Basic Repair Items to Keep in Your Car

It can happen to anyone at any time.  You’re moving along just fine down the road, and suddenly you need to pull over because your car is giving you problems.  You know what’s wrong and you know how to fix it, but you didn’t put the required items in your car.

It’s important to always be prepared for the unexpected with your car.  By having just a few items that take up very little room in your trunk or a storage compartment, you can rest at ease knowing that you may have the ability to get back on the road in a timely manner.

Become a Handy Man with a Tool Box

You can go out to any big box retail store, home improvement or auto parts store and purchase a pre-assembled mechanic’s tool set that you can leave in your car.  These sets usually include one or two ratchets, sockets, Phillips and flathead screw drivers, wrenches, a ratchet extension and a spark plug socket.  Once you have your tool set purchased, you may want to consider getting some mechanic’s gloves to protect your hands if you ever do need to do a quick roadside repair.  You also want to include a wire brush, a rag and duct tape.  How you may use some of these items is to tighten a loose hose clamp with a screwdriver or you can use the duct tape to patch a hole in a hose as a temporary fix.  The wire brush would be used to clean off your battery terminals from corrosion that you found by using a ratchet and a socket from removing the wire from the terminal.

Get a Flashlight and a Knife

These two items can easily go into your glove compartment or center console.  Other than giving you the ability to see a potential problem easier, you can also use it to flag down or warn any other people on the road.  You can use the knife a few different ways to help you.  One way you can use the knife may be to cut a hose to length or remove a damaged end on a hose to make the necessary repair.  You can also use it to cut the duct tape or a rag to patch a hole.  The other way you can use a knife is to cut the seatbelt away from you.  Sometimes, if you were to get into a rollover accident, the seatbelt may not disengage when you press the release button.  By using the knife, you can free yourself and get to safety.  You can also purchase a flashlight-seatbelt cutter-window spike combo to cut down on compartment space.

Vehicle Pick Me Up’s

Some of the more crucial items you want to keep in your vehicle are jumper cables and spare fluids.  There may be a time when you need to jumpstart your car and a willing citizen can help you, but doesn’t have any jumper cables.  If you ever need to use jumper cables, but don’t know how, it’s an easy process.  Put the red clamp to the red terminal and the black clamp to the black terminal.  Just make sure to connect the clamps to the car that is providing the power boost first, then connect your battery.  The spare fluids you want to keep in your vehicle at all times is a quart or two of oil, antifreeze or engine coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid and power steering fluid.  You can also leave a gallon of windshield washer fluid, but isn’t necessary.  If you were to spring a leak somewhere, and you’re able to make the repair, you’ll be able to top off the said fluid and get on your way.

Visual Vehicle Checks

Nearly everyone depends on their vehicle on a daily basis. This is why it is important to perform a routine checkup between trips to your mechanic. By doing so you are able to identify and repair problems before they worsen, which will help your vehicle last longer and perform at its best.  Some of your vehicle’s issues can be seen visually, which is why you should take a glimpse around the interior and exterior of your vehicle and note anything that looks out of the ordinary. You should begin by looking at the windshield for any chips or cracks, as well as making sure your interior mirrors are positioned in a spot that you are able to see in front and rear of your vehicle properly. Be sure to check your tire tread for any bumps, holes, cracks or unevenness, which can lead to a flat tire. Your windshield wipers should similarly be checked for any wear and improper functioning. In addition, check to make sure your seatbelts are working and clicking into place properly. Visual inspections are simple, do not take too much time and are a great way to notice any of your vehicle’s glitches.

Brakes and Steering Checks

Another part of your safety inspection that you should have our technicians check are your brakes. If your brake pedal is pressed all the way to the floorboard to stop, this typically indicates that they might need replacing. Listen for any grinding or shaking when trying to stop. Likewise, this can also signify you might need a new set of brakes. Your steering wheel is important too. Make sure your steering wheel has a smooth turning motion.

Light Checks

While starting your vehicle look for any lights on the dashboard that may indicate things such as low fuel, coolant or oil. Most cars will have an indicator light telling you when something under the hood needs to be attended to and those signs should not go ignored. Take a look at your headlights low and high beams for any broken bulbs as well as your taillights and signals. Not having your vehicle’s lights working properly can cause other drivers to not see you, especially in hazardous weather conditions such as fog. By doing an inspection of your lights you are saving yourself and others from a probable accident factor. 

