Cars are
our most expensive property next to our house/apartment, so it becomes
necessary to ensure proper care is given to them daily. The most important thing you
can do to reduce the risk of breakdown is to make sure simple checkups are done
daily before driving our car.
Here
are some simple tips that will
help you take good care and enjoy safe, worry-free motoring.
CHECK YOUR TYRES
Before starting your car always check
for air in your tyres. Always keep car's tyres properly inflated, threading and aligned. Under-inflated tyres
cause fuel consumption to
increase by six percent and also effect car's suspension adversely. Don't forget to check the spare as
well.
CHECK THE LIGHTS
Check to ensure all
lights are working properly. Don't forget indicators, brake and fog lights.
CHECK THE COOLANT
Check the coolant level and top up as necessary.
CHECK WIPERS
Check wiper blades
by spraying the wiper water to ensure its cleaning properly. This would prevent
it from smearing the windscreen. If they become worn replace them immediately.
But it is recommended to replace at least once a year for best performance.
CHECK WINDSCREEN
Check the windscreen regularly for stone damage as this can
impair vision or distract attention. Minor chips can grow and crack the glass
but many can be repaired by a windscreen specialist.
CHECK THE BRAKES
For
your own safety, it's important to check your brake pads or shoes. These can
deteriorates due to being clamped against the disc or pushed against the drum
when the brakes are applied. Also check for fluid leaks caused by damaged brake
pipes or worn seals which could result in brake failure.
CHECK
THE BATTERY
Check your
battery and clean the contacts (if necessary). Most batteries these days don't require much in the way of
maintenance, but you should know where it is and check it to make sure it's not
leaking and there's no mineral or other build-up on the contacts. If there is,
clean it off with a battery
cleaning brush.
CHECK THE OIL LEVEL
This is
something that can be done easy - it's quick and simple. It'll tell you if your
engine needs oil. If the oil is too high or too low, it can cause trouble for
your engine. Check the level of the oil by pulling out the drop
stick. If it's between the high and low marks, you're fine. (If it's too low,
add a little.) The high and low marks can be denoted by two dots, an
"H" and "L" or a shaded area on the dipstick.
FINALLY BE OBSERVANT AND DON'T DELAY FIXING IT
Before driving watch for warning lights, note performance changes
and listen to your car for any changes or unusual noises that are worth having
checked before a more serious fault develops. Deal with any observable problem as soon as they
arise, before they become more serious and require expensive repairs.
Visit our website for our tailor-made insurance covers at www.consolidatedhallmark.com
Sources:
