| In this article we will look at some general | | | | and air and squirt it into the engine for |
| service hints that apply to any car whether | | | | combustion. Newer cars mostly use fuel |
| you buy it new or used. In most cases, these | | | | injection, and while this often works really |
| maintenance costs are not covered by your | | | | well and controls emissions, you need to keep |
| factory and extended warranty, but are | | | | those fuel injectors clean. Your local auto |
| important considerations in getting the best | | | | parts shop sells a number of brands of fuel |
| and most reliable service from your car.The | | | | injector cleaner and I recommend addiing it |
| first consideration is where you take it for | | | | to a full tank of gas at least with every oil |
| service. Many people simply take it back to | | | | change. It's a lot cheaper than having your |
| the dealer where they bought it. The | | | | fuel injection system overhauled. And change |
| advantage there is that if they discover | | | | that air filter regularly or whenever it |
| anything that needs fixing under the | | | | starts to appear dirty. Nothing slows |
| warranty, they will fix it for you when you | | | | performance more quickly and gunks up your |
| take it in for service. But be aware that you | | | | carburettor or fuel injectors than a dirty |
| pay a premium for dealer service in most | | | | air filter.Tires, Brakes and Shock |
| things, and you can often cut the cost of | | | | AborbersOther items like tires, brakes and |
| that routine maintenance by 30% or more by | | | | shock aborbers are generally not covered by |
| using a good independent repair shop. And the | | | | warranties... they are considered routine |
| independent shop may be a bit more observant | | | | maintenance items. Choose your tires |
| in pointing out other problems with your car | | | | carefully... there are a wide range of tire |
| that you can have fixed under warranty back | | | | grades, priced accordingly. Invariably those |
| at the dealership.Check with friends or | | | | bargain prices you see advertised are junk |
| business associates to see where thery get | | | | tires and not worth your time unless you are |
| their car serviced. Many shops offer free | | | | just fixing the car up to sell. Many tires |
| shuttle transportation when you drop off or | | | | will offer long mileage warranties, but read |
| pick up your car. If you have a more exotic | | | | the fine print... often that's "pro-rated" |
| car, be sure they specialize in that kind of | | | | and applied to the "list" price of a new one, |
| car. Since the cost of parts can often be | | | | not the highly discounted price you bought |
| more than the cost of labor, you should | | | | them for. This is an old scam. Put 20,000 |
| realize that OEM parts from a dealer usually | | | | miles on those 50,000 mile tires and you may |
| cost 50% more than the same parts from a good | | | | find the adjusted price of a new pair under |
| after market supplier, when available. But | | | | warranty is higher than what you can buy them |
| your dealer always uses OEM factory parts. | | | | or a comparable set for outright. |
| And items like tires, brakes, filters and | | | | |
| rountine maintenance parts are inevitably a | | | | In general, always buy tires at least in |
| good bit more expensive from the | | | | pairs. Never put one new tire on one wheel |
| dealership.Once you decide where you want to | | | | when the other has considerable wear. |
| have your car serviced, stick with them if | | | | Generally, it's best to put your new tires on |
| they do a good job for you. There's no | | | | the front to take advantage of better |
| substitute for a good relationship with a | | | | steering and handling with a new tire. But if |
| repair shop when it comes time for major work | | | | your car is rear wheel drive, be aware that |
| or diagnostics. And many a shop will take a | | | | badly worn tires in the back will cause your |
| one time customer for a "ride", and take the | | | | car to skid and lose control quickly in wet |
| easy route to fixing your problem rather than | | | | or slippery conditions. If you rotate your |
| the most cost effective one. A little | | | | tires regularly, say every 7500 or 10,000 |
| story... | | | | miles at least, then your tires should all |
| | | | wear out around the same time and it's best |
| I had a girlfirend once with an old Ford | | | | to replace all four as a set.When putting on |
| Mustang. Her turn signals were not working | | | | new tires, you should have them balanced and |
| and she took it into the Ford dealership for | | | | the front end aligned. Bad alignment or |
| repair. They wanted to charge her $220 to | | | | balance will wear out new tires much more |
| replace the whole turn sign mechanism and | | | | quickly and can severely impact the handling |
| wiring harness, a big job as it involves | | | | and ride quality. Often, balancing tries when |
| dismantling the whole steering column. She | | | | they are new, does not mean they will still |
