Disclaimer: All information is provided on AS IS, at your own risk, basis.
----------------- CHECKING YOUR CAR ONCE A WEEK----------------------
Safety hints:
Speed kills. Drive slowly and carefully. Every
15 minutes, someone in the U.S. dies in a car accident. (30,000 per
year.)
Every year, more people die in cars, than they did in
Vietnam or Korean wars. Who is the REAL enemy?
-Drive below 60
M.P.H. on Interstate high way.
-Drive below 45 M.P.H. on all two
lane roads, and other roads.
You are TWICE as likely to die on a
TWO LANE ROAD (ONE LANE EACH DIRECTION), due to high energy of head on collisions. (45+45=90 M.P.H.)
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TIRES AND JACK
The more tire tread you have, the better your safety. Tire pressure should be RECOMMENDED tire
pressure plus five p.s.i..
RECOMMENDED tire pressure is printed in
owner manual, or on driver door post.
(If RECOMMENDED tire
pressure = 35 p.s.i., then put 40 p.s.i. ; If you happen to ignore a tire for a couple of months like most
people, it will probably drop to five below RECOMMENDED.)
Also check the spare tire pressure.
Any tire over four years
old will have degraded rubber, and can lead to sudden failure.
The
"doughnut" spare tires require much higher pressure. The
"doughnut" tires are for short distance and low speed only !
These stupid and useless "doughnut" tires should be
replaced with a regular wheel and tire.
HORN
Honk horn.
WIPERS
Check wipers and spray. Replace wiper blades if window
shows streak.
LIGHTS
Have someone sit in drivers seat to operate lights.
-Check headlights, low and high beams.
-Check turn signals.
-Check parking lights.
-License plate lights.
-Brake
lights. (left/ pair, center eye level, right/ pair.; Have assistant step on brake pedal)
-Reverse
lights. (Have assistant step on brake pedal and put gear in
reverse, then back to park.)
FLUIDS
There are usually six fluids to check.
1- Brake
fluid level.
2 - Coolant level.
**WARNING** NEVER open
coolant system when hot **
3 -Transmission fluid level.
***WARNING** Your car may require the engine
running.
Have assistant step on brake pedal.
4 - Wiper
fluid level.
5 - Engine oil level.
(Mobil FULL SYNTHETIC
15W-50 for above freezing temperatures.)
Since this oil is
expensive, make sure to watch it being put in the car.
Also watch
the oil filter being changed.
This oil really helps engines be
cool at stoplights when air conditioning is on.
Also this oil can
go 6,000 miles without changing.
[ mobil 1 15w-50 walmart , Mobil says it will stock the 5 quart jugs again at Walmart in March 2012 . Keep on requesting the product at both of those sites.]
6 - Power steering fluid level.
*** If you get any warning lights while driving, stop car and call for repair. ***
AIR FILTER
change every 15,000 miles
WINDSHIELD
Every few weeks clean the inside of your windshield
with glass cleaner.
(black and white news papers work pretty good
with glass cleaners )
Being clear and streak free is especially
important for night driving and to avoid glare.
If a windshield
has too many scratches for night driving, it should be replaced.
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60,000 MILE, MID LIFE, AUTO PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE
Cost is
approximately $1,500 . Parts should be less than $1,000 at Autozone.
Labor should be around $500 at a good mechanic, since many of the
parts
are in the same area as the other parts. Make sure the old
parts are turned
in to you, for verification.
-All four struts.
-C.V. Axles, differential seals,
differential gear oil.
-Transmission fluid and filter.
-Front brake calipers, pads, rotors, anti
squeal compound.
-Rear brake shoes, drums, wheel cylinders. Adjust hand/ foot brake.
-Brake
fluid flush and bleed.
-Engine timing belt, water pump, new V
belts, new serpentine.
-Radiator hoses, radiator flush, and fill with Prestone brand.
-Cabin air filter (for ac/ heat if equipped.)
-Synthetic engine oil and filter.
-Spark plugs.
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