You Don't Have to Be a Rocket Scientist to Work on Your Car

By J. A. Young

Of course, it doesn’t hurt if you have an automotive tool collection and know a bit about automotive shop. While fixing many car issues may be best approached with a professional, do-it-yourselfers can certainly learn to check the various systems of their car to perform troubleshooting basics and diagnose car problems. Since many car problems can be prevented by good routine maintenance, checking under the hood is an essential component to the health and well-being of your vehicle.

Start with your auto’s belts. These components keep the fan, alternator and other accessories in working order. Often they can become loose. Using your finger, if you can pull the belt so that is gives more than a half inch, it needs adjusting. Frayed or cracked belts should be replaced.

A clean and well-filled battery should last the car for a considerable while. The battery is essential car gear—it provides the electricity of various car parts to work, or rather, get up and go. To keep your battery in working order, keep it clean by removing any cruddy deposits. Be sure to replace any damaged clamps or cables or they might damage other components like car computers.

Checking hoses is an easy enough procedure. Simply give each hose a squeeze. If it feels brittle or is leaking and mushy, replace it. Hoses are not expensive, but it’s a good idea to replace them before they break and cause problems while you’re en route.

When checking the radiator, be sure you looking at a cool engine. The radiator is the mechanism that actually does the cooling for the engine and it requires a checking of coolant and water. The radiator can be given a half and half mixture of coolant and water to top it off. The radiator requires some refilling if you cannot see any fluid through the cap’s hole or it is more than an inch from the top.

The best time to check your car’s oil, the engine’s lifeblood, is in the morning. You should always wait to check the dipstick at least ten minutes upon turning off the car. Simply pull out the dipstick and wipe it clean. Then, re-dip and pull out again. If the oil is below the line where it should be, it needs to be refilled—and possibly changed. Oil should be changed every three thousand miles or every three months, generally-speaking. Some manufactures suggest a change of oil every month.

Keeping an appropriate level of brake fluid is essential for your car’s ability to stop when you want it to; in other words, it’s essential for safety. Top check the brake fluid, open the hood. In front of the vacuum brake booster (driver’s side) is the brake fluid reservoir which site atop master brake cylinder. This is usually plastic, but older cars sport a metal canister. Check your car’s manual before attempting this—some instructions require a specific type of inspection. Generally speaking, pump the brakes about twenty times. Then open the cap and check the levels which should be marked by high and low level indications. Fill to the appropriate line.

These are some important car checks, but it’s also necessary to check tires, transmission fluid, windshield wipers and your car’s wiring. These regular checks can prevent major hassles and considerable frustration. While auto body shops can provide these checks too—they’ll charge. If you perform this work yourself, you’re in for a considerable savings.

© Doityourself.com 2006