| couldn't afford it and came to me asking what | | | | be in balance after 5-10,000 miles. I like to |
| she should do. | | | | buy my tires from a tire dealer that offers |
| | | | free rotation and rebalancing for the life of |
| I had a hunch and picked up a new blinker | | | | the tire. I look for tires which handle well |
| relay from the auto parts store for $3. I | | | | in wet conditions and avoid aquaplaning. |
| reached under the dash, popped out the old | | | | Those are usually high end steel belted |
| one and stuck the new one in there.Presto... | | | | all-weather radials which also work pretty |
| the problem was fixed. I was outraged that | | | | well in snow as well.Remember you life and |
| the dealer was going to charge her $220 when | | | | that of your family is riding on your tires. |
| a simple $3 part fixed the problem. I went | | | | Invest in good quality tires... it's a sound |
| down there and complained bitterly and they | | | | investment. And one more thing, these new |
| refunded her diagnostic charges anyhow. | | | | "low profile" tires that look so cool on |
| | | | these sport sedans. The low profile means a |
| In general, car repair shops are notorious | | | | short sidewall, which means little give and |
| for fixing things that don't need fixing, and | | | | flex there which, while it can contribute to |
| not always because they are completely | | | | better handling, also means a stiffer less |
| dishonest... but because it's faster than | | | | comfortable ride, and more wear on your |
| trying to figure out where the exact cause of | | | | suspension, since the tires are not absorbing |
| the problem really lies. It's the old analogy | | | | the road irregularities as well, leaving it |
| of fixing a loose nail with a sledgehammer. | | | | all up to the more expensive suspension |
| So finding a good reliable service shop can | | | | parts.Shock absorbers are another important |
| save you a lot of money over the years.I | | | | and often overlooked component. Worn shocks |
| recommend you keep a log of your maintenance. | | | | mean faster tire and suspension wear, |
| It will help you do it regularly and that | | | | particularly the ball joints in the front |
| will prolong the life of your car. Abnd it | | | | end. It's relatively easy to check a shock's |
| also looks good when it comes time to sell | | | | performance. Push down swiftly on the fender |
| the car. | | | | of your car over each of the four wheels. New |
| | | | shocks should be pretty stiff and recover |
| Here are some service issues that are | | | | from a hard shove with only a single rebound. |
| critical and some hints that not everyone is | | | | If the car bounces up and down several times |
| aware of.Oil ChangesThe average new car | | | | above the wheel, the shocks are worn and |
| recommends an oil change every 7500 miles. I | | | | should be replaced. These are not expensive |
| like to change mine twice during that period. | | | | and a good tire dealer can stick in a quality |
| Motor oil is cheap and nothing wears an | | | | set like Monroe Shocks for little more than |
| engine out faster than dirty motor oil. The | | | | $100 for all four on many models of cars.Also |
| simple process of combustion produces a lot | | | | not covered by most warranties, the brakes |
| of by-products, acid, carbon, and | | | | should be checked regularly (whenever you |
| contaminations from the air. And that | | | | rotate your tires and replaced when they get |
| contaminates your motor oil pretty quickly. I | | | | low. Driving with worn brakes (typically they |
| change it at 4000 but not the oil filter, and | | | | squeal badly when you come to a stop) will |
| then again at 7500 and change the oil filter | | | | quickly score your brake rotors or drums and |
| at that time. I maintain the same schedule | | | | make replacing them essential as well as |
| thru 7500, 15,000, 22,500, 30,000 and so on. | | | | brake pads or brake shoes. Front brakes |
| | | | usually wear out first, and again depending |
| I use a high grade of motor oil... I have | | | | on how you drive, you can probably expect to |
| always liked Valvoline. But Quaker State, | | | | replace them every 30,000 miles or so. A good |
| Pennzoil and other top brands are probably | | | | brake shop will turn the rotors or drums, |
| equally good. Stay away from the bargain | | | | replace the pads or brake shoes, and rebuilt |
| brands. Quality lubrication is essential to | | | | the calipers or wheel cylinders as needed. If |
| your engine's longevity. In general you want | | | | you replace them often and the rotors/drums |
| it to look clear and green on the oil | | | | look good, sometimes you can get away with |
| dipstick... when it starts getting dark, it's | | | | just a new pair of shoes or pads.Also keep an |
| time to change it, and when it gets black | | | | eye on your brake fluid under the hood. As |
| it's way overdue.The exception to this rule | | | | the brakes pads or shoes wear, the fluid |
| is that some synthetic oils which are black | | | | level will drop. That is normal, and you will |
| in appearance when new. And unlike foods, | | | | need to add a bit of brake fluid from time to |
