Service Interval Schedule

Always consult your owners manual for vehicle specific maintenance issues.

Check Monthly
     • Check Engine Light On
     • Cleaning
     • Lights
     • Tire Inflation and Condition
     • Windshield Washer Fluid

Check every 3 months/3,000 miles
     • Automatic Transmission Fluid
     • Battery and Cables
     • Belts
     • Check Engine Light On
     • Engine Air Filter
     • Engine Oil and Filter
     • Exhaust
     • Fuel Filter
     • Hoses
     • Lights
     • Power Steering Fluid
     • Tire Inflation and Condition
     • Windshield Washer Fluid

Check every 6 months/6,000 miles
     • Automatic Transmission Fluid
     • Battery and Cables
     • Belts
     • Chassis Lubrication
     • Check Engine Light On
     • Polish
     • Engine Air Filter
     • Engine Oil and Filter
     • Exhaust
     • Fuel Filter
     • Hoses
     • Lights
     • Power Steering Fluid
     • Tire Inflation and Condition
     • Windshield Washer Fluid
     • Wiper Blades

Check every 9 months/9,000 miles
     • Automatic Transmission Fluid
     • Battery and Cables
     • Belts
     • Check Engine Light On
     • Engine Air Filter
     • Engine Oil and Filter
     • Exhaust
     • Fuel Filter
     • Hoses
     • Lights
     • Power Steering Fluid
     • Tire Inflation and Condition
     • Windshield Washer Fluid

Check every 12 months/12,000 miles
      Automatic Transmission Fluid
     • Battery and Cables
     • Belts
     • Brakes
     • Cabin Air Filter
     • Chassis Lubrication
     • Check Engine Light On
     • Polish
     • Coolant (Antifreeze)
     • Engine Air Filter
     • Engine Oil and Filter
     • Exhaust
     • Fuel Filter
     • Hoses
     • Lights
     • Power Steering Fluid
     • Spark Plugs
     • Steering and Suspension
     • Tire Inflation and Condition
     • Windshield Washer Fluid
     • Wiper Blades

Fuel Efficiency Tips
How important are vehicle gas caps?
17 percent of the vehicles on U.S. highways have either misused or missing gas caps, causing 147,000,000 gallons of gas per year to vaporize into the atmosphere. (Source: Service Tech Magazine, Sept. 2000)

Vehicle conditions that cost consumers millions of dollars in wasted fuel:

     • Loose or missing gas caps
     • Underinflated tires
     • Faulty thermostats
     • Worn spark plugs
     • Malfunctioning engine controls
     • Poor wheel alignment

How do underinflated tires affect fuel efficiency?
Underinflated tires and incorrect wheel alignment can lead to conditions which increase rolling resistance. This is like driving with the parking brake not fully released, it can cost a mile or two per gallon on a car that normally delivers 20 miles per gallon. Correct tire inflation pressure is critical for good fuel economy, safety, maximum tire life and proper vehicle handling performance.

Keep your car in tune:
Keeping up with regular vehicle maintenance can improve gas mileage by an average of 4.1 percent. Results may vary depending on the kind of repair and how well it is performed.

How do dirty air filters affect fuel efficiency?
An air filter clogged with dirt, dust and bugs chokes off the air and creates what is called a "rich" mixture - too much gas being burned for the amount of air, which both wastes gas and causes the engine to lose power. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent.

Why should spark plugs be replaced regularly?
A vehicle can have either four, six or eight spark plugs, which fire as many as 3 million times every l,000 miles, resulting in a lot of heat, electrical and chemical erosion. A dirty spark plug causes misfiring and that wastes fuel. They need to be replaced regularly.

Other gas guzzlers include:

     • Dirty oil = 1 mile per gallon
     • Slipping automatic transmission = 1 mile per gallon
     • Cooling system thermostat that causes the engine to run too cold = 2 miles per gallon

Combining all of these discrepancies into one vehicle and the cost of wasted fuel easily could exceed recent increases in pump prices.

Driving Habits to Improve Fuel Efficiency:

     • Avoid quick or "jackrabbit" starts and stops.
     • Aggressive driving wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent in the city.
     • Observe the speed limit. Gas mileage decreases rapidly above 60 miles per hour.
     • Avoid excessive idling. Idling gets 0 miles per gallon.
     • Use cruise control because it helps you maintain a constant speed limit.
     • Use overdrive gears because the engine speed goes down saving gas and reducing engine wear.
     • Avoid carrying unneeded heavy items in your trunk. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk reduces a car’s fuel economy by 1-2 percent.
     • Use air vents to circulate air instead of air conditioning.

