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Your
mechanic may deftly tune your car's engine, but that won't matter a bit if the engine
fries itself because you failed to notice that the radiator ran out of coolant. So roll up
your sleeves, because now you're going to learn your way around your car. And in the
process, you may thwart a costly, irritating, and possibly dangerous breakdown in the
making. Here goes: 
1, First, pop
open the hood.
Do you see the engine? Good. Actually that's quite an
accomplishment, what with engines mounted sideways and all the complicated paraphernalia
automakers hand on them these days.
2, Now find the
engine dipstick.
it's sticking up somewhere along the side of the engine.
(If you can't find it, check your owner's manual.) Pull it out, wipe it off, stick it back
in, and pull it out again. Does the oil level reach somewhere between the hatch marks on
the dipstick? If not, add some. If it needs more than a quart, take the car to your
mechanic and find out why it is losing oil.
3, Now find the
radiator or the radiator overflow tank.
Take off the cap and look inside. Do you see some greenish
liquid that looks like Kool-Aid? If not, add water. Again, if it takes more than a quart,
you'd better have your mechanic take a look. And if it's not green, you'll need to have
the radiator drained and refilled with a 50/50 mixture of coolant and water. While you're at the radiator, examine all the rubber hoses
running from the radiator to the engine. Look at any other hoses in the engine compartment
for that matter.
Are they cracked, or do they look so brittle that they should be? Are there any bulges, or
are they squishy soft? |
If so, have them replaced. Chances are you'll not
find the right size in a provincial gas station when a hose bursts on your next trip out
of town. 4, If your car isn't quite as up to date as today's news,
look for a distributor
It's a round thing with thick wires
running out of the top. follow each of the wires to the engine. Are they firmly attached
to the distributor at only one end, and to the spark plugs at the other? Are the little
rubber booties that cover the ends in place? If your car is a new or nearly new model, the
distributor and plug wires probably won't be visible, so you can skip this step. Indeed,
some of the newest cars don't even have traditional distributors or plug wires.
5, Next, find the
belt (or belts)
that run the alternator, air conditioning compressor, and
perhaps the radiator cooling fan or other accessories. Make sure it isn't frayed or
cracked. Find a spot where it's suspended between two pulleys and push down with your
finger; if it gives more than a half inch, it needs tightening. 
6, Now find the battery.
If it's a refillable type, take off the caps and check all
six cells to see that there's water. If the terminals look like they've grown moss, scrub
them with a little baking soda and water. And if you see signs of battery acid on the pan
where the battery resides, wash the pan thoroughly and check the battery case for leaks.
Acid will eventually eat right through metal.
7, Now start the
engine.
Look back under the hood. Do you see the fan whirring?
Does the engine settle into a smooth idle, or does it jerk around while it runs? Do you
see any leaks from any hoses? Do you hear any ominous sounds? Once the novelty of all this
has worn off, stop the engine and shut the hood. |
8, Glance under the car.
Your car can hold up to 11 different fluids of one kind or
another, and all of them should be in the car, not on the driveway. Examine the exhaust
system for rusty holes. If your car has front wheel drive, glace in back of the front
wheels. Do you see a greasy mess behind there? The rubber boots that cover the constant
velocity joints may be torn or missing. CV joints may be torn or missing. CV joints are
relatively expensive to replace, and the boots protect them from dirt and sand that can
ruin them. 9, Get up, turn on all the lights
and walk around the car to see that they work. Don't
forget to check the turn signals. Look at the windshield wipers; make sure they're not
shredding or you'll have a scratched windshield after the next rain.
10, Now look at
all four tires.
Is there plenty of tread? Are the sidewalls cracking? Look
especially closely at the front tires for signs of uneven wear. If they're scalloped or
worn excessively on one side, either the suspension is tired or there's an alignment
problem. Buy a tire gauge for a couple of bucks and check the pressures. Don't forget the
spare tire, too. Correct pressures are listed in your owner's manual.
That's it. You've just learned where all the more important
fallible things are. Make this inspection a ritual every other week and you'll forestall
many expensive repairs.
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