All posts tagged auto maintenance

Five Minor Car Problems You Should Never Ignore

by Carsurfer Admin on 2013/12/20 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off

Keeping a car in good condition requires constant updates and care on your part. While it’s obvious when you need some major repairs, there are some minor problems that are just as important to take care of quickly so it they don’t get worse.

Worn-out Windshield Wiper Blades

Wiper blades are irritating when they begin to wear out. However, when you are stuck in a rain storm, the problem quickly turns into a serious hazard on the road. Remember that blades don’t only wear out from extended use. Long hours baking in the sun, or turning them on when snow and ice is built up on them can do just as much damage. Check your blades if you haven’t used them in a while or if bad weather is in the forecast. It doesn’t hurt to carry a replacement set in the car for emergencies.

Low Fluid Levels

One of the best maintenance chores you can do for your car is check the oil regularly. When the oil level gets too low, the moving parts of the engine suffer increased friction and wear. If you lose all the oil, your engine will seize up and and you’ll have to replace it. Even though you may have a date or mileage to give you an idea of when it needs changed, make sure you check it every once in a while and before long trips. If you find that your oil level is dropping rapidly no matter how often you fill it, take it in to a mechanic to find the leak or any other problem that could damage your car.

Lights

Nothing is more unnerving than approaching a car from behind and suddenly realizing it isn’t moving because the break lights weren’t working. Because you never see your break lights when you drive, it’s likely you don’t think about them often. Check for broken headlights and tail lights and replace them immediately. Your ability to see in the dark, and your visibility to others, is crucial to your safety. It could also cost you a fine if a cop sees that your lights aren’t working properly.

Worn Tires

Never drive around on worn tires. As the tire’s tread wears down, a blowout becomes more likely. This is a hazard that becomes much worse in the rain or on slick, icy roads. Uneven wear on tires indicates a misalignment or other structural problem. Make sure that is taken care of before getting new tires, and keep a good set on your car, especially during the months of bad weather.

Chipped or Cracked Windshield

A chip or small break in the windshield might pass inspection, but sooner or later it’s going to give you trouble. Once a crack develops, you’ll have to replace the whole windshield, says professionals at Auto Glass in Los Angeles. By fixing the chip, you will maintain the factory seal around the glass.

Take these maintenance chores seriously and don’t let minor car problems create more expensive repairs for you in the future. These tips will help you stay safe on the road and save money on repairs.

Five Easily Preventable Car Troubles and How to Avoid Them

by Carsurfer Admin on 2013/12/12 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off

Car ownership can often be a pain for some people. Now, usually, one can take steps to prevent problems and save money in the process. In fact, here are five easily preventable car troubles and how to avoid them.

Windshield cracks

While driving down the highway, a lot of people end up with smashed windshields. This is usually not the driver’s fault. However, to protect the vehicle, one should avoid driving behind a semi or other large trucks or vans. If one does not heed this advice and ends up with a cracked windshield, they should look for a windshield repair kit of some sort such as Tri Glass Windshield Repair Kits. With this, one can fix the problem and enjoy a crack-free windshield.

Dead battery

Sometimes, when in a parking lot, a driver will walk out to a dead battery. This leaves a person unable to move his or her car. Luckily, when carrying jumper cables, one can fix the issue and drive the car safely. Of course, to avoid this in the first place, a car owner should try to avoid leaving the lights on and other electronics while he or she is not driving.

Flat tire

Now, it is impossible to prevent getting a flat tire. With that being said, a smart driver who keeps his or her tires inflated properly can avoid this problem. Furthermore, when driving on the highway, one should avoid emergency lanes as plenty of glass and nails sit on the side of the road.

Electrical problems

Some European cars have electrical problems. However, this is preventable should a driver opt to change out the fuses and avoid overusing electronic devices such as refrigerators and computers. Otherwise, a car owner will spend thousands of dollars fixing the issue.

