Nov 16
adminCar Check Bits And Bobs, Breakdowns, Bulges, Car Check, Car Lights, Car Maintenance, Car Mechanic, Check, Maintenance, Maintenance Routine, Maintenance Schedule, Oil Filter, Radiator, Rear Fog Lights, Reflective Surface, Refrigerator, Routine Tasks, Spark Plugs, Sunday Morning, Timing Belt, Wear And Tear, Windscreen
Everyone who owns a car should have a car maintenance routine. Keeping your car in good condition and doing a few regular routine tasks can help prolong the life of you car, reduce wear and tear and help you to avoid costly breakdowns. Many tasks like changing the oil are relatively simple, but do require some equipment and a little bit of time. If you aren’t technically minded or just hate doing these sort of things then once a year you should take your car in to a mechanic to get a yearly service – they can change the oil and oil filter and spark plugs and readjust the timing belt and a few other bits and bobs. However, that isn’t to say you can just ignore your car for the rest of the year.
I like to break down the tasks I do into weekly, quarterly, half yearly and yearly. I have a little schedule printed out and put up on my refrigerator and I just mark off as I go along.
It helps because I don’t have to think too much about when I last checked the spark plugs (for example) if I have it written down. Following a maintenance schedule needn’t take a lot of time – I usually do it first thing on a Sunday morning and it takes no more than about 10 minutes.
Weekly
My weekly car check up usually includes a quick visual inspection of the tires to make sure they all look ok – no bulges or sudden loss of air that could indicate a problem with tire inners. I also make sure none of the body work has come loose and there are no chips in the windscreen. Then I’ll check the lights all work – front, rear, fog lights, indicators, break and reverse lights. Sometimes it helps to have someone run through the various car lights switching them on and off for you so you can walk around the car and inspect them, but if you don’t, parking your car close to a wall on another car can give you a handy reflective surface that you can use to check your lights.
Quarterly
I check and top up my oil and make sure that there is enough fluid in the radiator and enough battery acid in the battery.
Also check the brake fluid level and power steering fluid. Remember to do these checks when the engine is cold so you don’t burn yourself…and never open your radiator top up cap with a warm engine – there is a huge build up of pressure when the radiator fluid is running around the system and it can be fairly dangerous. Also check that the windscreen wiper fluid is topped up and that the wipers are well attached and the wiper fluid pumps are working. Then I’ll check my tire pressure with a pressure guage – you don’t need to go to a service station for this, just buy yourself a small tire pressure guage – they aren’t expensive – and keep it in the glove compartment.
Half Yearly
This is a good time to physically check the tire tread depth with a tread depth guage. Check your tread wear – if it is not even then you may have a wheel alignment problem. A quick look at the breaks to make sure there is enough on the break pads, and give your spark plugs a glance to make sure they are still in reasonable condition. Change your windscreen wiper blades. Push down on each corner of the car and check that it bounces up nicely again – this is a very basic check on the condition of your suspension.
Yearly
As above, but also check the timing belt and give the battery terminals a clean if they need it. Remember, if you disconnect your battery, you might have to re-enter your radio code to unlock it, so it’s a good idea to know it before hand. A yearly service at a local mechanic should do all of the above for you and should change your oil and oil filter and replace your spark plugs, top up your battery fluid and wiper fluid as well as check your handbrake and hanbrake cable. Check with them beforehand what is and isn’t included and get a quote upfront.
If you find any problems, then you can correct them yourself if you feel competent enough – obviously topping up oil and fluid levels is fairly straight forward, but you could consider doing oil changes and replacing break pads yourself as long as you have right sort of tools – a good jack and some stilts to keep your car on while working on it are essential. Changing the spark plugs is also fairly straight forward with the correct spanner. a good tip is to put some bricks in front of and behind any wheels that remain on the ground to help stop the car rolling anywhere if all other safety devices fail.
Remember that oil changes should be done roughly every 5000 miles or six months.
If you find any problems in your regular car checks and you can’t fix them yourself then take them to your mechanic and get them sorted out quickly before they become more serious. Sorting out the small problems that crop up can stop them becoming larger more expensive problems, saving lots of money. Also, keeping your car in tip top running order will increase your fuel efficiency, saving you even more. Keep your car in good condition and it will reward you with many years of trouble free driving!