Preventative Maintenance Tips:
Simple preventative maintenance steps that you can do to conserve energy, protect your investment, improve highway safety and benefit the environment include:

     • Regularly changing your oil
     • Inflating your tires properly
     • Taking your vehicle for annual brake inspections
     • Changing the windshield wipers

Whether you do it yourself or visit a professional technician, the Car Care Council recommends regular inspections of the following systems:

     • Brakes
     • Electrical and ignition
     • Emission control
     • Fuel
     • Heating and cooling
     • Steering and suspension

The service technician can also evaluate:

     • Engine performance
     • Tires
     • Gauges
     • Windshield wipers
     • Horn
     • Lights
     • Mirrors
     • Seat belts
     • Vehicle’s body

Source: The Car Care Council, www.carcare.org

What to do in case of an accident

Most drivers make costly, long-term decision errors immediately following an accident as fear gives way to anger and frustration. Questions race through your head faster than the mind can register them. Who was at fault? Will my car ever be right again? What are my rights and responsibilities? A calm and informed reaction to an accident will reduce your chances for additional grief and expense.

Move your vehicle to a safe place, then stop and identify yourself to the other driver. (Some state or local statutes may require the vehicle be left as is.) If it cant be moved, turn on the hazard lights. Seek medical help if you or other parties require it, and notify the police. Tell them who you are, where you are, and about any obvious or claimed injuries.

Exchange information with the other drivers including drivers license numbers. Get the drivers name, address,telephone numbers and name of insurance company. Also, list any passengers and witnesses.

Get names and badge numbers of any police officers who arrive at the scene. If there are injuries or extensive damage, the police should file a report. Ask to get a copy.

Avoid any extensive discussions at the scene about who is responsible for damage. If the other person admits responsibility, offers a money settlement and you accept, any future claim against the driver may be compromised. You or the other party may later find damage and bodily injury not apparent at first.

Write a complete description of the accident as soon aspossible. Include weather conditions, estimated speeds, and as much precise information as you can observe. Take photographs if a camera is available.

Have the vehicle towed or driven to a collision repair facility of your choice. If in doubt, there are some 12,000 Automotive Service Association (ASA) member-businesses around the nation. Look for the ASA logo in the Yellow Pages or the red, white and blue ASA sign. (Search the Find Nearest ASA Shop database to find a shop in your area.)

Notify your insurance company of the accident as soon as possible.

Source: www.asashop.org

Potholes Pack a Powerful Punch
BETHESDA, MD - It’s the time of year for potholes and chances are there’s one out there with your name on it. When you hit a pothole, it’s important to check the vehicle’s tires, wheels, steering and suspension, and alignment. Drivers can visually inspect tires and wheels for damage, but the Car Care Council recommends that a professional technician check out steering and suspension and alignment problems.

The steering and suspension are key safety-related systems. Together, they largely determine your car’s ride and handling. Key components are shocks and/or struts, the steering knuckle, ball joints, the steering rack/box, bearings, seals and hub units, and tie rod ends.

Signs that the steering and suspension have been damaged include loss of control, swaying when making routine turns, bottoming-out on city streets or bouncing excessively on rough roads.

If there’s an alignment problem, the car will pull in one direction instead of maintaining a straight path and there may be uneven tire wear. Proper wheel alignment is important for the lifespan of tires and helps ensure safe handling.

"After hitting a pothole, most drivers wonder, "is my car OK?" Rather than guessing, the best course of action is to have the vehicle immediately inspected for less obvious damage," said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.

As a general rule of thumb, steering and suspension systems should be checked at least once a year and wheels should be aligned at the same interval. Motorists who live in areas where potholes are prevalent should be prepared to have these systems checked more frequently.

Potholes occur when water permeates the pavement - usually through a crack from wear and tear of traffic - and softens the soil beneath it, creating a depression in the surface of the street. Many potholes appear during winter and spring months because of freeze-thaw cycles, which accelerate the process. Potholes can also be prevalent in areas with excessive rainfall and flooding.

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the "Be Car Care Aware" consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers.

Source: The Car Care Council, www.carcare.org

Tire Inflation and Condition
What is it?

Proper tire inflation pressure is the specified air pressure given by a carmaker for a certain tire on a specific vehicle. This pressure specification should not be confused with a tire’s maximum pressure, which is usually listed on the tire’s sidewall. Some vehicles may specify different pressures for the front tires and the rear tires.

Purpose
Correct inflation pressure is critical for good fuel economy, safety, maximum tire life, and proper vehicle handling performance.

Maintenance Tips/Suggestions
For the small amount of time it takes, checking tire inflation at least once a month is one of the best investments you can make to get the maximum life out of your tires. Proper inflation can also improve gas mileage by more than 3%, when maintained regularly. Keep this in mind: Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi (pounds per square inch) drop in pressure of all four tires. You may want to check your tires more often during the winter months. Tires will lose about 1 psi of pressure for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit of temperature drop.