Under the Hood and Under the Vehicle Checks

By checking under the hood and under your vehicle, you are able to check for small problems that could lead to a great deal of damage for your vehicle. Have our technicians check your car engine’s lines and hoses for holes and cracks.  The under part of your vehicle can also be checked for any leaks. See if all belts and spark plugs are free of crakes and wear.  Make sure that all filters are in proper place. Most importantly, check all fluids to make sure they are at their proper levels. Being too low of fluids can cause serious problems for your vehicle like overheating. Have our technicians make sure the muffler is securely fit and check for holes in the exhaust pipe. By taking a few minutes checking your vehicle over, you ensure driving safety as well as keep your vehicle running safely. 

Winter and Your Suspension System

Suspension systems are important because they provide a comfortable ride and stability on the road by absorbing the vibrations from the imperfections in the pavement. In its most basic form, it is comprised of two systems: springs and shock absorbers. Springs can be coil springs, torsion bars, or leaf springs. Coil springs are the most common in American cars. Shock absorbers provide insulation from the vertical motion that occurs when driving on imperfect surfaces. Winter can be cruel to your car and the suspension system is not immune. Taking care of your car will prevent any major car repairs and let you enjoy a comfortable ride.

How Winter Affects Your Suspension

The winter weather can affect your suspension by affecting the road on which you drive. When the temperature drops to freezing and below, the ground begins to freeze. The freezing causes cracks in the surface. As the ground contracts from the cold and creates the holes, water freezes in those cracks. The thawing and freezing cycles make the cracks and potholes wider and more numerous. These imperfections create a rough surface over which to drive. If the potholes are very large, they can cause the shock absorber to bottom out prematurely. The steering and suspension are compromised and the wheel alignment will be affected. Winter can also cause damage to over- or underinflated tires. Incorrect tire pressure can lead to damaged rims and ruptured tires when driving over potholes. If the tire alignment is compromised, you will not be able to completely control the car. If you hit a pothole hard enough, you can even cause damage to the undercarriage of your car because the suspension will not be able to dampen such a large jolt and the bottom of the car will actually hit the ground. 

Preparing Your Car for the Winter

You should make sure that you have a thorough inspection of your car by qualified ASE master technicians. They can perform a bumper-to-bumper inspection and alert you to any possible problems. They can let you know if you need to have a tire alignment, perform fluid checks, and even windshield wiper replacements. They can give you recommendations on when to perform general car maintenance and explain when those tasks need to be done. For your suspension system, they will check tire alignment, tire pressure, and make sure that your steering and suspension is going to be able to handle winter driving conditions. They can check your brakes, brake pads, and replace any worn or damaged parts. 

Driving in Winter Weather

One of the most important things you can do for your car in the winter is to slow down. Snow and ice on the road creates a dangerous situation as they reduce traction between your tires and the road. If you drive fast over ice, your tires will lose contact with the ground and you will hydroplane. In other words, your car will be propelled down the road with the tires not touching the ground. Drive slowly and give the car in front of you plenty of space to give you enough time to stop. Careful driving and proper general car maintenance will make sure that your suspension system will keep you safe and comfortable on the road. 

Diagnosing the Causes of Overheating in the Winter

The winter can be a wonderland or a purgatory, depending on the condition of your car. It can be scary to drive along and suddenly see white smoke billowing from underneath your hood. You look at your temperature gauge and see that the needle is in the red zone. Your car is overheating and with the cold weather, it seems like an almost impossibility. However, overheating in the winter is just as real as overheating in the summer. You should know what causes overheating and how to prevent it. You could save the life of your car and the money in your wallet by proactively managing the care of your car. 

What Can Cause Overheating?

If you notice your car is overheating, the first thing you should inspect is your coolant level. If you have a low coolant level, top it off. If you find that you need to do this frequently, then you may have a leak in you radiator. Be sure to take your car to a mechanic so that the leak can be detected and repaired. If you do not find any leaks, the next thing you should check is the thermostat. If it is stuck in the closed position, which means that the coolants cannot circulate through the radiator. You should also check the radiator fan to make sure that it is still operating. If you do not hear the fan turning when you raise the car hood and start the car, then it is possible that the fan is not working. You should also check the radiator hose to make sure there are no holes and that the gasket is intact. 

