Posts Tagged automotive maintenance
Automotive Maintenance Tips To Lower Car Repair Costs In Summer
As a free service to the public, Scott’s Automotive, Inc. – an auto service shop trusted by many – gives automotive maintenance tips for summer on its website. This includes simple maintenance procedures that can be done by vehicle owners themselves, as well as the more technical maintenance procedures and diagnostic checks that should be undertaken by trained professional automotive mechanics on the vehicle transmission, engine and brakes. Giving proper maintenance to any vehicle will definitely lower your car repair costs.
The value of complying with proper maintenance procedures is best gauged by the significant decrease in the risk of mechanical failure and breakdown of a vehicle. This results in significantly less need for car repair, an increase in the vehicle’s resale value and, of course, a much longer running life for the vehicle.
Winter, with its extreme cold temperatures, puts much stress on vehicle parts and the vehicle body itself. Summer is no less stressful on vehicles, though. On top of the winter stresses come the high heat, dust and stop-and-go traffic of summer. All these factors add up and can push a vehicle to malfunction.
One of the most common issues for vehicles in summer is the frequent need for auto AC repair. When air conditioning operating systems of vehicles are not properly maintained, they will most likely fail in the extreme heat of summer, just when you need the air conditioner most. To avoid this inconvenience, have your vehicle air conditioner checked regularly by your trusted automotive mechanic not just in the summer. Your vehicle’s owner’s manual will contain the recommended frequency for replacing your air conditioner’s filters, for example.
Your vehicle engine and transmission system can also be damaged by summer heat, especially when you allow your vehicle to overheat. You can prevent this by completely flushing out and refilling your vehicle’s cooling system once every two years. You should then have your automotive mechanic check the level, condition and concentration of your coolant regularly. Let your automotive mechanic know of any performance problems you experience related to your engine, such as hard starts, rough idling or stalling. Do the same if ever you notice any unusual behaviour related to your vehicle brakes. Even without any problems, have your automotive mechanic check your brakes regularly.
Also ask your automotive mechanic to regularly check on your vehicle clamps, hoses and drive belts. Replace your oil and oil filter according to the schedule in your owner’s manual. If you go on long trips with heavy loads such as having a trailer in tow, or if you go on frequent short trips, your oil and oil filter should be changed even more frequently.
You should likewise comply with the schedule in your owner’s manual for the replacement of your fuel filter, air filter and all other vehicle filters. Replace them more frequently if you drive in very dusty conditions.
Maintain your batteries by cleaning surfaces, tightening connectors and regularly removing the corrosion on battery posts and cable connections. Make sure you are wearing eye protection and sturdy rubber gloves whenever you do this. Never touch the corrosion and battery acid with your bare skin.
Check all your light bulbs regularly and immediately replace any busted ones. Clean light lenses with a clean soft rag, making sure not to scratch them. You should likewise clean your windshield regularly. Always keep your windshield washer solvent receptacle refilled. Replace your windshield blades when worn.
Your tire pressure should be checked once a month and before any long drive. Inspect your tire treads and sidewalls regularly. If you find uneven tread wear, have your tires realigned. Rotate them every 5,000 miles. Make sure you always have a spare tire and a jack.
You will definitely benefit from following the summer automotive maintenance tips provided for free by Scott’s Automotive, Inc. See how much less you spend on your car repair costs.
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Automotive Diagnostic, Maintenance and Car Repair Steps
No vehicle can ever be immune from the need for car repair. At various periods of a vehicle’s service life it will invariably need auto AC repair, brakes repair, transmission repair and engine repair. Adding up all those car repair needs can bring you to quite a huge sum. In this time of financial crisis, all vehicle owners would appreciate any possible way of lessening the need for, or frequency of, car repairs. The implementation of proper automotive diagnostic and maintenance procedures at the right schedules would be one effective way to achieve this. Vehicle owners can save even more if they can do some of these procedures on their own rather than always paying an auto service mechanic for even the simplest task. This does not mean discarding one’s trusted auto service mechanic, though, because he will still be very much needed for the more complicated automotive diagnostic and maintenance procedures and, of course, for car repair. Following are some steps to remember on automotive diagnostic and maintenance procedures and car repair.
Foremost on the list is learning what is written in the vehicle’s owner’s manual. The vehicle owner should know the contents of this document from cover to cover. Of course, it does not have to be memorized. It should, however, be kept in a safe place that is easily accessible. This is important because the owner’s manual contains all of the necessary automotive maintenance procedures for the vehicle based on its manufacturer’s recommendations, as well as the schedule of frequency for such procedures. This has to be complied with to the letter.