Keep an accurate tire pressure gauge in your car’s glove box (many gauges at "air stations" give false pressure readings) and check the tire pressure when the tires are cold. Never trust the appearance of a tire as a gauge for inflation. A tire could be 10 psi low on pressure and not appear to be low on air. Use the recommended inflation pressure listed in your vehicle’s owner’s manual or on the inflation sticker found on the driver’s door jamb. While you’re at it, don’t forget to check the spare. Theres nothing more annoying than a flat spare when you have a flat tire.

Tread Depth

What is it?
There are several simple ways to check tire tread depth. The first way is to measure tread depth with a tread depth gauge. The second method involves the use of a penny inserted into the grooves of the tread. Tire wear bars are also used on today’s tires as a hands-off visual indication that a tire needs replacement.

What does it do?
Regular tread depth checks are important to ensure that your car’s tires are safe. Excessive wear can result in a loss of traction, especially on wet and slippery roads. Tires are regular wear items and staying on top of their condition not only ensures your safety, but also gives you the opportunity to plan ahead and budget for inevitable tire replacement.

Maintenance Tips/Suggestions
When using a tread depth gauge, tires need to have at least 1/16-in. of tread or more (this is the minimum amount of tread allowed by law). By using a penny as a quick reference, insert the penny into the tread groove with Lincoln’s face showing, but with his head upside-down. If you are able to see all of Lincoln’s head, the tire needs replacement. If you see a wear bar across the width of the tread while facing it, it’s time to replace the tire. Generally, it’s best to replace tires in sets of four. If your car’s tires show signs of abnormal or unequal wear, have this looked into by a professional technician. Excessive wear on both outer edges generally indicates under-inflation. Excessive wear in the center of the tread generally indicates over-inflation. Cupping or dipping of certain tread sections may indicate worn suspension parts or a wheel balance problem. Saw-toothed or feathered tread edges may indicate wheel misalignment. If your car needs alignment or suspension work, have it done before you drive off with a new set of tires. Taking a "big picture" approach to protecting your tire investment will reap many rewards for miles to come.

Source: The Car Care Council, www.carcare.org

Check Engine Light
What is it?

In 1996, an orange light on your car’s dashboard labeled "Check Engine" or "Service Engine Soon" became standard on all car makes and models. The light tells you there’s a problem with your car’s engine and powertrain control system.

What does it do? Why do I need this service?
An illuminated "Check Engine" or "Service Engine Soon" light indicates a problem detected by our car’s onboard diagnostic system (OBD). The light cannot indicate the exact nature of the problem, only the right training and diagnostic equipment can do that.

Typical Service
     • A flashing light indicates a problem that is currently happening and may require immediate attention, whereas a steady light can be diagnosed at the first convenient opportunity.
     • A technician connects a "scan tool" to your car’s onboard diagnostic system to determine the problem.
     • Further testing and diagnostics may be required to pinpoint the exact cause of the problem.
     • Once the problem is pinpointed, repairs are made and the light is reset.

Source: The Car Care Council, www.carcare.org

The Vehicle Identification Number commonly found inside the windshield or door jam, can be used to verify vehicle information such as body style, engine, drivetrain, transmission, as well as year, make, model, sub-model information.

This VIN decoder contains information for vehicles dating from 1981 - 2004, and includes all major makes and models of import and domestic passenger cars, sports cars, light trucks, SUV’s and vans, representing 99.8 percent of all vehicles on the road. Enter the complete 17-character VIN number, or at a minimum, the first 10 characters of the VIN number, and press Submit for the complete vehicle configuration.

Connecting Jumper Cables

In the world of automotive emergencies, motorists need to learn certain procedures for "safety’s sake." Two of the most valuable lessons, changing a tire and hooking up jumper cables are best learned before an emergency arises, according to the Car Care Council.

The process of boosting a battery is especially important in cold weather. Jumper cables or cables on a portable battery booster should be connected properly to avoid sparks, which can cause an explosion of the hydrogen gas emitting from a battery. Beyond this, an incorrect hook up can damage critical, and expensive, electronic components.

The procedure is simple:

Connect the positive (+) clamp to the positive terminal of the healthy battery and the other positive clamp to the corresponding terminal of the dead battery.

Next, the negative (-), or ground, terminal on the good battery and, finally, the negative clamp to the engine block, frame or other grounded metal as far as possible from the battery. You want to avoid sparks in the vicinity of the explosive hydrogen gas that emits from the battery. Do not connect it to the ground terminal (negative).

When using a portable battery booster, the process is much the same.

