You might need some help with your transmission repair, but you can do the maintenance yourself, and your transmission will last longer.
Step by Step: Transmission Fluid Check Instructions
2 Comments
Do you remember how fun it was to wash your car? Why do you think the cheerleaders always had car wash fundraisers?
1. Do: Choose the Right SoapOne of the most oft-repeated, old-school car wash tips is to use dish detergent for maximum cleaning power — but this also happens to be perhaps the worst advice you could take when cleaning your vehicle. Dish soap is great for dishes, because it’s formulated to cut through grease, but those same strong chemicals and detergents will not only strip the wax off of your car, but also dull the finish of your paint and trim. Always use a soap that has been formulated specifically for cars—unless you are intentionally removing wax in order to reapply a fresh coat.
2. Don’t: Let Anything Touch the GroundDid you drop your wash mitt, drying cloth or detailing rag? It’s done. Forget about it. Walk away. Well, maybe not that last one, but definitely don’t use it again during this wash session. The small particles of dirt and grime it picked up after being in contact with the ground mean it’s guaranteed to scratch and spiderweb your paint should you use it before thoroughly machine-washing it. For this reason, it’s helpful to keep a supply of extra towels and a mitt or two handy to use should you accidentally drop anything while washing. 3. Do: Use Two Buckets or Rinse CarefullyIn keeping with the same theme, you’ll want to rinse your mitt off in between every dip into the suds bucket to clean off the dirt you just removed from your car. Ideally, you should have two buckets at the ready — one for rinsing your mitt and one for getting a fresh batch of clean, sudsy soap on your mitt to use on the car. This is one of the best ways to ensure that you don’t accidentally scratch the paint while washing your car. 4. Don’t: Wash in Direct SunlightMost professionals caution against washing your car on a bright, sunny day, because one of the keys to a proper car cleaning is keeping it wet until it’s time for it to be properly and thoroughly dried. If the metal is hot, the water, and even the soap, will dry up quickly because of the sun, which will leave spots all over the paint and glass. Keeping the car wet with a light drizzle of water, parking in the shade, or washing in the early evening will prevent spots from forming. It’s also important to rinse with an indirect spray instead of a jet blast of water. 5. Do: Use a Microfiber Drying TowelHousehold towels made of cotton or polyester are simply too abrasive to be safely used on your car’s paint. A microfiber drying towel is softer and more absorbent, which will protect your finish and get the drying job done much faster. Make sure to take the necessary precautions so your car wash leaves your ride shining — not scratched or spotted. Doing your own oil change is easy. Since it has to be done several times a year for most driver, you can quickly get quite good at it. Think of all the money you'll save.
“Change your car’s engine oil every three months, or 3,000 miles.”
At one time, that was standard auto advice. That same advice now feels as outdated as car cassette players and road atlases in your glove compartment. Many cars today can drive 5,000, 7,500 and even 10,000 miles between oil changes. According to research by Edmunds, most carmakers now recommend oil changes between 7,500 and 10,000 miles, although some specify 5,000-mile intervals. The type of engine oil, the age and make of your vehicle and driving habits dictate when to change engine oil. According to Ford Motor Company, drivers with typical driving habits that own 2008 and newer models should change their engine oil every 7,500 miles or six months, or whichever comes first. Meanwhile, drivers should change the oil in vehicles 2007 and older every 5,000 miles or six months, or whichever comes first. Drivers with less typical driving habits should change engine oil every 5,000 miles or six months for vehicles 2008 and newer, and every 3,000 miles or three months for cars 2007 and older. According to Ford, less typical driving habits include frequent off-road driving or driving in dusty conditions, towing or carrying heavy loads, excessive idling or driving at low speeds for long distances.
The tires are the only thing between the vehicle and the road. When they are properly inflated and in good condition, the handling, stability and safety of the vehicle will be maximized. Conversely, when the tires are under inflated, worn out or damaged, all of the safety systems on the vehicle cannot overcome the loss of control that comes with a blow-out or hydroplaning situation. Air pressure in a tire is like oil in an engine; when it is low, the resulting internal damage is unseen until it is too late. Tires naturally lose 1-2 psi per month, so ongoing neglect will eventually result in a tire that cannot support the weight of the vehicle and the occupants. When this happens, the resulting blow-out can result in the loss of control and an accident.
