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| May 2007 newsletter |
2007-10-26 |
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Quick Car Care Tips
Motormouth here,
Welcome aboard to all of our new Car Connection Club Members. Group Hug!!! I don’t think so. Not this time anyway, try again another time “newbie’s”, the group hug thing doesn’t work for us senior club members. However we do have a very special initiation cooked up just four our “newbie’s”. All of our senior club members got together to think of way that we could help new members get in shape and stay in shape all summer long, and contribute to the environment in a positive way. Are you ready for this one? We are assembling a grass cutting Olympic team and all newbie’s have been volunteered to join. Just think; the environment will look so much better!!! All of the senior club members have graciously set aside their grass cutting time in order to help the newbie’s with their practice sessions. Isn’t it nice of them to offer up their lawns to benefit the newbie’s? So “newbie’s”, start your engines.
I have a number of car care tips to help get your vehicle through the hot summer months allowing you to keep your cool and prevent you from blowing a gasket, if you know what I mean. Our newsletter, once again is not for the mechanically squeamish, we give you all the gory details.
With summer on its way and our first long weekend (Victoria Day in Canada) only days away, the experts are predicting a long hot, hot, hot summer. Is your vehicle ready to handle the extremely hot temperatures? If you’re not sure, now is the time to step up to the plate with maintenance, or you just may find yourself on the side of the road with your hood, up and enough steam coming out of the engine compartment to cook clams!
MOTORMOUTH QUICK CAR CARE TIPS RECAP
• Fluids: Engine oil, transmission oil, power steering fluid, brake fluid, differential oil, and engine coolant should all be inspected and replaced as suggested by the manufacturer. Fluids are inexpensive to replace compared to the components that they are protecting against wear and tear.
• Wipers/wash ers: A simple task but often forgotten. Have the wipers also inspected to see if the “squeegie” portion of the wiper is in good shape and does not show signs of tearing. If your wipers streak when they swipe the windshield, then it is time to replace them. A damaged wiper blade can cause significant and irreparable damage to a windshield, and that gets expensive if you have to replace it. Have your washer fluid changed over to the “summer juice”, it is designed to deal with bug splatter. Having a clear view of the road helps us all remain safer on our highways this summer.
• Tires: Now is a great time to have the condition of your tires evaluated, including the spare. Questionable tires should be replaced immediately. Mismatching tires should be avoided; ideally all tires should match in order for the vehicle to handle as the manufacturer i ntended it to. Have your technician verify all wheel nuts are torqued to manufacturer’s specs. Tire pressures should be adjusted to the specs written on the sidewall of the tires. Remember folks, if you’re going to be hauling a trailer of some type along with lots of cargo, tire pressures should be adjusted to meet the tire manufacturer’s maximum pressure specs. Let’s not forget to check the condition and tire pressure in the spare as well. Have your technician verify that all the necessary equipment is in the vehicle to install the spare if needed. It’s always good to review your service manual instructions for installing the spare tire, just in case you have to do it. Verify that your auto club membership is valid in case you require any kind of road side assistance.
• Filters: Cabin, Engine, Crankcase and Fuel. A plugged of partially plugged engine air filter or crankcase filter prevents the engine from breathing and cooling properly. Needless to say, fuel economy is hindered. Picture trying to breathe deeply with a pillow over your face, it would be difficult to get your breath. Your vehicles engine feels exactly the same way if the filters are dirty or clogged. Cabin air filters are also very important, they can become plugged with dirt, not too mention super concentrated levels of bacteria and pollens. The cabin air filter filters all the air entering the cabin area of the vehicle. A plugged or restricted cabin filter places a lot of stress on the electrical windings of the blower motor, causing the blower motor to operate too hot, thus, shortening its life span. For those who suffer from hay fever, asthma and other breathing disorders, a contaminated and plugged cabin filter is very bad news. Picture this, it’s the Friday of a lon g weekend, its 5:00 p.m. and you’re sitting on the 401/I-90 in the middle of a traffic jam. You’re in your car with the windows up and the A/C on just enjoying (and breathing) that nice cool air that is being filtered through your already overloaded cabin filter!! Hmmm, sounds like a nice way to start the weekend doesn’t it?
• Fuel Filter: The fuel filter should be replaced twice a year to prevent needless breakdowns due to poor fuel delivery to the engine. Hint: a lot of drivability issues are caused by a poorly maintained fuel system. If the engine is unable to get fuel, car no go. Avoid being left of the side of the road due to a plugged fuel filter. There really is no way of knowing ahead of time, when the fuel filter is becoming overloaded with debris. Fuel filters are not just filters, they are fuel purifiers. A plugged or partially pl ugged fuel filter puts a lot of stress on the electrical fuel pump located inside of the fuel tank on most vehicles. And, yes folks fuel pumps are more expensive to replace than fuel filter. Replacing a fuel pump can exceed $800.00 for parts and labor.
• Transmission service: Having to have your transmission replaced due to lack of maintenance can end up costing you a small fortune. With all the electronics built into today’s transmissions, servicing them is even more critical. Thought: the average transmission costs approximately $3000.00 to rebuild; it is less costly to have the oil and filter replaced regularly. Consult your owner’s manual to determine the service internal for your make and model, or you can call the dealership’s service department to ask when your transmission is due for service. There are also transmission specialists on o ur web site that would be glad to give you guidance regarding your transmission. Tune in to Car Connection Saturday May 26, 2007 for our Transmission Clinic. Neglect can cost you a lot of money.
• Towing: If you are going to be using your vehicle this summer for towing or carrying heavy loads, you might just want to consult with one of our transmission professionals, as to whether or not your vehicle should have an addition transmission cooler installed. This will help to avoid overheating the transmission oil, resulting in internal transmission damage. Ask our professionals for tips on towing in regards to the make and model you are driving. It’s cheaper to ask before hand than pay the price for a failed transmission.
• Air Condition Tip #1: An A/C system that is not working and left in t hat condition for a short period of time, generally, costs more to repair. The reason for this is that, if a leak has occurred in the system allowing the refrigerant to escape, it also means that there is a point of entry for air to enter in. Air carries moisture resulting in corrosion building up on the internal workings of the system. The longer the system stands empty, the worse it is to get it running again, with out major complications that end up costing you a lot of money. The A/C system does require annual maintenance that can be performed by an air conditioning specialist. Visit our website for our recommended repair shops that provide A/C system services. If you’re A/C system has failed, and having it in your vehicle is important to you, have the system diagnosed and repaired immediately to avoid other costly repairs later. There are a lot of connections and component that make up you’re A/C system, creating a lot of opport unity for refrigerant leakage to occur. With this in mind, just because one or two leak points get repaired doesn’t mean that the system will remain leak free indefinitely. Leaks can develop over time else where in the system. Having dye placed in the A/C system helps the technician verify his/her repair work and makes it easier to locate leak points later on down the road.
• Air Conditioning tip #2: The A/C system on any vehicle, when engaged, places a major strain on the engine taking ways 15-25 % of its horse power. If your engine’s cooling system is in poor condition, running the air conditioning system can very easily place your engine into a serious over heat situation. Have your vehicle’s cooling system thoroughly inspected, and repaired, if needed before using the A/C in the hot summer temperatures. After all, who wants to sit on the side of the road on a hot humid day waiting for a tow truck, right?
Next months newsletters will have more A/C tips, to help you keep your cool when it’s hot enough to fry eggs.
Remember this folks, “Vehicle maintenance doesn’t cost…it pays, by giving you a vehicle that is reliable and maintains its value.”
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