Connect the positive clamp of the booster cable to the positive clamp of the dead battery. Then connect the negative cable to the engine block or other grounded metal away from the battery.

The Council offers an additional suggestion: if you are buying jumper cables or a portable battery booster, buy the best quality you can afford. Look for well-insulated clamps and 8-gauge wire. (Note: the lower the wire gauge number, the heavier the gauge.) Under the heavy electrical load of boost starting, lightweight cables may not be able to deliver enough current to start some engines. In fact, they have been known to melt in the user’s hand.

If your battery is three-years old or older and you haven’t had it checked, it’s a good preventive measure to do so, suggests the Council. A battery’s power is reduced as the temperature drops. And that’s when the engine’s starting demands are greatest.

Source: The Car Care Council, www.carcare.org

Pre-Trip Checkup

Tow truck operators in resort areas or along Interstate highways see all too many travelers forced to return home ahead of schedule. Car trouble, usually due to neglected preventive maintenance, brings an abrupt end to vacation plans.

The situation usually means more than just a repair bill. It can involve towing charges, lodging and possibly a rental car. Add to that the cost of extra phone calls, meals and general inconvenience, and the ordeal becomes expensive.

This scenario usually can be avoided with a pre-vacation inspection performed by a qualified automotive technician. This "physical" for your automobile should address the following systems:

     • Cooling
     • Braking
     • Emission control
     • Steering/suspension
     • Fuel
     • Electrical and ignition

In addition, the tech should evaluate engine performance, tires/wheels, A.C./heater/defroster, instruments/gauges, windshield wipers, horns/lights/mirrors, seat belts and the car’s body, inside and out.

Not only can a pre-trip inspection help reduce chances of costly and possibly dangerous road trouble, it also provides an opportunity to have repairs made at home, with one’s own technician who knows the vehicle. Especially important, it provides peace of mind. While no inspection can guarantee a car’s performance, it’s comforting to know proper precautions were taken.

Source: The Car Care Council, www.carcare.org

Timing Belt

With automotive engines as with many aspects of daily life, timing is critical. One vehicle component often overlooked during routine maintenance is the engine timing belt. If it fails, the engine will stop and the car will coast to a stop. The lucky motorist will only have the inconvenience of being stranded on the side of the road until the car can be towed to a repair facility to have the timing belt replaced. On the other hand, the engine might suffer severe, if not catastrophic, damage to its internal components.

This potential disaster can be avoided easily and relatively inexpensively by replacing the timing belt within the required replacement interval.

Timing belts resemble an engine accessory serpentine belt in appearance, only they typically have square teeth on the inside surface. They usually are constructed of rubber reinforced with nylon. The timing belt transfers the rotation of the crankshaft to the camshaft. The rotating camshaft activates the valves, which provide air and fuel to the cylinders and expel combustion gases to the exhaust system.

The valves and pistons are constantly moving up and down at very high speeds. When the pistons are down, the valves are open; when the piston is at the top of its travel, the valves are closed. Some engines don’t allow clearance between a valve at its lowest point and a piston at its highest. The timing belt, therefore, is the critical link to ensure that these components don’t collide. If collision occurs, damage to the valves, pistons, cylinder head and cylinder walls can result. This can be an expensive repair.

Timing belts usually are protected from foreign objects by a cover, making visual inspection impossible.

Many domestic vehicles built within the last several years and the majority of imports are equipped with a timing belt. Other engines rely on a timing chain rather than a belt. Refer to your owner’s manual or take your car to a repair facility if you are unsure. The owner’s manual maintenance schedule is a source of timing belt replacement intervals, typically every 60,000 to 90,000 miles.

Timing belt replacement usually requires removal of the engine drive belt that operates the alternator, water pump, power steering pump and air conditioner. Consider replacing this belt, or multiple belts, when having a new timing belt installed.

Source: The Car Care Council, www.carcare.org

Hot Weather is Behind Car-Battery Trouble

Summer is the season for major car-battery problems. Heat, not cold, shortens battery life, says the Car Care Council.

Excessive heat and overcharging are the two main reasons for shortened battery life. Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, this damaging the internal structure of the battery. A malfunctioning component in the charging system, usually the voltage regulator, allows too high a charging rate. That’s slow death for a battery.

True, there are more road service calls in cold weather for dead batteries that cause starting failure. That’s when a battery’s output is diminished because of sluggish electro-chemical action that gives the battery its power. Also, colder temperatures increase thickness of the engine oil, making the engine harder to turn over. These factors lead to harder starting.

"An average of one out of four vehicles gets a new battery every year," said Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council. "Sooner or later all batteries have to be replaced, but having to so prematurely can involve more than the cost of a road service call and a new battery, it can be inconvenient as well."

