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                        ENGINE     FRONT END     BRAKES     TRANSMISSION     MISC

    This means if your timing belt skips or breaks the valve and pistons are no longer in sync and will hit each other causing very extensive damage internally to the point of having to replace the complete engine itself. A timing belt is a VERY IMPORTANT SERVICE.
As you can see in the picture above the timing belt in this case broke and the valves and pistons tried to share the same space at the same time. Note the head of a valve stuck and embedded in the piston.  Good-bye engine, hello big bucks. I would NOT recommend anyone without extensive experience doing this themselves. Even if you succeed in replacing the belt and the timing is off by one tooth the engine will not run properly. If it is off by four or five teeth the damage will have been done.

     If your engine overheats check the electric coolant fan. This fan should come on when the coolant temperature reaches approximately 220 degrees F. or more. Another check would be for a coolant leaks. See if the upper and lower radiator hoses are equally hot (be careful not to burn yourself). If one hose is much hotter than the other there could possibly be a clogged radiator or stuck thermostat. Check the coolant level when the engine cools down. Never remove the radiator cap on a hot engine. When changing your anti freeze be certain to use the correct fluid.  Most vehicles use ethylene glycol and others use dexcol. 

                                Drive (fan) belts are fairly easy to change on most engines. There are two types, the “V”  belt and the serpentine belt. On Some engines the belts are manually adjusted and some  have automatic tensioners.  If there is no routing diagram for the belts under the hood be  sure to  draw your own diagram before removing the old belts.  It is very easy to forget  how the belts went around what and where.

     The air filter should be checked and replace whenever it’s dirty or the car has been driven 20,000 miles or so depending on location. For people who regularly drive on dirt or sandy roads, the filter should be checked every 5,000 miles. If the filter gets too dirty the dirt particles can damage the engine cylinder walls, pistons and piston rings. A clogged filter will severely impact fuel economy and engine performance. When replacing the air filter make sure the air tubes are intact and secure. Be careful not to damage the IAT (intake air temperature) or the MAF (mass air flow) sensors.

     A clogged fuel filter cannot allow the same amount of fuel to flow through as a new one. Driving with a partially clogged filter on local roads the engine will run normal but at highway or freeway speeds your car may hold back and lack power. You can replace the fuel filter yourself, but without the proper tools and knowledge this can be a messy and potently dangerous job. My suggestion would be to have a certified technician do this.

    If you are driving at night with several accessories on such as wipers, heater or air conditioner and you notice the headlights keep getting dimmer and dimmer and soon the engine "dies" and will not restart, the most likely cause is the alternator has failed, not the battery. If the battery happened to be weak the alternator would still keep power to the vehicle until you turned it off and then it would not restart.

                              
           
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     FRONT END TIPS

     Spend a little extra money to do the wheel alignment if your tires wore out from uneven wear.  If you don’t the new tires will wear out prematurely and you will spend more money on tires again. The front tires should be exactly the same.

     If the car drifts one way or another and/or the steering wheel shakes while driving it should be check very soon.  This condition can cause other components to wear plus it is a safety issue. Check the tie rods and the wheel bearings for looseness.  If the car drifts one way or other and the tires are wearing evenly try switching the front right and left tires or rotate tires front to rear. This will very often solve the drift problem.  If the steering wheel shakes at 50 mph. or more it is likely to be a wheel balance problem.  If the steering wheel shakes at 20 to 40 mph. check for a bent wheel or  a tire with a bubble or bad belt.

    Tire pressure is one of the things a car needs to have checked most often. Ideally, you should check them once a month as well as any time they may look low. Also, if you are planning a long trip, tire pressure is one of the main things you should check, along with oil level and other fluids. Once you know the proper pressure for your tires, you are ready to check them yourself. In order to do this, you must unscrew the caps on the tire air valve and press the tire pressure gauge against it. You should make sure you keep the tire pressure gauge as firmly against the tire valve as not to let air come out from it. Check tire wear inside as well as outside edges.

