Automotive care and Maintenance

There was a day that we could do almost anything on our own car. Our parents would take us and show us how to change oil, filters and other necessary aspects of our car. There was very little about the car that we could not personally handle. However, as fuel injection replaced carburetors and computerized diagnostics took over the various systems, the ability to be a weekend fix-person started to go the way of Tyrannosaurus Rex. Cars became more complex and the details of getting under the hood in your garage became less and less.

With that being said, there are still minor functions we can still handle as laymen. We can still put the car on a drive up ramp or jack it up to change the motor oil, lube the joints, change a tire, change belts and deal with other functions. Working on your vehicle is not at a complete stop and that is a grateful position to be in. Economic times have weakened our ability to do various things, but those we have access to means we still save some money.

However, since cars are more dynamic in their design, it takes specially trained experts to handle the maintenance and repairs. This is a good thing because it takes the pressure off us to try to figure out what caused the engine check light to come on or why the temperature gauge pegs out at “engine hot” status.

Most garages and services centers require their mechanics to be ASE certified, which is a credentialing service, to be able to work on newer model automobiles. These professionals spend a lengthy time in educational classes to become adept at handling all aspects of a cars engine. To simply read a tune-up machine, a mechanic must have the knowledge base to understand the cars workings.

So let’s look at basic benefits of one over the other:

1. A private individual can save some money by doing their own basic work, like checking and changing tires, changing motor oil, flushing coolant systems, some brake work, and a sundry of other minor issues.

2. Self-service work done at your own leisure eliminates the need for scheduling an appointment for service calls.

3. Newer cars require the need for an ASE certified mechanic, who can handle the more complex systems and fixes.

The age and engine system of your vehicle will predetermine how you choose to fix your car.

This article is for informational purposes and is the opinion of the author which may not be the opinion of the site that this article links to.

It is great to know there is a tyre repair service that can come to you and repair your tyre.

However “prevention is better than cure” so it is better to maintain your tyres properly in the first place. If you look after your tyres, they’ll return the favour. Car manufacturers are improving the performance of cars every year and yet the only thing keeping the car in contact with the road are those four pieces of rubber on each corner. Not only that but if you actually measure the area of the tyre that is in contact with the road surface it is only about the size of an average beer mat. The air pressure in your tyres is critical to their performance and your safety. Under-inflated tyres will roll on the rim and the car can be less stable particularly when cornering.

Over inflated tyres will skip on the road surface. Apart from the safety implications under/over-inflated tyres also wear out faster. If you see a tyre that is worn in the middle but has tread on both inside and outer edges then this is usually a sign of over-inflation. If the tyre has worn both worn edges but has tread in the centre then this indicates under-inflation. If the tyre is worn on one edge only then this is usually a tracking or wheel alignment problem. Wear on the outer edge means the car is toe-ing in. Wear on the inner edges means the car is toe-ing out. To have the tracking adjusted you need to have new tyres fitted then take it to a recommended specialist.

As far as tyres pressures don’t rely on ‘looking’ at the tyre – appearances are very deceiving. Use an accurate tyre pressure gauge Remember to check your spare if you have one. Lots of cars do not even have spares. However if you do have a spare you may need it one day so check it; Your spare should be serviceable and roadworthy. Pressures should be checked every 2-4 weeks. It is normal for tyres to slowly lose air through the rubber.

Tyre pressures should be checked and set when the tyres are cold (i.e. not after a long trip) as heat will temporarily raise the pressure. The correct tyre pressure for your vehicle is shown on the tyre placard or in the vehicle owners’ handbook. Make sure valve caps are fitted as they keep foreign matter out of the valve core. Too much pressure can be as dangerous as too little pressure. If you notice damage to the tyre, have it inspected by a tyre specialist – tyre failure at high speed can have tragic consequences Tyre repairs should be carried out by a tyre specialist who will generally remove the tyre from the rim and inspect it for internal damage before repairing it from the inside. Push-in plugs from the outside should only be used for temporary emergency repairs.

Invest in a 4-way wheel brace (cross brace) – they’re much easier to use than the one usually supplied Make sure your jack works… and you know how to use it.