To get the most life out of a battery, White suggests the following:

Be sure the electrical system is charging at the correct rate; overcharging can damage a battery as quickly as undercharging.
If your battery is the type that needs to be topped off, check it regularly, especially in hot weather. Add distilled water when necessary.
Always replace a battery with one that’s rated at least as high as the one originally specified.
Keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt becomes a conductor, which drains battery power. Further, as corrosion accumulates on battery terminals it becomes an insulator, inhibiting current flow.

Source: The Car Care Council, www.carcare.org

Avoid a Stalled Vehicle

The stalled car syndrome, more noticeable on our roadways than in our driveways, has been with us for generations. But it becomes more critical with increased population. Beyond missed appointments or being late for work it also results in the condition known as road rage. Not only can a disabled vehicle have an annoying "ripple effect" that goes beyond the immediate scene, it can be disastrous for the driver who is left vulnerable to roadside crime or to the elements.

"Don’t blame your car," says Rich White, a Car Care Council spokesperson. "It can’t drive itself to the shop and ask for an oil change or new spark plugs.

Considering how dependent we are on our cars, it’s surprising how we take them for granted. An old battery or badly worn tire has its way of forewarning us that it’s going to let us down, but we tend to wait for the inevitable.

"Nearly eighty percent of the thousands of vehicles driven through our check lanes during National Car Care Month fail inspection. Most discrepancies are due to owner neglect and can be corrected at little or no cost."

The Council stresses the value of periodic checkups. This not only helps prevent traffic jams due to mechanical breakdowns, but also ensures the optimum safety and efficiency of our vehicles.

Source: The Car Care Council, www.carcare.org

Teen Drivers, Read This Before Handing Over The Keys

Moms are the ones who usually cart kids around from school to scouts to baseball. More often than not, these women take responsibility for the repair and maintenance of their vehicles. But what happens when the kids grow out of the backseat and into the driver’s seat? Who’s looking after their vehicles?

Automotive preventive maintenance and repair knowledge is like algebra, says the Car Care Council. We’re not born knowing it, it has to be learned. Teach your young drivers the basics about their cars before they get the keys. If you don’t know much about automotive maintenance/ repair, do yourself a favor and learn it along with your kids. Here are a few tips:

     • Explain that all cars, new and old, need regular attention. Make sure your teenager knows and follows the maintenance schedule for his/her car. In addition to making a car safe to drive, preventive maintenance can save thousands of dollars during a lifetime of driving.
     • Don’t overlook the owner’s manual. This is full of information about the car that your young driver may never know unless he/she is familiar with this automotive bible.
     • Make it fun. There are myriad sites on the Internet that are fascinating for young and old drivers, alike. Some have Q & A sections. Let your teen send his/her tough questions to the professionals.
     • It’s probably been a while since they went on a field trip. Take them with you to the repair facility, the tire store, the body shop and wherever you have automotive work performed. Get them accustomed to the automotive world-its people, places, jargon and prices.
     • There are hundreds of books available on this subject. Many are written specifically for non-technical audiences; some are even humorous. Buy a few and make them required reading for the licensing process.
     • Make a plan. What happens if the car breaks down, he/she has a wreck, or the car gets stolen? What if no adults are home to receive the panic call? Whether you want your teenager to call your family repair facility or Aunt Sadie, give them some instruction and put important phone numbers in the glove compartment.

For many parents, driving age is the final frontier. Certainly it is an important rite of passage for teenagers. Don’t let your child pass into this stage of his/her life without being prepared. Take the time and the necessary materials to make your young driver feel competent and secure.

Source: The Car Care Council, www.carcare.org

Oxygen Sensor
EMISSION SYSTEM

What is it?
Your car’s emission system keeps the engine running cleanly and efficiently in all sorts of operating conditions. If your car’s engine isn’t performing up to par or the "Check Engine" light goes on, have it inspected immediately. Failure to do so can reduce your mileage per gallon of fuel or cause your vehicle to pollute.

What does it do?
Your car’s emission system controls the emissions, exhaust and pollutants using an array of sensors, computerized engine controls and the exhaust components. The emission system substantially reduces harmful gases such as carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and prevents harmful gasoline vapors from escaping at the fuel tank.

