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| April 07 Newsletter |
2007-05-15 |
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Car Connection Business Network
April Newsletter
Motormouth here…….
Before we roll out this month’s newsletter we better slow things down just a tad to extend a warm and fuzzy welcome to all of our brand new Car Connection Club Members!
Welcome aboard “newbies” our newsletter is not for the “mechanically squeamish”, so, if you have a bit of a weak stomach better line it with some warm oatmeal before you read on! As for the fuzzy part I think we will leave that up to Axel to take care of. However, I was thinking of some kind of an initiation for all “newbies.” With the warm weather on its way and the distinct smell of spring cleaning wafting in the air, here is what I came up with just for you all! Can you say wax on wax off?!! You guessed correctly, a club house car wash and you are all invited! Of course to clean vehicle’s belonging to The Car Connection Club senior members! Should have signed up sooner! Welcome aboard! We have a lot to discuss regarding spring vehicle maintenance, so enough of the mushy stuff already!
Spring 2007 is well under way right! You wouldn’t know it by the type of weather we’ve been experiencing lately! Sooner or later, the outside temperature is going to swing over to the plus side and stay there for good, and usually what happens is a lot of people get caught by the sudden rising to the mid to high seventies. What I mean by caught is those who have not been maintaining their vehicle properly will suddenly find themselves on the side of the road with the hood up because the engine has become overheated, or there you sit in traffic trying to get to work or home, its hot out and your uncomfortable, so you decide to sooth yourself and bask in the comfort of air conditioning right! You hit the A/C button and nothing happens, no air conditioning! #*!#*#! Right! Now there’s overheating going on and we are not talking about the engine this time!
Having so many years in the automotive repair industry I can tell you that this typical situation happens every year to more and more people. And the ones that always scream the loudest are the ones that do not believe in preventative maintenance, let alone any type of vehicle maintenance what so ever. Owning and operating a motor vehicle simply put, costs money to operate each year. Flying by the seat of your pants in regards to vehicle maintenance only ends up costing you more in needless repairs. Below is a list of items that you should deeply consider if you want to avoid major stress caused by an untimely vehicle breakdown, leaving you just a little hot under the collar, if you know what I mean!
Have the following performed to your vehicle and avoid sitting and waiting for a tow truck:
1) Multipoint Vehicle Inspection. I like to see all of the wheels off to evaluate the breaking system properly! Along with a complete evaluation of your vehicle to determine what is required to be repaired or serviced now, in the near future and in the distant future. This will help you to prepare a budget to have the repairs done in advance. I suggest you request an estimate for the future repairs this way it’s no longer a surprise what it will cost to get your vehicle back on the road. I recommend a multi point vehicle inspection be performed 3 times per year. This way you can plan ahead for repair work and avoid being stranded somewhere on the side of the road.
2) Cooling System Service. A complete evaluation of the cooling system, not just a quick look at the antifreeze level and back on the road, with an all is fine thumbs up! Wrong! A full detailed inspection of belts and hoses, water pump, thermostat operation, cooling fan operation, and blower motor operation. Here are some cooling system service tips that will help prevent you from getting caught in an overheat situation. Thermostats work hard to maintain normal engine temp, they should be replaced every 2 years regardless. There is no accurate way of knowing when they will fail. Belts and all hoses should be replaced every 4 years. Water pumps should be considered to be replaced at every timing belt replacement interval. The cooling system should be completely flushed every 2 years and the appropriate coolant reinstalled according to the manufacturer. Ask to have water pump lubricant installed after every cooling system flushing service.
3) Air conditioning service. Have your A/C system tested once a year to verify that it is performing to manufacturers specifications. Testing the A/C system properly means hooking up a manifold gauge set to the system to verify that the operating pressures meet the manufactures specifications. An accurate thermometer should be placed in the vent closest to the evaporator core, the blower speed on low, and the system set for max A/C to verify that the system can cool the cabin area to the manufacturers spec’s. Conducting proper testing procedures can quite often reveal any potential system failures ahead of time. It is a very good practice to have you’re A/C system completely evacuated and recharged once every 2 years as a preventative maintenance measure. A/C systems are wonderful when they are functioning properly but can end up costing you a bundle when neglected. There are filters in the system that should be replaced on a regular basis to prevent the system from becoming restricted, hindering the flow of the refrigerant. You’re A/C system should always be serviced by a fully qualified licensed A/C system technician. Not every technician is a licensed A/C technician. Watch for my in depth article on A/C system operating tips in the upcoming months as a feature article on our web site! For now use this info to keep you’re A/C system operating to its fullest potential. Beware of the “cheapie” A/C performance tests out there they are mainly a money grab and are quite often just a waste of time and money!
4) Cabin Air Filters. Find out if your vehicle is equipped with one, and if so, get it replaced. Some cabin filters are expensive, however, there are two very good
reason’s to have the filter replaced. Cabin air filters remove dust, pollen and bacteria from the air entering the cabin area. When the filter becomes restricted with contamination you end up breathing in high levels of concentrated bacteria, this in turn can pose serious health risks to those breathing in the contaminated air. The other reason is that a restricted cabin filter will cause the windings in the blower fan motor to become overheated shortening the lifespan of the blower motor itself. Keep in mind that some blower motors are in excess of $400.00 just for the part! Cabin filters play a very important role in providing proper air circulation in the heating and ventilation system of your vehicle. It is not much different from the filter that is inside your house furnace. In short, just get the filter replaced, it is well worth it trust me! Some are not too friendly to access and there are a lot of technicians that truly dislike the task of changing them. Remember, you’re the boss and you’re paying the bill.
5) Wiper blades. Have them inspected. If they are not able to clear the window properly without streaking it’s time to replace them. Wiper blades should be replaced a minimum of every 6 months. You can get more mileage out of your blades by simply taking the time to clean the edge of the blade using a soft cloth or paper towel and either washer fluid or rubbing alcohol. Stroke the edge of the blade a few times clearing away road film that builds up on the edge of the blade. Wipers are cheap compared to damaging a windshield from a worn out wiper blade, or getting into, or causing an accident because of poor visibility. Maintaining visibility promotes safe driving.
6) Tires. Have your tires inspected for wear it’s time to find out if new tires are going to be required before the summer vacations start along with the extra summer tootling around! PS don’t forget about the condition of the spare tire. All tire pressures should be checked regularly. It is suggested that once a month tire pressures be checked and adjusted to the rated pressures written on the side of the tires themselves. When in doubt leave it to the professionals to check the pressures for you. I recommend learning how to check tire pressures yourself, so
You know how to do it if you had to!
7) Fluids. Inspect and maintain all fluid levels weekly. Get in the habit of checking your vehicles fluid levels at least once per week and top-up as needed, using the appropriate fluid referred by the manufacturer. On long trips always check the engine oil level at the time of refueling as well as the cooling system level. Check with your owner’s manual on how to check your cooling system properly.
Remember folks when it comes to vehicle maintenance, if your not sure, ask someone who is qualified to give you correct, sound advice. That’s all I have for you for this month, till next month, drive safe, have fun and keep it under 100!
Motormouth.
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