Preventive Maintenance Is the routine care you give your vehicle to avoid more serious repairs Tire Maintenance Proper size of tire on your car. Never mix different types of tires.

Inflation Properly inflating the tires ensures that they will grip the road evenly and wear at the same rate.  Under inflated = grip the road only at the outside edges, which cause the tires to squeal, makes steering more difficult, leads to heat buildup, decreases fuel economy, and wears the tires out faster.  Over inflating = allows only the center of the tires to grip the road, which leads to a harder ride, a reduction in the depth of the tires’ print, and faster wear.

 Check tire pressure at least once a month or when you stop to get gas.  Make sure that you do so only when the tires are cold. Because the heat from friction with the road causes air in the tires to expand.  When you check your regular tires, remember also to check the spare.  It is illegal, as well as dangerous, to drive on tires that are badly worn.

 Most tires have tread-wear indicators that tell you when they should be replaced.  If your tires do not have tread-wear indicators, you should replace the when the tread wears down to no less than 1/8 inch.  Look for bulges and embedded nails, glass, or metal.  For equal wear, tires should be rotated on a regular basis, which means switching them from front to rear.

Fluid Levels Fluids are the lifeblood of your vehicle. Oil If you have any reason to suspect a problem with your oil or if the oil gauge/indicator light is activated, stop the vehicle immediately!

 If you keep driving, you may do irreparably damage your vehicles engine.  Running an engine without oil is a sure death sentence for the engine.  Check the oil level at least once a month, more frequently on older cars.  Change the oil at least every 2 to 3,000 miles.  The oil level should be checked when the engine is cool and not running.

Transmission Fluid  The color of the fluid should be a bright, cherry red.  Have a mechanic examine the transmission if the color is dark and has a burnt smell.  Transmission fluid should be changed every 25,000 to 35,000 miles depending on the type of vehicle.

Coolant  Check the level of the coolant in the radiator overflow tank.  The engine could become overheated and damaged if the level of coolant is insufficient.  The engine should be running while the coolant is being added.

Other Fluids Make sure that there is enough battery fluid for your battery. Make sure that there is also enough windshield washer fluid in your car.

Brake Fluid  Have the fluid level in the dual master cylinder checked every time you have the oil changed and replace it at least once a year.  Brake fluid attracts water from condensation and humidity in the air, causing corrosion in the master and wheel cylinders and shortening their lives.

Belts, Hoses, and Wires BELTS  Belts should feel tight when you push down on them. The belt should be tightened if you can push it down more than ½ an inch.  A loose belt can cause electrical system problems, inefficient cooling, and problems with power steering and air conditioning.

HOSES á Check all the hoses and the hose connections for leaks. WIRES á Check all wires to make sure that they are not loose, broken, or disconnected. Also check for cracked insulation on the wires. á If there is a problem with the wires, they should be fixed or replaced.

Brake Pads The brakes are one of the most important features on your car!! Test the brakes by stepping on the brake pedal. You should feel firm resistance and you should come to a smooth, direct stop. The pedal should be well above the floor.

You should let a mechanic know if:  You must depress the brake the brake pedal very low to get it to work.  The vehicle pulls to one side when you brake.  One tire locks when braking.  You detect a “spongy” feeling in the brake pedal.  Your brakes grab, squeal or chatter.

Engine  The quickest way to diagnose problems with your engine is from your exhaust.  Exhaust changes to a blue or smoky white color = engine damage.  Notice a foul, sulfuric odor like rotten eggs, = a damaged catalytic converter.  Overheating can result from the breakdown of you water pump or thermostat. Suspicious knocking noise, stop and turn off the engine.

Steering and Suspension Be alert to problems! þ Vibration of the steering wheel. þ Excessive “play” in the wheel. þ Difficulty in steering even though tires are properly inflated. þ Feel a wobbling. þ Vehicles pulls to one side under normal conditions. þ Experience considerable sway or bounce when driving over a bump or turning corners. þ Detect rattling, could be faulty shocks.

Routine Maintenance Schedule Every week; Check oil, windshield washer fluid, radiator coolant. Every month; Check the condition of the tires, belts, hoses, automatic- transmission fluid, brake fluid, and power-steering fluid.

Once a year; Check the air conditioner refrigerant and shock absorbers. Replace the air filter and windshield wiper blades. Flush out the radiator and refill it with coolant. Hose down the undercarriage to remove dirt and salt after a cold driving season. Check the headlight alignment.

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