Jul 09
adminCar Check Air Conditioning Condensers, Ancestral Graves, Car Maintenance, Check, Ching, Ching Ming Festival, Cotton Swab, Damp Carpet, Dead Insects, Dust Material, Electronic Cooling, Festival, Irrigation Water, Long Journey, Maintenance, Maintenance Check, Ming, returned, Spring Outing, Steam Cleaning Machine, Tank Air, Tomb Sweeping Festival, Traditional Chinese Festival, Two Rivers, Water Tank, Wet Carpet
“Tomb Sweeping Festival rain have, on the road pedestrians Deep Sorrow.” Ching Ming Festival is a traditional Chinese festival, the most important festival of sacrifice, is the day of worship and the grave. Ching Ming Festival, also known as outing Festival, is greeted with sunshine and vegetation Tulv of the season, it is also a good time people spring outing. Whether you are Jisao return, return, or outing in the long-distance Drive After all the pairs of Car To do some maintenance.
Check for debris trailers In the way by car, there are always leaves, plastic bags and wrapped in dead insects and other debris into the outlet or inlet grille, electronic cooling fan, etc., while the water tank, air-conditioning condensers will be covered with dust. If a vehicle or the road less traveled a number of experienced flooding, etc., the vehicle may be damp carpet, mold and odors.
The compartments will inevitably accumulate a lot of dust, especially the carpet, roof and door trim parts such as suede wrapped.
If conditions allow, it can be blown off with compressed air dust material; in engine cooling condition, the available irrigation water gun into the air grille air inlet or other parts. If the vehicle carpet, roof and door trim and other parts of dusty suede package, need professional steam cleaning machine for dry cleaning treatment. The instrument panel and other parts are hard contaminated dust, but obliquely between should be cleaned with a cloth or cotton swab. Wet carpet to be dry in time, and check the situation of damp location.
Check the “three oil” “Two Rivers” Many owners in the Ching Ming
dawn, drove his family to the ancestral graves, or taking advantage of the warmth of spring outing to the countryside, travel anywhere from several hundreds of kilometers, as many thousands of kilometers.
After a long journey, the car the “blood” will inevitably be leakage and consumption. In addition, the engine working under continuous high temperature may cause Engine oil Metamorphism, therefore, long-distance driving should be three after the two oil and water testing.
Three oil: gasoline is relatively simple inspection, vehicle owners need look no gas gauge on the line. Check the oil, the owner pulled out the ruler as long as the oil, cleaned and then put there a while and then pull out every other view, the oil level in the on-line and off the assembly line can be between the. If there are impurities in oil or gasoline, and tobacco showed light blue tail, a problem on that engine, the engine’s cylinder wall may Wear and tear Serious and should be quickly into the plant maintenance. View Brake Oil, brake oil as long as the surface is not less than the offline box on the line. Brake oil is found to have bubbles or dirty, it indicates need to replace the brake fluid has changed.
2 Water: water tank owners can check yourself, the owner checks the water tank when the tank should pay attention to the MIN line, if the MIN line the need for timely replenishment. Overheating in the engine and water tank, the owner shall not filling Coolant This will make the water splash out and hurt. Last check wiper water, check to see if sufficient, whether the wiper tank sediment, sediment if the owner is best to remove the tank to clean, wash after installed, and then filled with water wiper .
Check Power Assembly, drive system with or without oil leakage
Zijia ancestors, outing of the road did not have as smooth and spacious city roads in some areas is still relatively poor road conditions, long-term drivers in the city roads lack the experience of driving these roads, it is possible Chassis scratch phenomenon occurs. To car’s “health”, returned by car, we must check whether the injured vehicle chassis, engine, gearbox and so there is no oil leakage, and if so, must be immediately resolved to the professional auto repair shop.
In addition, the car will often experience long-term operation and low-grade gasoline torture, eating well, dry much more, these two conditions on the damage to the car are very large, it must give the car back after the “washing gastric lavage. “
Journey in the way prostitution, may make the engine body, engine radiator coated in mud, seriously affecting the work of the engine’s heat, when the professional car dealers need to use special cleaning agents to clean the engine and radiator. Note that, since the circuit complexity of the engine compartment, wash with water directly to the engine is very dangerous.
Mar 23
adminInfo Auto Insurance Policies, Auto Quotes, Car Insurance Quote, Car Maintenance, Car Quotes, Coverage Policy, Exclusions, Full Coverage, Insurance, Insurance Auto, Insurance Coverage, Insurance Online, Insurance Quotes, Mechanical Maintenance, Oil Changes, Online Car Insurance Quote, Online Insurance, Online Quotes, Premiums, Surprise
When you compare online auto insurance quotes, it’s wise to compare the policies to see what coverage each packages offer included. When agencies car insurance mentions ‘full coverage’, then this shows that you will receive full coverage in a particular company’s principles and policies.