The vehicle owner is the best person to do certain automotive diagnostic procedures because he or she knows how the vehicle performs in normal circumstances. He or she will therefore be the first to notice even the slightest change in the vehicle’s behaviour, including handling, acceleration, deceleration, steering and braking.
The vehicle owner should take gauge readings daily in order to track changes in fluid levels and gas mileage. He or she can then spot abnormal spikes in usage or depletion. Regular inspection of the vehicle’s tires, hoses and belts should be done to monitor wear and tear and damage.
Any strange noise, weird odor, leaks or vibration of the vehicle should be seen as signals of trouble. In fact, certain signs mean there is an emergency that should immediately be attended to. Smoke is one of these signs. Upon seeing smoke from the vehicle, it should promptly be pulled over and it should not be restarted before it is seen to by an auto service mechanic.
All of the vehicle owner’s findings should be documented in a logbook every day. This will ensure that nothing is forgotten and everything is reported accurately. The logbook should be submitted to the auto service mechanic periodically. If there are signs of an emergency, the logbook should also be submitted immediately. It will be used as an important reference as the auto service mechanic makes a diagnosis.
Ask for an official written copy of the mechanic’s diagnosis and repair recommendations from the auto service shop. Also ask the auto service shop to provide an official written quotation with details of the services to be done, parts that need replacement and the time schedule for the job.
A vehicle owner who faithfully complies with all the recommended automotive diagnostic and maintenance procedures and schedules based on the manufacturer’s instructions will surely be rewarded with much less need for car repair. This means less frequent auto AC repair, brakes repair, transmission repair and engine repair from the auto service shop, resulting in overall cost cutting and savings.
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Learn About Automotive Inspection and Maintenance to Minimize Car Repair
It is vital for any automotive owner to learn about automotive inspection and maintenance in order to minimize the need for frequent car repair and prolong the life of the vehicle. Car repair can be very expensive, especially when one talks about engine, brakes and transmission system repair. Even auto AC repair costs can add up if done frequently. To avoid such expenses, you will need to have a reliable mechanic from an auto service in Tampa that is an expert in diagnostics and car repair. Do not wait until you will need to call for towing services of tow trucks while you are on the road.
First of all, an automotive owner should be very familiar with the owner’s manual of the vehicle. This is the basic reference for automotive maintenance procedures and schedules according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Your auto service mechanic should comply with the instructions in your owner’s manual. If your vehicle is quite old, though, you can expect your auto service mechanic to recommend even more stringent maintenance procedures.
You yourself can do your own diagnostic checks on your vehicle day by day. This is very important in order to catch early symptoms of automotive problems. Early detection can mean less expensive car repair.
You should regularly check the garage floor or parking slot beneath your vehicle for wet spots or puddles of liquid. If the liquid is clear, you need not worry. This is just probably water that came from the condensation of your vehicle’s air conditioning system. Colored liquids may be danger signs, though, as they could mean serious leaks in your system. An overheated engine or leaking anti-freeze can produce yellow green, orange or blue liquid. Oily liquids that are red, black or dark brown could indicate that your transmission system is leaking transmission fluid. This means you should immediate contact your Tampa auto service mechanic.
You should also use your sense of smell in checking your vehicle. Certain odors should immediately alert you to a possible problem. Never ignore these danger signs.
You should always take a quick sniff of your transmission fluid whenever you check it. If you detect a burnt smell this means that your transmission system may soon fail you in the middle of the road in Tampa. Your automotive oil should not smell acrid. If you get a whiff of a a sharp smell that is similar to burnt toast, it could mean that you have an electrical short and burning insulation.
Keep your sense of smell keen even while driving. You will notice a chemical-like smell similar to burning resin when your clutch or brakes overheat. You have to immediately pull over and wait for your clutch or brakes to cool down. If you see any sign of smoke, do not under any circumstances start your vehicle.
You will smell a sweet and steamy odor if your coolant is leaking. This means your vehicle will soon overheat. Again, you should pull over at once and remedy the situation. If the odor from your car hood is more metallic, this can be even more dangerous.
The smell of gasoline means your fuel system is leaking. A sulphuric smell similar to rotten eggs means there is a problem in your emission control devices.
Another thing you should keenly observe is your vehicle’s response to your handling. Watch out for any unusual sounds, vibrations, jerks, scraping or grinding. Any of these should immediately be reported to your auto service mechanic.
The automotive owner who knows much about automotive inspection and maintenance will always have a distinct advantage. You will have an edge in keeping your vehicle in top shape longer and in working in cooperation with your mechanic and auto service to make the most of diagnostic services and car repair.
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