Maintaining Your Vehicle

Jump Starting a Car

Jump starting a car

Jump Starting a Vehicle

Warning Lights Check Engine Oil Pressure Engine Temp Alternator Brake Airbag –Lamp Out (Bulb) –Seat Belt –Fluid Low –Door Open –ABS Not Working –Service

Brake System The Brake system’s Master Cylinder contains two parts. Each part controls two wheels. When you brake, brake fluid is forced from the master cylinder thru the brake lines to each wheel’s brake cylinder.

Disk & Drum Brakes

Parking Brake The Parking Brake is a separate brake system that works on the rear wheels.

Tires Radial Belted

Changing A Tire

Put it in Park, use the Parking Brake and put something under the tires.

Rotate your Tires

Preventive Maintenance What is Preventive Maintenance? Care given to a car to Prevent Trouble later on. What are some examples?

Check the Air Filter Hoses & Belts Change or check Oil Check Wipers & Fluid Check Lights & turn signals Check Tires Check Shocks Brake Fluid Power steering Fluid Coolant

Check Your Fluids

Checking your Oil

Leaks Under your Car Bright Green: radiator coolant, this is also very slippery to the touch.radiator coolant Light or Dark Brown: if you change the oil often it will be a light brown, if not the fluid will be a darker brown. Make sure to change your engine oil every miles. Bright Blue: windshield washer fluid. (Winter washer fluids can be orange, pink or yellow).washer fluid Light Brown: if there is also a strong odor of rotten eggs, this is 90 weight or gear lube. It may be leaking from the rear axle center section or the manual transmission. Red Fluid: Automatic transmission fluid or power steering fluid. Note where the fluid is coming from – it could be long life coolant Clear: Power steering fluid or water from the condenser on the A/C unit.Power steering Light Yellow: Brake fluid is light yellow when new as it absorbs water the fluid becomes a dark muddy brown. Brake fluid absorbs 2% water over a one year period under normal braking conditions. This is a very important fluid and should be changed every other year. Amber: Gasoline, but there will be a distinct odor

Records Keep records of all repairs. Keep sales receipts of tires, battery, and windshield wipers

Saving Gas Lower speeds – keep windows open / Air conditioner off More than 45 MPH close the windows Fast Starts & very slow starts wastes fuel Look ahead & coast into red & yellow lights Turn off the engine when stuck at a railroad crossing of real long red light.

Calculating Miles Per Gallon Fill tank - Record odometer Drive until you have about ½ tank. Refill the tank Record the number of gallons it took to refill the tank Record the odometer and subtract the 1 st reading from the 2 nd. Divide the gallons into the miles driven.

Miles Per Gallon 7 Gallons into 210 miles driven 10 gallons into 200miles 30 MPG 20 MPG