How to Prevent Overheating

You can prevent overheating by making sure that you have enough antifreeze in your car. A general safety inspection will help you to monitor the condition of your radiator and its hoses, clamps, and gaskets. If any of those parts appear to be worn or damaged, they should be replaced immediately. Regular general car maintenance will keep you abreast of the condition of your car and let you be proactive in circumventing many potential problems. You should also make sure that there are no holes in the water pump. All of these things are easy to accomplish during your winter safety check. A very effective way to prevent overheating is to change your oil. Engine oil is not normally associated with keeping the engine cool, it provides protection by coating the moving parts inside the engine, reducing the friction and in effect, reducing the heat being created by the friction. 

The Effects of Overheating

If your car is overheating, the heat is causing extensive damage to the engine, especially if you keep driving it while it is hot. To prevent this, you should immediately stop the car and park it to allow the engine to cool. You should make sure that you follow the recommendations set forth by the car manufacturer. Take it to a mechanic and have them perform a safety check to diagnose any problems. If you need to make any repairs, be sure that they are done according to the recommendations. Any deviance from that could result in further car damage and more expensive car repairs, or cancellation of your warranty. 

What Makes an Engine Oil, Good Engine Oil?

Engine oil is very important to the health of a car. It has often been compared to being the blood of the engine and the engine to being the heart. Some people regard it as so important, that they will faithfully change their engine oil every 3,000 miles and nothing can stop them from doing it. Some people have a favorite brand of oil that they swear does wonders for their cars. What is the best oil for your car? What makes oil, good oil, and why do we need it? Is it that important?

What is Engine Oil and Why Do We Need It?

Engine oil is the substance that lubricates your engine and keeps it running. It also protects the engine from rust, gunk, and corrosion. It decreases the heat generated by the moving parts by forming a protective coating over the moving metal parts. This decreases the friction, which results in a reduction in heat produced by that friction. Engine oil has additives included, which are chemical agents that serve as detergents to clean the engine. The molecules of the additives keep the dirt in suspension so it will not settle into the moving parts. The oil also helps to provide a proper seal for the gaskets to prevent leaks.

Types of Oil

One type of oil is conventional oil. This type is made from petroleum hydrocarbon, which is crude oil. This crude oil would be the same oil that is spouting through pipes at oil-rigs. This oil is good for the newer model cars because it is lighter oil. Most newer cars have parts that are too snug against each other for a thicker oil to penetrate. Therefore, the newer cars benefit the most from conventional oil. The second type of oil is the synthetic blend oil. This oil is a mixture of crude oil and lab-created lubricant. These oils are good for older cars, high-mileage cars, and performance cars. The third type of oil is the synthetic oil, which is made of laboratory-created materials. These are the most expensive oils on the market. You should consult your owner’s manual to determine which one you can use in your car. All of these types have either a single or multi-viscosity rating. The single viscosity oil has only one number to denote its rating, such as SAE then a single digit number. This rating denotes the time in seconds times ten that it takes the oil to flow from one point to another when it is warm. Multi-viscosity oils have two ratings, represented as 10W-30 or 5W-20, with the first number representing the flow rate of the oil when it is warm and the second number represents the flow rate of the oil when it is cold. 

How Do You Choose?

You should first determine the type of oil that is already in your car. Then you need to check the owner’s manual to determine if it is the correct one that you should be using for the winter. You need to choose low-viscosity oil in the winter because it will flow easier when it is cold. You also need to consider the age of your car. If you have an older car or a performance car, you may fare well with either a synthetic or a synthetic-blend oil. Consult with your mechanic to determine which would be the best choice for you. 

An Understanding of Your Car’s Power

Have you ever gotten into your car and gone to turn on the vehicle only to find it

doesn’t start? Have you heard a loud and long whining noise that resembles the noise

your car makes when it normally starts, but without the telltale sound of the engine

coming to life? Often when you return to your vehicle, after parking it overnight or

having it in storage for a prolonged period of time, this kind of thing is very common.

