Safety First:
Due to the complex nature of today’s vehicles, it is
essential that you use the utmost care when working on your car or
truck. Before attempting any service or repair, consult your owner’s
manual. Be sure you understand the service procedure completely, have
the proper tools, and adhere to all safety precautions, including
handling instructions for any chemicals you are using. If you are
unsure about any repair, consult a professional technician.
Scheduled Preventive Maintenance
Reading your vehicle's owner's manual is the first step
in becoming an informed consumer. The manual explains how your car
works, and provides you with a detailed recommended maintenance
schedule specifically for your vehicle's make and model. If you don't
have an owner's manual, you can buy one from a car dealership that
sells your type of vehicle. Call the parts department and ask them to
order one for you. Keep the manual in your glove compartment for quick
reference. It is the definitive source of maintenance information for
your vehicle.
You can determine your maintenance needs by paying attention to how
and where you drive your vehicle. Automobile manufacturers divide
driving maintenance requirements into two categories: "normal" and
"severe." Follow the maintenance schedule that fits your driving
habits.
Normal driving conditions: Highway driving on paved roads in
relatively dust-free areas. (Dust clogs up your air filter and PCV
filter).
Severe driving conditions:
---Trips less than 10 miles
---Stop-and-go city driving
---Driving in extremely cold weather
---Dusty driving conditions
---Towing a trailer
---Idling for long periods
By spending a moderate amount of money following your vehicle's
maintenance schedule, you will save money on repairing and replacing
prematurely worn parts. You will also save money on fuel consumption
when your car is running properly. There are some maintenance tasks
you can do yourself, like inspecting your tires, and belts and hoses.
Tune-Ups
Is an engine tune-up a thing of the past? After all, modern engines
have no points and condenser to replace, no carburetor to adjust and
spark timing is controlled by the car's computer. Most cars now even
have direct ignition that replaces the distributor.
Is a tune-up necessary anymore? Well, yes. But the procedure is
different. About every 30,000 miles, you should take your car to a
service facility for an "engine inspection" and "computer scan". With
an "engine inspection", a service technician will check all the engine
functions by hooking it up to a diagnostic analyzer. This computerized
piece of equipment reveals problems in the ignition, fuel and
emissions systems, and allows the technician to return the engine to
factory specifications.
At this point, they may replace the spark plugs or other parts as
found faulty. Beware however, the technician may find only one or two
components from a set to be faulty (such as spark plugs or ignition
wires), therefore only replacing the ones found bad.
Save yourself a future headache and be certain to replace components
like these as a set, being that they're all the same age and all have
the same amount of wear. Think about it, would you buy a new left shoe
and not the right? And as with anything that is mass produced,
replacement parts for your car can be bad right out of the factory.
Just about every technician can attest to this, so never take for
granted that just because something is "new" means it will always be
"good".
Electronic sensors in your engine and exhaust system can wear out too,
so they also need to be checked. By "scanning" your car's computer, in
addition to a "tune-up", you can spot faulty sensors and other mis-adjustments
which can reduce gas mileage, cause running or idling problems and
increase emissions.
However, not all cars with on-board computers are capable of being
"scanned". Many of the models in the mid to late 1980's were not
programmed to divulge this type of information while being scanned,
therefore the electronic sensors for these vehicles need to be checked
manually. A properly trained technician will know how to determine the
condition of your car's computer and sensors.
Don't be fooled by big fancy shops with elaborate machines, because a
repair facility is only as good as its technicians. While certain
equipment is a must, in this day and age of the high tech, computer
controlled car, trained and certified technicians are the thing to
look for when seeking a repair facility to conduct this kind of
service. These grand diagnostic machines are only a tool for the
technician to use while servicing your car, but they will do you no
good if the technician doesn't know what to do with it.
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