    When changing a tire first find a level spot then just loosen the lug nuts ¼ of a turn. Next you should lift the car with the jack. If you do not know how to do this, you can find instructions in your car owner's manual on where to place the jack. You should lift the car until the tire you wish to change is some inches away from the ground. Then finish removing the lug nuts and remove the tire. Reverse procedure to install new tire and recheck torque (tightness) when the wheel is back on ground.
     
   You should inspect the rubber boot that protects the front drive axle joint on both right and left sides and both sides have an inner and outer boots. It is  known as the CV (constant velocity) joint.   The rubber boots degrade over time and can crack or tear open, which will expose the joint itself and all of the grease will be seen in that area from flinging out when the shaft turns.
    Once the boot is torn dirt will enter the CV joint leading to premature failure. Inspecting
  the boots will let you know right away if you have a torn one, so you can       replace it before damage is done to the more expensive joint itself.
  Replacing the CV joint can cost hundreds of dollars, whereas replacing
  the boot alone costs a fraction of that amount.
   
    
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     BRAKES

     Check those brakes.  Brakes usually last 30 thousand miles in the front and somewhat longer in the rear.  It is much cheaper to replace the brake pads and shoes when they are getting thin rather than wait until they are metal on metal and ruin the drums and rotors.
When doing your own brake work be sure to do one wheel at a time.  The reason for this is when you compress the caliper pistons on one side the pressure can cause the brake fluid to push out the opposite wheel’s caliper piston. When doing rear drum brakes this will also give you all the springs and clip locations in case you forget exactly how they were.

     If you notice any of the following symptoms when you apply the brakes you should have it checked and repaired as soon as possible.
•    flashing brake warning light
•    squealing, chirping or grinding noises
•    pulsations in the brake pedal
•    shaky steering wheel
•    increased stopping distance
•    car pulls to one side when you stop

     You should use your (emergency) park brake at all times especially if the car is parked on an incline. Not only is this a safety feature but it also keeps all the working parts from rusting and “freezing up” from lack of use.  The chances are very good if you apply the park brake after not having used it for an extended period of time that the rusty parts and cable will cause the brake not to release when the handle is pulled. Applying the brake with rusted parts is easily done with hand or foot pressure but only spring tension releases this brake and it will not overcome the rusted springs and cables causing the rear brakes to remain locked up.

     Checking brake fluid is easy.  On most newer cars you can check brake fluid level without removing the cap on the master cylinder. There will be level markings on the side of the plastic reservoir. If you have to remove the cover to check the fluid level, be careful not to spill any fluid on the surrounding paint. Low brake fluid usually indicates either a leak in the system or brake pads worn thin.  When the brake pads wear thin the caliper pistons have to travel out of their bores more and brake fluid fills the void, hence a low level in the master cylinder.


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     TRANSMISSION TIPS

     An automatic transmission has basically three types for the home repair person to be aware of.  One type has a fluid pan which can be removed and the filter can be changed. The other type has no pan, just a drain plug. Very few have external filters which resemble an engine oil filter.  The third type has a drain plug and a fill plug at the bottom of the transmission. There is no dip stick tube to fill the transmission. It has to be done underneath with a suction tool while the vehicle is running. Unless you are sure how to do this I would suggest having a pro do it. Remember, check for a dipstick tube or fill plug before you start this by yourself.

     Standard transmissions is a basic drain and fill.  However make sure you use the correct fluid.  Some use 90 weight gear oil, some use motor oil, some use automatic trans fluid, and some have their own special fluids. Check your owner’s manual.

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     MISC TIPS

     When changing the rear differential fluid be sure to add LSD (no I’m not on drugs!!)  limited slip differential fluid if the manufacturer calls for it.

     If the vehicle has a full time 4x4 system make sure all 4 tires are the same size and design to avoid undue strain on the differentials.

     Turn your windshield wipers off before turning off the motor especially in the freezing regions.  The biggest problem in the winter is wiper linkage damage due to blades frozen on the windshield.

     In snow country keep the better tires on the front of the vehicle if it has front wheel drive. Do the opposite with a rear wheel drive vehicle.

     Keep your windshield washer reservoir full and carry an extra gallon with you. You don't want to be caught without washer fluid, and you don't realize how quickly you use it up, especially in the winter months when we get salt spray on the windshield. Replace your wiper blades once a year.

 

                 

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