Typical Wear and Tear
Some factors affecting the emission system include:
     • Driving and atmospheric conditions
     • Mileage
     • Vehicle age
     • Type of spark plug electrode material
     • Maintenance history
     • Poor spark
     • Bad fuel
     • Damaged or worn sensors

Source: The Car Care Council, www.carcare.org

Things People Do to Ruin Their Car
1. Not Using The Parking Brake
It’s a little pedal near your left leg, or a lever on your right. Yes, that mysterious device that you’ve never used is actually valuable. When you park on an incline, or even on fairly steady ground, without using the parking brake, you’re putting all of the stress of the car on your transmission. The only thing inside that transmission holding your car steady is a little pin called a parking pawl. By using the parking brake, you lock up the non-drive wheels as well as the drive wheels and take the stress off of the transmission. It’ll add years of life to your cars transmission. Just remember to disengage it before you start driving again.

2. Not Coming To A Complete Stop Before Shifting
So you’re in a rush, and you pull out of a parking space and shift into drive while the car is still coasting backwards. You’ve just added months of wear to your transmission in seconds. Inside your transmission is a complex set of gears, when you shift without stopping like that, you’re asking those gears to work as your brakes, which puts an amazing amount of stress on such a small area. You can also damage your drive shafts, the things that send power to the wheels, by shifting that way. After a while, it’ll lead to sloppy suspension handling, and a worn out transmission.

3. Riding The Brakes Down A Hill
If you are driving on a hill that goes on for a while, you’ll want to avoid riding the brake the whole time. Alternate between braking and letting off the brake so you don’t heat up and wear out your brake pads. It’s a common mistake, because it feels like the safest way to maneuver down a hill, but if the hill is sufficiently long, you can end up almost totally wearing out your pads, since as they heat up, they wear faster.

4. Forgetting To Change The Oil
You need to change your oil every 5,000 miles at the most. That’s really all there is to it. If you wait until your oil light comes, the oil inside your engine has turned into jet black molasses and is of no use to your engine. In the short term, I suppose it’s not that important, but more frequent changes can actually double the life of your car and greatly increase its performance.

5. Pressure Washing The Engine
Most people want a clean engine. It gets grimy under there and a guy with a pressure washer is a dangerous thing for grime - you want to point it at anything even slightly dirty. But a grimy engine that runs right is better than a clean engine that doesn’t run at all. And if you spray a high powered jet of water around rubber seals and hoses and electrical bits, you’re bound to dislodge something important. A modern engine is a complex thing, all manner of sensors and wiring harnesses and components, and it’s no place for a jet of high pressure water. A regular garden hose is OK if you want to wash it down, just be careful with the high pressure business.

6. Starting Your Car The Wrong Way
It seems simple, but you can make a big difference by turning off your radio, wipers, climate control, all of those accessories, when you start the car. Most of the wear on the engine happens when you start the car, and by turning off those accessories, your engine doesnt have to work as hard when starting.

Another thing people do is revving the engine in the winter. This actually doesn’t help "warm up" the car. Although it does technically make the engine hotter, it’s not the kind of "warming up" that you want. Revving your engine in the winter causes extreme temperature changes right away, which is actually the opposite of what you want. When you start the car, the oil hasn’t yet worked its way through the system, so the engine is working without lubricant. The right way to do it is just let the car sit and idle for about 30 seconds to a minute at the least.

7. Ignoring Your Car’s Sounds
Every sound your car makes means something, if you pay attention, your car can usually tell you exactly what needs fixing. Those squeaking brakes mean you need new pads, and if you ignore that sound, eventually you’ll hear scraping metal, which means you need new rotors, and if you ignore that, you’ll eventually hear the sound of your own scream as you lose your brakes completely and fly off a cliff in a spectacular fireball of death. It’s more common than you think. Listen to your car.

8. Letting The Interior Go
You’re in a rush again, and you eat most of your disgusting egg and cheese bagel, and toss the rest in the wrapper on the passenger seat. Lovely. You know who you are, you’re car is filthy, never been vacuumed, 15 air fresheners hang on the mirror, and yet, no air freshener made by mortal man can stop the sickening wind within your car. You need to clean it. If you don’t vacuum your carpets and clean out the garbage every so often, you’ll develop a smell that is impossible to destroy. I’ve worked in the auto salvage business, and I know that there exist smells that are so obscene, so inhuman, that no shampoo can vanquish them. The only way to stop them is to never let them develop. Clean your car, for the sake of all mankind.

9. Running Your Car Down To Empty
There’s actually a bit of a debate about this one. The old wisdom says if your car gets down to E, the sediment in your tank will get sucked into the system and foul your fuel injectors. Although some mechanics says thats not true. Either way, running down to E does pose other problems. You cut the life of the fuel pump considerably, since the fuel actually cools the pump.



Source: BSPCN.com, Vito Rispo

6 Simple Things to Remember for Stress Free Driving
1. Skip the NASCAR Ride
If you feel the adrenaline rush of putting your pedal to the metal, racing that red light, or riding someone’s bumper, you definitely need to remind yourself to save that behavior for the race track! Chances are, if your adrenaline is pumping you should be on the speedway, not the highway! As an aside, that adrenaline rush can seem harmless, but over time, the impact of the constant "stress response" will add up on your body.