It’s also important to rotate the tires on the vehicle every 5-7,000 miles. Today’s front-wheel-drive vehicles cause the steer tires to wear at a much faster rate than the tires on the rear axle. By periodically rotating the front tires to the back and the back tires to the front, motorists can achieve even treadwear on all four tires and increase the mileage and performance. Failing to rotate the tires often results in the front tires wearing out faster while the rear tires develop irregular treadwear patterns that cause vibrations. The same can be said for alignments. When the vehicle is not properly aligned, the tires will wear out faster which leads to increased operating costs. Finally, drivers should perform a visual inspection of their tires on a regular basis, especially after hitting a pothole, curb or any type of road debris. Bulges, cuts and other visible damage weaken the internal components of the tire, which can lead to a blow-out. Regular visual inspections will often identify any potential problems before they result in an accident. It’s also a good idea to have the tires inspected by a professional before any long road trips to ensure there are no obvious out-of-service conditions that must be addressed. You have to go to the smog check shop to get your official test, but you can DIY ahead of time to make sure you'll pass!
Owning a car is part of the way of life in California. What fun is living in SoCal without driving to the Pacific Coast Highway once in a while? But keeping your car in good working order is critical. Thanks to California’s car emissions testing laws, it’s mandatory.
What is Car Emissions Testing & What's a Smog Check? A vehicle that burns gas or diesel has emissions – that’s why the tailpipe is there. Unfortunately, gas engines just don’t burn totally clean, and neither do diesels. Chemical compounds are the result of the combustion process – mainly hydrocarbons, nitrous oxides, carbon monoxide, and other volatile organic compounds. These are the concentrated components of vehicle smog. Did You Know?The Golden state takes it's SMOG regulations serious. If you’re vehicle did not meet their standards then, your car will not be allowed to drive on the streets. Odds are that this vehicle has outlived its life cycle and will cost you a fortune to get it back in roadworthy conditions. Your car emissions system was developed to reduce the impact on the environment. These pollutants are treated before they leave your vehicle’s exhaust, turning most of them into harmless elements like carbon dioxide and water. Typical components in your car emissions system are:
How a Vehicle Smog Check Works To accurately complete your vehicle testing for emissions-related issues, the testing facility has a few things to do. They have to:
How Often Do I Need a Smog Test?In California, most counties require mandatory smog checks every two years. If you drive a vehicle that’s six years old or less, you’ve gotten lucky. You won’t need your car emissions test until it reaches six years of age.
Three Easy Repairs You Can DIY
Replace Fuel Filter Fuel filters are recommended to be replaced at regular intervals, which generally can range anywhere from 10,000 miles and up. A dirty filter left overtime will reduce your vehicle's reliability and efficiency, so it is important to try to keep up with this maintenance schedule as much as possible. The steps are as simple as disconnecting the battery, releasing the fuel line pressure (especially important for fuel injected vehicles), disconnect fuel line from filter, remove old filter, replace washers, install new filter, double check previous steps, then start vehicle and look for any leaks. Check with your local government to see if they have a fuel filter recycling program available, so you can properly dispose of your old filter. Replace Spark Plugs Another important maintenance job to keep your vehicle running mean and green is to change your spark plugs regularly. What happens over time is the metal on the electrodes can wear away and become coated with carbon deposits. This will effect the ability of the plug to ignite the fuel/air mixture and therefore reduce your overall vehicles efficiency. In general most experts will tell you that most specialty plugs are not worth their price as far as fulfilling their promised power increase and/or fuel savings. There are a number of them out there, such as the E3 and Halo plug. If in doubt, just use the same plugs that originally came with the vehicle. Installation is as simple as removing the ignition wires from the old spark plugs, removing plugs with a socket wrench, installing new plugs, then coating the inside of the ignition wire boots with a little dielectric grease for a good seal before snapping them onto the new plugs. Windshield Wiper Repair Not that I want to put all those windshield replacement or repair shops out of business, but repairing a windshield with a do-it-yourself home kit can be a very easy and effective process. It is important to note that star chips with minimal to no cracks is the best candidate for this repair. To accomplish this project, all you need is a do-it-yourself windshield repair kit from an auto parts store or equivalent. Clean a 12 inch square area around the damage with a glass cleaner, then take a razor blade and smooth out the surface of all defects, making sure to pick out any loose pieces of glass found inside the chip. Most kits will have a plunger apparatus to inject the adhesive into the windshield, then all you have to do is allow the tool to do the rest of the work. One bit of advice is not to perform this project in the hot sun, as the adhesive will try too quickly to leave a clear finish. |