Essential Car Maintenance
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Checking
Lights
The easy way to check your lights is to point your car at
a wall / garage door at night and switch on your lights. You can check
all the light functions, starting with the front of the car and your
side lights, headlights and then main beam. Try out your indicators
(it might be easier if someone stood outside the car to help you with
this).
Swap your vehicle around so that you can check the back of the car
now and repeat the process, remembering to check that your fog light
is also operational.
If you find that any of your lights are inoperative, or the direction
of your headlights is mis-aligned, please get your car into the garage
to get them fixed.
Opening
The Bonnet
Before you can carry out under bonnet checks, you first need to know
how to actually open the bonnet itself. This is normally accomplished
by finding and pulling the bonnet release. The release can be situated
in a variety of places, including:
-
under the steering column
-
down at the drivers side below the dash
-
down at the passenger’s side below the dash
-
in the case of later Ford models, check under the Ford logo on the grille of the car (this is opened by the ignition key)
If you cannot find the bonnet release, please check the manufacturers
handbook which will tell you where it is located.
Checking
The Oil Level
Checking your oil level is best done when the engine is cold.
To do this, you need to locate the oil dipstick. This is a long metal
rod with markers on it that slots into the engine. It allows you to
take a reading showing how much oil is in the engine itself.
The dipstick normally has a loop on the end so that you can easily
remove it. You will find it on the side of the engine. However, standing
at the front of the car looking under the bonnet, you will need to
check both the front of the engine and the side, as engines can be
mounted either long-ways or side-ways.
Once you find the dipstick, remove it and clean it with a dry cloth
or some kitchen roll. Re-insert it and remove again. The dipstick
will have two markers and the oil level should be anywhere between
these two markers.
If the oil level is below the bottom marker, then the oil requires
topping up (see Topping Up Oil). If you find that your vehicle has
too much oil, please take your car to the garage to be drained as
too much oil can cause serious damage.
Topping
Up Oil
If you need to add oil to your vehicle, you have to locate the oil
filler cap. This will normally be located at the top of the engine,
and will be identified with an oil graphic or dipstick graphic.
Please be careful and do not get it confused with the water filler
cap. Just to be sure, you can open the filler cap and run your finger
around it or smell it to make sure it is for oil and not water.
Once you locate the oil filler cap, remove it and pour in a small
container of oil. The type of oil used is dependent upon the vehicle,
so you must read the manufacturers handbook for the vehicle and make
sure you use the correct type of oil.
Checking Water
Levels
You will find a small expansion tank with a cap on it (it
will normally be marked as water). On the side of the tank you will
see minimum and maximum level markers. Make sure the coolant level
is between the two markers. If not, proceed to Top Up water Levels.
Topping
Up Water Levels
It is essential that when you top-up the engine water level,
you do this when the engine is cold. When water is heated it turns
to steam, and if you remove the water filler cap in this state, you
may be scalded as the pressurised steam escapes.
Remove the water filler cap and top up with water so that the fluid
level is just below the maximum level shown on the side of the coolant
tank.
Topping Up
Wiper Fluid
Please be careful and do not get the washer fluid container
mixed up with the engine water container, which is pressurised under
heat.
To check your washer fluid level you will find a large bottle
or neck, which is normally located at the side of the engine compartment.
This is not a pressurised system, so it is safe to remove the filler
cap at any time. You can then fill the washer fluid container to its
maximum with a mixture of two thirds water to one third de-icer fluid.
If you have a rear wiper washer, you may also find an additional water
tank located in the boot area of the vehicle. If so, this needs to
be topped up separately.
Checking For Tyre
Wear
It is important that your tyres are over the legal limit
of 1.6mm tread, as this has a serious effect in the handling and braking
of the car. A reading of 1.66mm must be available across the full
width of the tyre i.e. the wear on the tyre should be even.
The easy way to check your front tyre tread depth is by turning your wheels full lock and looking at the tread. All tyres have wear bars in the tread. If your tyres are on the wear bars they need changed.
It is harder to check the rears but when you are washing your car you can look at them. If you are in any doubt take your car to your service agent or fast-fit repairer and they will be happy to do this for you.
It's also important to check for any side-wall damage e.g. cuts,
scrapes, bulges etc, as these may lead to later problems.
Checking
Tyre Pressures
If your tyre pressures are incorrect, then your vehicle
may become unstable so it is essential that you check your tyre pressures
regularly. You will find the optimum tyre pressures for each tyre
on your vehicle in the manufacturers handbook.
You can check your tyre pressures at your local petrol station, using
an air system (you may need to pay a modest sum to use the system).
Insert the nozzle of the hose into the tyre valve and it will show
you the air pressure within the tyre. If you find your pressures are
too low, press the button or lever on the nozzle to start inflating
the tyre (you will hear the air entering the tyre, if you hear a hiss,
you may not have the nozzle secured on the valve). Once the tyre reaches
its optimum pressure, simply place the valve cap back on.
It is equally important that you do not over-pressurise the tyre.
If so, place your fingernail on the valve of the tyre and let some
air escape.
To check your tyre pressures on a regular basis, you can also purchase
a small device which takes a tyre pressure reading.
Changing
a Wheel
Before starting, make sure you have everything you need
to change the wheel, starting with a Jack, a Wheel Brace and a spare
wheel and tyre. You should check that the tyre is not damaged and
is properly inflated. The Jack is used to prop the vehicle up while
you change the wheel, and the Brace is used to loosen the nuts on
the wheel. Both of these should be located in the boot of the vehicle
(they are normally secured alongside the spare wheel).
Some wheels are secured by a Locking Wheel Nut. You will not be able to remove a wheel without the key to these nuts.
Once you are happy you have everything you need, you can start.
- Before trying to change a wheel, make sure your car is as level as possible and that the handbrake is applied and the car is in gear with the engine switched off.
- First, remove the wheel trim and loosen the wheel nuts.
- Next, you need to jack up the car so you can remove the wheel. There are various points on your car that are called the jacking points (these are illustrated in your driver’s handbook). You must place the Jack at an appropriate jacking point for your vehicle.
- The vehicle needs to be high enough that the wheel is off the ground and can be easily turned by hand.
- Once the car is high enough, you then need to loosen the wheel nuts. Use the Brace if you have to, but as you loosened them earlier you should be able to turn them by hand (turning them LEFT to loosen them off).
- Remove the wheel.
- Fit the replacement wheel by aligning the holes in the middle of the wheel with the wheel spindles.
- Manually replace the nuts, tightening by hand until the wheel is secure.
- Lower the vehicle and remove the Jack.
- Tighten all of the wheel nuts in turn using the Brace, making sure the wheel is tightly secured.
- Replace your wheel trims and locking wheel nuts (if required).
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