2. You are not in a time machine
How many of us have gotten behind the wheel, determined we can make up for being behind schedule? In truth, we should be getting in the car with time to spare because we cannot predict traffic, weather and the like. Stop seeing your car as the time machine that will make up time lost from being behind schedule. Give yourself a bit of extra time instead of trying to squeeze a trip into unrealistic parameters. You will feel better, more relaxed.

3. No more bumper cars
Leave plenty of room between you and the driver in front of you. This is one of the oldest rules in the book and one of the most important. One of the biggest causes of accidents is tailgating. Teach yourself to practice what we all learned in drivers ed. It could save your life, but guaranteed it will lead to a less stressful ride. Every time you hit those brakes and have a close call, you are doing a number on your car and your stress response system. Why not save your brakes and your body for the real emergency?

4. You are not at home
Nix the cell. Metropolitan areas have begun banning cell phone use while driving. In cities like New York and Chicago, you will get yourself a ticket for chatting while you drive. The research is in. Driver’s reaction times while on cell phones are similar to reaction times of people with high blood alcohol levels. Forget putting on makeup, jotting down notes, or eating. Concentrate on what you are doing instead. Consider the freedom you will feel when the only thing on your mind is driving.

5. Forgive the "Stupid Factor"
You know what I mean. The person in front of you, who doesn’t signal, cuts you off or does all manner of stupid things. Forgive it. Most of us have our own fair share of stupid moves behind the wheel. Let it go and the stress will leave with it. Dont let someone else’s dumb move ruin your day! I have seen people talk about other’s silly car moves all day long! Don’t bother! You have better things for your mind to focus on.

6. Create a peaceful zone in your car
Listen to music or books that relax, not rile you. You can have a scent in the car that is calming. Keep your car clean and organized. This is easy. Clean out your car once a week and bring calming scents or music with you. You will set a more relaxed tone and when you need something, like a napkin for that spilled coffee, it will be at your fingertips.

Driving can be a relaxing and safe environment, when you decide to make a couple of simple changes. Give a couple of these a try and see how it goes. Good luck and drive safely.



Source: Maria Murphy, www.simplyputtogether.com

Be Aware of Tire Wear

While irregular tire wear is a good indication that it might be time to have your tires replaced, did you know that it can also be a warning sign that your vehicle is experiencing steering, alignment or suspension problems? Becoming familiar with these early warning signs is a good preventative maintenance tip that will keep you on the road.

Steering
If your vehicle is pulling to one side, make sure you first check your tire pressure. If your tire pressure is balanced, your steering problems could be due to any of the following: an uneven tire rod length, incorrect toe, unequal camber or caster, or an incorrect center link/rack height. If you are experiencing excessive steering play or hard steering, have your technician check for loose or worn struts, strut mounts, shocks, springs and/or bushings.

Suspension
There are many components within the suspension system of your vehicle. If you are experiencing suspension problems, have your technician check the tire alignment, bearings, bushings, strut rods, springs and/or control arms. Be sure to inspect all suspension components and repair all parts that are worn or damaged. Failure to do so may allow the problem to reoccur and cause premature failure of other suspension components.

Alignment
Leave plenty of room between you and the driver in front of you. This is one of the oldest rules in the book and one of the most important. One of the biggest causes of accidents is tailgating. Teach yourself to practice what we all learned in drivers ed. It could save your life, but guaranteed it will lead to a less stressful ride. Every time you hit those brakes and have a close call, you are doing a number on your car and your stress response system. Why not save your brakes and your body for the real emergency?

Wheel alignment is needed for proper handling and tire wear. Proper wheel alignment keeps the wheels from scuffing, dragging or slipping. It also reduces fuel consumption and strain on steering and suspension parts, and improves steering ability. There are three alignment angles that affect your vehicle; camber, caster and toe.
Camber is the inward or outward tilt of the wheel at the top from a true vehicle line and is measured in degrees. The purpose of this adjustment is to distribute the vehicle load closer to the point of road contact. This makes steering easier and helps prevent excessive tire wear.
Caster is a directional control angle measured in degrees and is the amount that the steering axis tilted from true vertical backward or forward. Caster affects turning ease, straight-line stability and steering wheel returnability.
Toe is the difference between the front and rear of the corresponding tires at spindle height. This is easier to understand when you compare your car's wheels to your own feet. When the fronts of the tires face in toward the car, this is called toe-in. When they face out from the car, this is called toe-out. Incorrect toe will increase tire scrub and wear.



