You and Your Car: A Woman's Primer - Brakes, Fluids, and Things That Light Up

By Vivi Loob

Organization and Preparedness - Proactive Maintenance - Fluids and Lights

Care for Your Brakes

Nothing beats a regular inspection for heading off dangerous braking problems, so include one as part of your regular maintenance visits. This is made even more important when you realize that by the time you know something is wrong with your brakes, it's generally too late. Here are a few things to look for, and what to do if they happen to you.

• If you hear the sound of grinding metal when you brake, pull the car over immediately and have it towed to a garage - you really are grinding metal against metal. The brake pads or shoes are completely worn away and need replacing. If you continue to drive you will do even more damage to the rotors and drums.
• Take your car to a garage if you feel it pulling to one side when braking. It could mean a loss of hydraulics on that side, or you have a sticky brake. Pulsing when you brake at high speeds may mean the rotors are warped, and if you hear the brakes squeak when stopping at low speeds you might need new brake pads, or the rotors could require maintenance.
• Should the dashboard brake light come on, do not continue to drive. A problem has developed and you need to get off the road as soon as possible. Remember that the dashboard brake light won't come on to warn you when something like your brake pads are worn, but it will if you are low on brake fluid.

All the Fluids Your Car Can Drink

Under ideal circumstances, the only two fluids in your car that need continuous replacing are washer fluid and gas. All other fluids exist in closed systems, so if you find their levels decreasing, there is a good chance you have a leak.

You can check for leaks a number of ways, but the easiest is to take a look for puddles on the ground under the car, or look for hanging drips on the undercarriage. If you still aren't sure, put down some clean paper or cardboard and leave it there over night. If there are drips, you have a leak.

Depending on the color or consistency of the fluid, you can usually tell what is leaking. Green is coolant, dark and greasy is engine oil, yellow/clear and slick is brake fluid, and if it's red, it came from your transmission. If it smells like gas, it is gas and you shouldn't start your car until a mechanic determines that it's safe to do so.

All Lit Up

Depending on the make of your car, there is any number of warning lights that could appear on your dashboard. Some of the common warning lights are "engine," "check engine," "oil," "brake," and "alternator." The problem is, because of limited space, these warning lights can mean any number of things. This makes checking the owner's manual for specific information on each a priority.

Ignoring a warning light could lead to even more costly repairs than had you gone directly to a mechanic. If you are close to your local garage when a light appears, your best bet is to have it checked immediately. If you are a distance away, play it safe and call for a tow.

And while we are on the topic of lights, there is an easy way to determine if one of your turn-signals is malfunctioning. If the audible clicking you normally hear while using a turn-signal sounds twice as fast as it normally would, then either the front or rear signal on that side isn't working. This could be something as simple as a burnt out bulb, or a short in the circuit.

Drive safely.

Organization and Preparedness - Proactive Maintenance - Fluids and Lights

Courtesy of Doityourself.com