Leaks

When driving a car off the road, one will end up with problems. Often, the biggest problem one will encounter is leaks. With this, a vehicle owner may experience problems and end up messing up his or her engine. To avoid this, one should watch out for leaks by looking on the ground. If a driver notices anything out of the ordinary, he or she should take it to a mechanic and get it looked at immediately.

A car owner must take a proactive approach and avoid problems from occurring in the first place. Otherwise, he or she will spend a lot of time and money trying to fix seemingly minor issues that will get out of control in the long run.

Car Maintenance 101: 5 Things To Get Fine Tuned Right Now

by Carsurfer Admin on 2013/10/23 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off

While all cars can run into some problems of their own that are defects, most car problems can be solved by keeping up with routine maintenance. From oil changes to tire alignments, taking some basic precautions can save you a lot of time and money in the long run as well as ensure that your car will run well for years to come. Here are the five things that you should get fined tuned on your car right now.

Engine

If your check engine light is on, that means you need to take your car to be repaired. This light could be a signal for a multitude of problems ranging from a broken or loose gas cap to a major engine malfunction. Take your car to a certified repair shop that can examine your car’s computer system and find the precise source of the error.

Oil

With insufficient, old, or even too much oil, your car will not operate properly. Check your car’s manual to determine if your car is due for an oil change. Most cars need an oil change every 3,000 – 6,000 miles. Depending on your driving conditions, your oil may need to be changed even sooner. If you drive in a lot of stop-and-go traffic or have not changed your oil in over a year, your car is due for an oil change.

Tires

It can seriously cost you in the long run to ignore your tires, especially if your tire bursts while you are driving and you wreck your car. Keeping your car’s tire pressure at the recommended PSI (pounds per square inch) will increase your fuel mileage around 3.3 percent. Tire alignment should be done every 5,000 miles, and with the multitude of qualified specialists in tire alignments, Austin experts say it is an easy task to find a great mechanic.

Brakes

Replace your brake pads according to the schedule in the manual. It can wear our your car’s breaking system if you neglect to do so. The break pads usually last over 10,000 miles, so this replacement is something that most drivers should have done about once a year.

Spark Plugs

Old spark plugs can lead to expensive engine, coil, and catalytic converter problems. The plugs are relatively cheap and easy to replace compared to the magnitude of the problems that defective or old spark plugs can cause.

Brionna Kennedy is native to the Pacific Northwest, growing up in Washington, then moving down to Oregon for college. She enjoys writing on fashion and business, but any subject will do, she loves to learn about new topics. When she isn’t writing, she lives for the outdoors. Oregon has been the perfect setting to indulge her love of kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking.

Take Care Of Your Car – Five Maintenance Tips From The Pros

by Carsurfer Admin on 2013/10/22 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off

By following these tips, you can ensure that your car remains in excellent condition regardless of the number of miles that the vehicle has, and you can prolong the life of certain parts while reducing the number of repairs that the car needs long-term.

Changing Your Oil

You should change your vehicle’s oil at least once every 5,000 miles. When changing the oil, you should ensure that your vehicle is on flat ground, and you should make sure that the oil is cool. Next, remove the plug by using a socket and a ratchet. Allow at least eight minutes for all of the oil to drain out before replacing the plug. Replace the oil filter, and finally, add new oil. Most owner’s manuals specify the type of oil that you should use for your vehicle, and the higher the oil’s numbered rating, the thicker the oil will be.

The Battery

Corrosion on your battery’s terminals can cause the battery to die much more quickly than it would have otherwise. Use a wire brush to clean corrosion from the terminals, and if necessary, replace the terminals.

Changing Brake Pads

Calipers and rotors rarely need to be replaced, but you should replace your vehicle’s brake pads at least once every 20,000 miles. After suppressing the brake caliper’s pistons, put the new brake pads in place and step on the brakes several times. After you’ve replaced the pads, you should check your vehicle’s level of brake fluid because brake fluid can leak out while you’re replacing the pads.