Source: Car Care Council

Secrets to Car Care

What's the secret to better car care? Mary Findley offers tips for keeping your vehicle looking its best.

Wash your vehicle in the morning or evening to avoid water spots. Wash the top first, dry then section-clean your vehicle.

Cotton or 100% lambswool mitts are best for cleaning without scratching. Woolite for clothes or baby shampoo are both very mild and will not damage the gel coat finish on vehicles. Add one-third cup of distilled white vinegar to your bucket of wash water to help prevent water spots.

Clean the windshield wiper blades monthly with sudsy water to prevent them from smearing the windshield, which reduces replacement costs. If they continue to smear after cleaning then it is time to replace them.

Apply a very, very light coat of car wax or RainEx on your clean windshield. This seals the glass making bug removal easier. If your car wax contains petroleum distillates, do not get it on the gaskets around the windshield. Petroleum distillates dissolve rubber causing the windshield to leak. Clean gaskets with a stiff bristled toothbrush. To help with bug removal on the front of your car, apply your "wax" (polish/protectant) twice a month until you have 5 or 6 coats of a protective layer built up. Wax your rear view mirrors as well for easier bug removal. Tires require regular cleaning. Rubber naturally oxidizes with time. Scrub tires four times a year with sudsy water and a brush made for tire cleaning to remove the oxidation. Be sure to use a protective treatment on your tires that will not degrade the rubber some petroleum-based products can damage rubber. Test your vehicle's finish for oxidation twice a year by rubbing a polish and protectant on one spot on your vehicle for several minutes. Any paint that comes off on your rag indicates oxidation problems. If you are applying polish and protectant only once or twice a year, increase that to four times a year.



Source: Car Care Secrets by Mary Findley

Secrets to Car Care

Repel rain from your windshield. Rain, rain, go away. Dump some baking soda on a damp rag and wipe your windshield. It will keep rain from collecting on it.

Fight windshield grime with homemade fluid. Keep your windshield clean with a simple, homemade washer fluid. Just add two tablespoons of liquid detergent, three cups of rubbing alcohol, and enough water to fill a clean gallon milk jug.

Pull the plug on windshield bugs. Splat! Your wind-shield is starting to look like a graveyard for bugs. Get rid of them with some common kitchen items. Squirt a little bit of dish detergent and water on your windshield and scrub it with a mesh onion bag. The mesh wont harm your windshield, but it will scrape off the bugs. When you’re done, wipe the windshield with a clean rag.

’Club’ grease from your windshield. The trunk of your car probably contains several handy items. Here’s one more a bottle of club soda. You can use it to get grease off your windshield.

Shield your wipers from ice. When your windshield wiper blades get grungy, clean them with rubbing alcohol. You’ll get more than just clean wipers you’ll also prevent ice from forming on the blades.

Ward off ice with vinegar. Keep ice off your car during those cold winter months. Before you go to bed, spray a mixture of three parts white vinegar and one part water on your car’s windshield and windows. The next morning, your car should be in the clear.

Stamp out icy windshields. If you hate to see your car’s windshield covered with ice in the morning, cover it with rubber mats before you go to bed. You’ll wake up to an ice-free car.

Patch holes with nail polish. Pebbles and other flying debris can make things rough on your car. You won’t believe what you can use to fix a crack in your windshield or window and you can find it right in your cosmetic bag. To fill small holes in your windshield, simply apply some clear nail polish. It also works for holes in your car’s paint job.

Stamp out fog with shampoo. Your windshield keeps fogging up, and you haven’t the foggiest idea how to fix it. Just keep a bottle of shampoo and a rag in your car. When your windshield fogs up, squirt a few drops of shampoo onto the rag and wipe the inside of your windshield. The fog will roll away.

Wipe out streaks with ammonia. Smears and streaks on your windshield can hamper your ability to see while you drive. Avoid them by keeping your windshield wipers clean. Get rid of the dirt, sap, and grime by rubbing both sides of each wiper with a rag soaked in ammonia.

Steer clear of streaks. Are your windshield wipers doing more harm than good? If your wipers cause streaks, wash them with solution of baking soda and water. You’ll clearly see the difference.

Erase steamy windows. Go back to school to solve a common car problem. If your windows get steamed up, clear them with a chalkboard eraser. You’ll be able to see all the way to the head of the class.

Clear condensation with simple trick. Feeling frustration over condensation? In the winter when condensation forms on the inside of your car windows, turn on the air conditioning along with the heat. Your windows should clear up in no time.

Prevent slams with a tennis ball. Loading up the car for a family trip can be hectic, especially with little children around. Protect little fingers by wedging a tennis ball between the car door and the car. The door will stay open, even if the wind blows or somebody bumps it.



Source: FCA Publishing