that need to be implemented to make sure that your vehicle remains new and offers peak performance every time you drive the car.
Creating a maintenance checklist is not hard. It is advised that you create a checklist that is divided into three parts. The checklist should be based on your dealer’s advice or on the car manual. You may also talk to a car expert regarding what all to check and when to replace what.
The first part of the checklist is the monthly checklist, wherein you check out the oil levels, belts, tires, air filters, air pressures, and hoses. The three-monthly checklist allows you to check and change the engine and brake fluids. You should also check out on the transmissions battery terminals as well as the cables. Finally, the six monthly check-list should include items such as shock absorbers, brakes, exhaust, lights, and wipers.
Apr
24
Car Maintenance Schedule
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As they say, prevention is better than cure. In the case of cars, the cures can be very costly. For example, if you did not pay attention to the engine oil and the oils burns out, you will run on dry engine for a few miles before the car comes to halt never to start again as the engine is dead. Paying attention to the engine oil could have saved you from such a situation.
Thus, it is necessary to maintain a regular car maintenance schedule. You do not need do anything extra than mentioned in the car’s manual. You just need to check the air pressure for proper steering and better control of the car.
Fluids are one of the most ignored cases. If the brake oil is damaged, it won’t let you apply brakes properly. So keep on changing the brake liquid frequently, say at every 30,000 miles or less. Same applies to the engine oil. Check out our carburetor and wheel alignment from time to time so as to save on the fuel.
Apr
23
Preparing your Car for winter
Filed Under Car Care, Repair & Maintenance | Leave a Comment
Winter offers a tough climate for driving. The sight is low and so is the friction, with most of the roads covered with fog and snow. It is hard to drive on such roads. If there is much snow, your car should have the ability to steer out of it instead of being stuck in it.
Regular maintenance check should be done before the month of winter. This makes sure that you have proper wheels and braking system. These two are among the major factors that help you steer through the winter. If need be, go ahead and get the wheels changed. The point here is to get maximum friction from the road.
In addition to the above, check your headlights as you will need them even during the daytime due to fog. Check the dipper too. Make sure the headlights are functioning at all levels. Also, check out the backlights that help other cars behind you to know that you are there. Finally, you also need to take care of the windshield and the wipers as you will need them regularly while on a foggy road.
Apr
22
Car Maintenance Costs – Sustaining in Economic Recession
Filed Under Maintenance Savings, Repair & Maintenance | Leave a Comment
Drive slowly and under 40 the specified speed limit. Driving slowly helps you avoid any kind of breakdowns. It also saves you the high priced fuel.
Go for Routine maintenance. This helps in identification of any wear and tear that may create a major breakdown. Regular checkup of the car prevents such disasters where you need to spend a hefty amount to get the car up and running again.
Keep the brakes functional. Handle the entire braking system gently. Do not use sudden breaks. This comes back to proper driving. If you are driving properly, your entire accelerator, clutch, and break system, stay healthy as you will not be dancing on them.
Another most important aspect is to get the fluids changed on time. The regular ones are the engine oil and brake oil. Make sure you are changing them at regular intervals with best quality oil. Compromising on the oil quality can again lead to major problems that can cost you more than what you can afford in times of economic recession.
Apr
21
It may be hard man times to find a leak in the car. Sometimes it is just fake assumption that the car is leaking. This happens if the car has other problems that are causing the engine oil to be combusted fast than the normal speed. Alternatively, there may be a small leak that is not visible as the oil does not drip from to the ground and sticks to the engine itself.
However, over time, the car leak grows. If you do not know where the car is leaking from or cannot see the leak, it is better to wait till the car shows up the leak. If you can afford, you may go and get the leak fixed at the mechanic. However, it is better to wait till the leak shows up. Normally, the engine leak does not take more than a few days to show up. If it is taking longer, the problem lies elsewhere and needs immediate attention.
Once you can see the leak, you can fix it yourself temporarily using any substance that stops the leak, if you are out of cash. As soon as you get enough money, you can rush to the mechanic and get the oil leak fixed.
Apr
15
Many manufacturers say that the air filters should be changed every 30,000 miles. You can experiment though but not much, to avoid damage to the car. You may drive 40,000 miles on a new air filter from a good brand. Some manufacturers specify even lesser miles for changing the air filter. Going to the mechanic every time just to get the air filter changed can be very expensive.
Before you go for a car air filter change yourself, allow the car to cool down else you may get burns. TO achieve this, stop the engine under a shade and raise the front hood. This allows for faster cooling. Once the car engine is cool enough, you need to locate the air filter. You may need the car manual to see the exact position of the filter.
Once you find it, unscrew it, and throw away the old filter. Before fixing the newer one, take a cloth and clean the area properly. You can see much dust and other carbon particles at the place. This should not get into the car’s carburetor. After you clean it, put in the new filter into place and screw it. You are done with changing the car filter.
Apr
14
There is no exclusion for women when it comes to car driving or maintenance. If they posses a car, they should know how to handle it as the car and external factors affecting it do not differentiate between genders. Women must know all the basics of the car maintenance. The must ones are specified in the car manual that comes with the vehicle.
They should know to get the air pressure checked up at regular intervals and get the same in the tires. The fact is that if the pressure is perfect in the tires, your car eats up lesser fuel. You also get a better control of the car if the car tires are properly inflated no matter what the weather conditions are.
Another factor is to know when to change the engine oil. Most of the vehicles say they need new oil every 30,000 miles. You can experiment though. With the kind of engine oils available in market, your engine can go more than 30,000 miles. Among other things, women should learn to identify the wheel alignment by looking at the overall car.
Apr
9
Buying a car is one of the most cherished dreams of many. However, mere buying will not solve your problems of transportation. You need to keep your car in a good shape to let the car serve you better.
The DIY car maintenance is not as hard as it seems. It is something you can achieve yourself. The first and foremost thing under the maintenance is to understand what all is under the hood of the car. You can refer to the car manual so that it becomes easy for you to know which parts are there and at what location.
The most basic lesson of the DIY maintenance is to check on the fluids required by the vehicle. The most important ones are the engine oil and the brake fluid. Never compensate on the quality of these two products as they may damage the entire system in future. Another measure is to maintain the tire pressure. Apart from these, the base alignment and lights checkup all fall under the basics of DIY maintenance. Make sure you perform these checks so that you can always experience the feeling of driving a new car.