An Extended Auto Warranty

A company that provides an extended auto warranty will pay for any major repairs that your vehicle needs, such as replacing the transmission, the engine or the exhaust system. Most providers of extended warranties will pay the auto repair shop directly instead of reimbursing you.
Furthermore, some extended auto warranties will cover routine maintenance.

Rotating Your Tires

Rotate your tires at least once every 5,000 miles to ensure that they are wearing evenly. If the treads of your tires are beginning to wear out, purchase new tires from a trusted supplier, such as http://simpletire.com. This company allows you to choose tires that offer countless types of treads, speed ratings and levels of thickness.

Some of the steps that you can take to keep your car in outstanding condition include changing your vehicle’s oil, replacing the brake pads, cleaning or replacing the battery’s terminals, obtaining an extended auto warranty and rotating your tires.

How to Flush Your Radiator on Your Own and Save Money

by Carsurfer Admin on 2012/10/19 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off

Your radiator is an essential part of your vehicle – it keeps the engine from overheating and also protects against freezing temperatures. However, just like every other vehicle system, your radiator needs to be properly maintained. While you won’t have to drain and fill your antifreeze with the same regularity you’ll need to change your engine oil, it does need to be flushed and filled periodically. There’s good news too; you can do this on your own very easily, and save both time and money.

When to Flush

As mentioned, flushing your radiator isn’t something you’ll need to do frequently, but it should be done on a regular basis. Most cars should have their radiator flushed and filled every five years or so. Older models should have more frequent flushes, particularly if there are signs of cooling system deterioration.

Watch What You’re Doing

Flushing and filling your radiator is good not only for keeping your cooling system in good shape, but for making sure it’s healthy as well. While the coolant drains out, keep an eye on it for signs of damage (white flakes, gunk and debris in large amounts can all be signs of impending doom).

What to Do

If you’re prepared to flush and fill your radiator, there are only a few simple steps you need to take. First, make sure you have the essentials:

Replacement coolant
A catch pan for the old coolant
A source of clean water
A funnel
Rubber gloves

Step 1:

Wait until the engine has cooled enough that the antifreeze will not burn you and the system is no longer pressurized. Open the radiator cap. Place the catch pan under the car.

Step 2:

Locate the drain cock under your radiator. Turning this opens the valve at the bottom of the radiator and allows the old coolant to drain out. Do not attempt this until the engine has cooled down. Make sure the catch pan is directly below the drain.

Step 3:

Open the drain cock and allow the coolant to drain out. Allow the car to sit for several minutes (it can take some time for the coolant to drain out).

Step 4:

Close the drain cock and fill the radiator with clean tap water. Fill the radiator until the water comes to the top of the opening in the radiator’s fill neck.

Step 5:

Crank your car (with the radiator cap off). Allow the car to run and warm up. Once the cooling fan cycles on, you know the thermostat has opened and water has flushed through the system. Turn the car off.

Step 6:

Drain the water from the radiator by opening the drain cock and draining the water/antifreeze mix into the catch pan.

Step 7:

This step can be omitted unless you purchased a chemical flush kit. Note that flush kits are really only recommended for high mileage engines with serious scaling in the radiator. If you have a kit, add the fluid and water now and repeat the above steps, following the directions on the can. Drain the mixture when done.

Step 8:

With the drain open (and the car off), add water to the radiator. It should flow through the system and out the drain, carrying with it any remaining antifreeze and debris. When the water turns clear, stop filling it and allow it all to drain out.

Step 9:

Close the drain and refill the radiator with clean antifreeze. When the radiator is full, start the car and allow the cooling fan to cycle on (signifying that the thermostat has opened and the system is cycling). Top off the coolant in the radiator and reservoir with your fresh antifreeze until it reaches the full mark. Check it with a hygrometer to make sure you have enough protection from freezing.

Don Elfrink is the owner and operator of AutoMatStore, an auto flooring company based out Columbia, Missouri. Before AutoMatStore, Elfrink was the operator of an automotive production site. AutoMatStore floor mats consist of customized logo, carpet, molded and all weather mats.