1. Chapter 17 Maintaining Your Vehicle

2. Owner's Manual
Provides valuable information about your vehicle and it's systems

3. Fuel System Fuel Injection System
Deliver exact amount of fuel to engine
Reduce the amount of pollution-causing gases

4. Fuel Efficiency Depends upon: Weight of car
Speed you drive - over 55 fuel efficiency decreased
Air resistance: keep windows closed when driving over 45 mph

5. Fuel Efficiency Continued
Also depends upon:
Type of engine - 4 or 6 cylinder
Vehicle Design
Manual vs Automatic
Power equipment - air conditioning

6. Know how to calculate your MPG
Used 10 gallons of fuel to drive 150 miles : 150 divided by 10 = 15MPG
You have 10 gallons of fuel. Your car delivers approximately 15 MPG in the city. How many miles should you be able to drive? = 150 miles

7. Emission System Catalytic Converter
Converts harmful gases into less harmful gases & water
Muffler - reduces noise. Louder sounds may indicate a hole in. Our muffler
Check emission system - CO ( may poison you), CO2, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides

8. Drive Train System Often covered in warranty
Engine
Transmission (low fluid level may produce jerky shifting)
Clutch
Drive shaft
Differential (allows 1 wheel to turn more slowly than another)
Transaxle
Drive axles
Universal joints

9. Ignition & Electrical System
Alternator- recharges the battery
Battery - strong acid (dangerous)- powers vehicle's starter, lights, computer assisted controls, electrical accessories. A dead battery (no sound when starting the engine)can be jump started with jumper cables - know the procedure for "jumping" a vehicle's battery

10. Lights - headlights, taillights, back up lights, turn signals
Lights - headlights, taillights, back up lights, turn signals. Should be replaced immediately when defective

11. Lubricating & Cooling Systems
Oil helps engine work efficiently by reducing friction and cleaning engine parts - warning light comes on - pull off road and shut engine

12. Cooling System
Cools engine - mixture of antifreeze & water
Provides heat to interior of car
Radiator - connected to the engine - holds the coolant
Thermostat - controls the amount of coolant needed

13. Maintaining Control Systems
Power Steering - makes steering easier
Master Cylinder (Brake System) - forces fluid to each wheel's brake cylinder and squeezes brake pads against the turning disk which causes the friction to slow the wheel
Parking Brake is a completely separate system - it should hold your vehicle on a hill

14. Suspension System
Keeps tires in line according to steering
Shock absorbing

15. Preventative Maintenance (Care given to prevent trouble later)
Includes:
Day-to-day care
Mileage-based-maintenance: Periodic servicing done after a certain number of miles - shown in manual
Warranty may be voided if maintenance schedules are not followed

16. Tires Belted tires - improved strength, performance and mileage
Radial tires - gives best fuel mileage - strengthens tire, improved tread mileage, & traction
Air pressure in increases when warm, lowers when cool

17. Tires need to be rotated regularly, balanced (for even wear) and aligned (for longer life & more even wear of tire)

18. Replace tires when the wear bar appears smooth
Always use the same tires for all 4 tires
If you want your tires to last longer then you need a higher tread-wear rating