| where "synthetic" is a dirty word, in motor | | | | time. Be casrely not to spill any on the |
| oils, the synthetic variety offers better | | | | car's paint as it is highly corrosive and |
| lubrication than the petroleum based | | | | will eat thru the paint in a matter of |
| "natural" oils and costs a good bit more as | | | | moments.Car Paint and InteriorIn order to |
| well. If you have an expensive car, it's | | | | preserve the value of your investement, you |
| probably well worth the extra cost for the | | | | also want to maintain your car's finish and |
| higher quality motor oil. | | | | interior. Keep the car washed and clean. Be |
| | | | careful about automatic car washes. Many news |
| People who ignore things like routine oil | | | | ones do a fine job, but some of the older |
| changes because they are too busy are very | | | | ones with stiff brushes can scratch your |
| foolish. Dirty motor oil wears out an engine | | | | paint badly. If you can keep your car in a |
| very quickly and failure to keep it clean may | | | | garage or under cover, do it. That old junk |
| very likely void your warranty.Transmission | | | | you have piled up in the garage while your |
| oil is another item. Factory service often | | | | $35,000 car sits out in weather is a poor |
| doesn't require it be changed more than every | | | | investment decision. Remove bird droppings |
| 30,000 miles. But depending on how and where | | | | and treesap as quickly as you possibly can. I |
| you drive it can get dirty and worn a lot | | | | keep a plastic bottle with water and a soft |
| quicker than than that. In general you want | | | | rag in my trunk and wipe off bird droppings |
| the fluid to appear cherry red and have | | | | as soon as I notice them. The acid in there |
| almost no smell when you pull the | | | | will eat into your paint very quickly and |
| transmission oil dipstick. When it is reddish | | | | cause a blemish to that paint job. But blot |
| brown and has a burnt smell, then your | | | | don't rub. Bird droppings typically have sand |
| transmission is suffering. Many cars do not | | | | in them and that can easily scratch your |
| allow an easy change of the transmission | | | | paint. |
| fluid. It is often necessary to drop the pan | | | | |
| of transmission to drain it, and then that | | | | You can remove tree sap and road tar with |
| usually holds 3-4 quarts and does not change | | | | turpentine or paint thinner from your |
| the majority of the fluid which is in the | | | | hardware store. It won't hurt the paint and |
| torque converter. | | | | will quickly dissolve the sap or tar. But is |
| | | | also removes car wax so use it sparingly, and |
| Some cars like my Mercury Mountaineer, have | | | | if you do it often, treat your car to a fresh |
| a separate drain plug for the torque | | | | turtle wax a few times a year. A freshly |
| converter and allow a change of fluid to be | | | | waxed car will cause water to bead up in |
| relatively complete. But many others do not. | | | | little round beads on the surface. When those |
| My old Ford Explorer was that way. Changing | | | | beads start to disappear it's time for |
| the fluid by dropping the pan only changed 1 | | | | another coat of wax. Wax will protect your |
| 3 the tranmission fluid, so if I waited til | | | | car's paint, keep it from becoming porous and |
| it was brown and burnt, one change did not do | | | | weathered and making the removal of things |
| it. I installed a drain plug in my | | | | like bird droppings and sap much |
| transmission pan, and changed it 5 times | | | | easier.Remember factory paints are baked on |
| running it a few miles after each change, | | | | and are in general much more durable than |
| until I figured I had diluted the old burnt | | | | repaints. So it pays to keep up that factory |
| fluid adequately enough. So keep an eye on | | | | paint job. |
| that fluid and change it often.Manual | | | | |
| tranmissions don't use transmission fluid... | | | | I like to use Armorall on the car's interior |
| they use a 90W gear oil which generally | | | | vinyl... it keeps it soft and pliable and |
| doesn't need to be changed very often. But | | | | prevents cracking and it looks sharp. I also |
| keep your clutch adjusted properly with a | | | | highly recommend using some kind of a |
| little bit of freeplay at the top, and don't | | | | windshield protection screen in hot weather |
| "ride the clutch". Be very careful about | | | | if you park out in the sun all day. It will |
| resting your foot on the clutch pedal as the | | | | keep the car's interior cooler and also |
| weight of the foot can partially depress the | | | | protect the car's dash from cracking. And if |
| pedal, and start to reach the edge of | | | | your car has leather seats, treat them to a |
| engagement, and this will wear out your | | | | quality leather preservative on a regular |
| clutch's throw-out bearing very quickly. | | | | basis. Nothing makes a car harder to sell |
| | | | than cracked worn leather seats. |
| Older cars all used carburettors to mix gas | | | | |