A number of factors, including poorly filtered or contaminated fuel, can negatively affect the rail injectors in diesel engines. When a new injector is required, find out if a piezo or a solenoid injector is needed – they are not interchangeable.
Every so often take a moment to check the condition of your tires, looking for excessive wear on them. Tread should wear down evenly. If not, the location of the excessive wear indicates a specific problem.
One of the problems with headlamp lenses made from polycarbonates is that they can oxidize over time and become dull. Regular maintenance with a specially designed cleaner will keep things bright.
Although it needn't be changed as frequently as your car’s fuel, oil, or air filters, transmissions do have filters that remove gunk, dirt, and contaminants from the transmission fluid. When the filter is clogged or dirty replace it before performance is compromised.
Unless the vehicle manufacturer recommends synthetic fluid for your automatic transmission, use regular fluid. Non-synthetic fluid is far less expensive and, if you have the fluid changed regularly, it won't have time to break down.
Did you know a car’s air conditioner is working even in winter? When the defroster is turned on, the condenser comes on, drying the air before sending it to the windshield. Have the A/C's refrigerant level checked at the beginning of both the summer and winter driving seasons.
If your car has an odd or musty smell when the air-conditioner is turned on, or if airflow through the vents seems restricted, the problem may be with the cabin filter. It should be replaced every year or two, depending on driving conditions.
Gas charged shocks improve ride performance by increasing the ability of the fluid in the shocks to do its job, improving the ride on rough roads, and increasing stability when cornering.
Pay attention to the manufacturer’s information regarding the timing belt, if your car has one. The reference to time or distance is for whichever comes first. Replace the belt at the recommended interval or risk severe engine damage.
LED lights in headlamps, unlike incandescent bulbs, use lumens instead of watts as their measure of brightness (lumens refers to the amount of visible light). A 13w LED produces 450 lumens, the same amount as a 40w incandescent bulb.
If your spare has been locked up in your trunk during particularly hot weather, check its pressure periodically and look for signs of deterioration. You do not want to be stuck changing one flat for another.
Check your automatic transmission fluid regularly to make sure your transmission is in good working order. If the fluid is a cherry red color, it's clean. If brown, it's burnt and needs to be replaced.
What oil should you put in your car or truck? That's easy. Use the weight that is printed on the cap of the oil-fill line. The engineers who designed your ride know best.
Always have oil, fluids and belts checked, and other milestone maintenance performed at the recommended intervals. Doing so ensures that your vehicle will last for thousands of miles, giving you more than your money’s worth.
Emergency warning lights serve an important purpose as they protect the drivers of vehicles as well as those on the road. Don’t make others guess, regularly check your emergency lights to make sure they're in good working order.
There is a saying “don’t fix it if it’s not broken,” but there is also a notion of breakage prevention, which is especially applicable to complex mechanisms like automobiles. Regular maintenance is the best protection.
If your check engine light comes on after refueling, it could simply mean that the gas cap has not been properly tightened. However, after tightening it, if the light does not go off, it may indicate a greater problem – bring your car in for a check.
A car or truck can represent a significant investment, so you’re going to want to get as much use out of them as you can. As such, you’re going to need to keep up with their maintenance requirements to ensure that the vehicle will be there to serve you for a long time to come.
One thing that you’re going to want to change regularly would be your car or truck’s cabin air filter. This is especially true if you spend a lot of time in the vehicle, as this component will keep you from breathing in potential allergens.
The older your car is, the more frequently you should check the oil level in the engine. If the oil level is dropping faster than you think it should be, bring it in for an inspection, as it may be a sign of a greater problem. Most problems, if addressed early, can be quickly fixed.
If you’d rather not find yourself stuck on the side of the road, you’ll need to stay on top of your vehicle’s maintenance requirements. Ignoring them for extended periods puts you at risk of becoming stranded as your car or truck may become prone to failure.
While an oil change isn’t exactly rocket science, it can be a fiddly task. Oil filters, in particular, can be tricky to get to and remove, so it might be worth taking the vehicle to a service center so a professional can get the job done.