The answer, in most cases, barring some severe engine troubles, is that the car’s

battery is dead. This can usually be confirmed by a light on the dashboard, and

depending where your car is parked and what resources are available to you it could

mean a lot of trouble.

The Car’s Battery

When the car’s battery is dead it means it’s getting no power to start. An engine needs

its electrical systems in order to turn on, so without power running through them it’s

pretty much useless. The electrical systems of the car are used to activate the

electronics that then kick the engine into action. When the key is turned there is a fuel

injection into the piston chambers, and an electrical current starts the spark plug,

which ignites the fuel and starts combustion, getting the engine going. With a dead

battery there’s simply no power to start the spark plug, meaning that there’s nothing

to get the engine going in the first place, making the car dead in the water, so to

speak, and not going anywhere.

The Alternator

When your car is turned on and the engine is working, it is constantly generating

power. This power is all filtered through the car’s alternator, which is a system

designed to measure and sort the electrical output of the vehicle. As the car engine

works, as it generates power, this power is sorted out and used to power all of the

car’s electronic systems and charge the battery simultaneously. The alternator output

is crucial to keeping the car running, and often if there’s a problem with the alternator

the car’s battery is going to die very fast, leaving you with very few options. This is why

it’s important to make sure the systems are checked often and that the mechanic you

use also goes about inspecting wires for any flaws.

What to do When the Battery is Dead

So you got into your car and turned the key and the car didn’t start. Either you left your

lights on or your stereo, it doesn’t matter. Leaving the headlights on, especially high

beams, is one of the most common killers of car batteries. If you were prepared for

such a situation you might have a booster kit in your vehicle, to give your car that

jump start it needs to start the engine. If not then you’ll either need to call a tow truck

or find someone friendly enough to give your car a boost. A boost is, quite simply,

sending the electrical charge from one car into another to get the engine going, and

allowing the battery to charge back up.

Headlights: The Illumination to Winter Safety

Headlights are a very important part of vehicle safety. Most of the time, people do not think about them until one of them goes out. Inspecting your headlights should be a part of your routine general car maintenance. If it is not, now is a good time to begin implementing it now that the winter season is looming. It is imperative that you keep your headlights in good condition so that your journeys over pavement are safe and secure. It not only keeps you and your passengers safe; it keeps the other drivers and their passengers safe, also. 

Clean Your Headlights Yourself

You can choose to clean your headlights yourself. The plastic that houses the bulbs for the headlight, fog light, and turn signals can turn yellow or milky over time. The addition of road salt and other chemicals only hastens the discoloration. If the plastic is discolored, it mutes the light coming from the bulb, and you will not have good visibility. This can cause you to have an accident. It can also prevent you from being seen by other drivers. They may not be able to gauge where you are on the road. It is very difficult to remove the yellow or milky film. You can find cleaning kits in auto repair supply stores that may provide some result. You will also be able to find headlight-polishing paste that you can buff onto your headlights and then wipe off. Some people find that the kits can sometimes make new scratches over the ones you are trying to polish out, and they can cause scratches to the paint on the hood and front bumper. 

Get a Professional to Clean Them

The way to get the best possible result is to take it to a professional. An ASE master technician with his certification in auto bodywork would be qualified to perform this service for you. They will have the knowledge and experience needed to get the headlights to shine brightly again. They will have the correct equipment and materials they need and will be able to give your headlights a new life. In cleaning the surface, they will also be removing the road salt and other chemicals and grime that can accumulate and cause damage to your headlights. With the do-it-yourself polishing kits producing lackluster results, many people have opted to take their car to the professional and received a thorough cleaning. They found that their visibility was greatly improved and they felt more comfortable driving at night or when it is dark outside.

What are the Other Benefits?

The most important benefit you get from taking care of your headlights is the additional safety on the road. Clean headlights mean that other drivers will more easily see you and you can see other drivers. The light will be sharp and clear and it can even help your peripheral vision. You will be able to see things that are in your vicinity more clearly. Cleaning your headlights should become a regular part of your maintenance schedule. If you add this increased visibility to the performance you get from your car after a winter safety check, you can make sure that you will not have to spend any time waiting for roadside assistance or for your friends to come pick you up.