If you get an online car insurance quote and only observe the level of premiums and claims made by the company, you may be in a big surprise if you want to make a claim. You should never blindly enter into an agreement that the policy only as named full range. Full coverage of this policy does not mean the company will cover any and everything that could probably happen to you or your vehicle.
Please do not forget that each auto insurance policies have limitations and exclusions. Limitations are generally based on your car maintenance habits. You should pay attention if you ignore your vehicle, or fail to meet certain requirements for mechanical maintenance such as oil changes or brake maintenance, and then the company will not cover certain types of damage. When you read a full coverage policy and when you compare online car insurance quotes, you should not just read what’s covered, but also read the company’s limitations and exclusions carefully.
Jan 12
adminCar Check Automobile, Belts, Brake Fluid, Brake Pad, Brakes, Car Maintenance, Car Tires, Check, Damages, Diagnosis, Dipstick, during, Engine Oil, Hoses, Hydraulic Pressure, Leaks, Maintenance, Maximum Level, Preventive Maintenance, Tire Rotation, Tires, Transmission Oil, Visible Signs
Preventive maintenance is a sure way to add more years to your car’s life. Aside from that, you can always be certain that your automobile is in its maximum level, most especially when their service is needed. The only thing you need to do in order to make this possible is to make sure the basic and most important elements of your car is checked regularly.
While all parts of a vehicle are important, the tires are perhaps the one that should always be checked first. Read the user’s manual that came with your car when you first bought it and find out what exact amount of pressure your car’s tires need. Doing this will prevent the tires from wearing and tearing quickly. Apply the tire rotation rule as well after each time your car reaches 7000 miles.
You’ll know whether the belts and the hoses located under the hood need some fixing simply by checking them out for damages, tears, and leaks.
When checking the engine oil and the transmission oil, simply use the dipstick to check the level and the condition of the oil. If the color has turned darker than usual, it means you need to change it already.
Checking the brakes is quite complicated since you need to take note of three possible problems when doing so. First, check for a grinding noise each time you step on the brakes. Second, observe whether the pedal is sinking or not when you’re stepping on it, and third, whether the car is pulling to one side every time it stops.
A possible diagnosis for the first problem is a thin brake pad. If you confirm this to be the case, immediately replace it with a new one. For the second one, insufficient brake fluid may be the cause. Simply refill it to solve the problem. The third case is probably a result of insufficient hydraulic pressure, so adding some more will probably solve it.
When it comes to the car’s battery, it is actually difficult to figure out whether it needs some repair or replacement or not. You can only check for visible signs of leaks or damages in order to tell that. In addition, although a car battery’s lifespan is four to five years only, you can prolong its years by regularly cleaning the cables and tightening it in place.
For the most important part of all, never take for granted your car’s maintenance and repair schedule. As much as possible, adhere to it faithfully so that you can ensure not only your car’s health but your safety when driving as well.
Aug 17
adminCar Check Autumn, Brakes, Breakdowns, Car Batteries, Car Insurance, Car Maintenance, Car Owners, Car Repair, Checks, Four Year Olds, Great Time, Insurance Providers, Journeys, Motorists, Point Six, Premiums, Repair Specialist, Safety, Safety Checks, Survey Found That, Vehicle Safety, Wiper Blades
We are all guilty of being a bit lax on our car maintenance at times, aren’t we? But an eye opening thirteen point six million motorists in the UK admit to not checking their car batteries in the last six months, according to new research produced by a car repair specialist. A further nine point six million car owners have not had their brakes checked in this period.
This could have problematic affects for drivers, with as many as one in six drivers could break down this autumn due to dodgy batteries, and these breakdowns could be avoided by proper car maintenance.
No one wants to break down in their vehicle, but with the nights are drawing in and the weather getting cold, it’s not a great time to do so.
The survey found that the age range most likely to not worry about their car maintenance are the under twenty four year olds, who are least likely to check their tyres, screen wash, lights or wiper blades.
This is a problem for breakdowns, but also for having your MOT, as these things are likely to fail you, costing you more money. Unfortunately, this is more proof for Car Insurance providers that this age range are the most troublesome, and therefore need to be charged larger premiums on a yearly basis.
Car owners over the age of sixty five are far more likely to be concerned with vehicle safety, making the right checks to ensure that their cars are safe for their journeys.
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