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Taking good care of your car costs a bit of time and money in the short term, but the longterm rewards more than make up for it: your car will get better mileage, run longer and more
efficiently, and operate safely. To keep your car in top shape all you need to do is learn basic
car care, which includes:
The purpose of car care is to catch whatever might go wrong before it actually does go
wrong. The best way to do that is to bring your car in for a yearly tune-up and follow a
regular car care schedule.
General maintenance: How and when to check and change the fluids, belts, hoses,
and filters to keep your car running efficiently and avoid breakdowns
Roadside repair: How to handle the flat tires and dead batteries that can afflict even
the best-maintained cars
Cleaning: How to make sure your car looks good and is well protected from the
elements
Part
Maintenance
Frequency
Tires
Check pressure
Once a month
Check treads
Once a month
Rotate tires
Clean battery
Once a year
Check level
Battery
6
5
Motor oil
Change oil
Coolant
Check level
Transmission fluid
Check level
Change fluid
Check level
Change fluid
Once a year
Washer fluid
Check level
Check level
Once a year
7
Brake fluid
4
9
3
2
1. antifreeze reservoir
2. belts and hoses
3. transmission fluid
dipstick
4. oil dipstick
5. air filter
6. brake fluid reservoir
Filters
Windshield wipers
Once a year
Once a year
At first glance, this schedule may seem a bit overwhelming. However, very few of these
steps take much time. In fact, it probably wont take you more than 15 minutes to check on
the car parts that need to be looked at every three months.
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The Roadside Tool Kit
Even if you keep your car in perfect shape, things can still go
wrong on the road. To make sure you can handle most automotive breakdowns, keep a roadside tool kit in your trunk.
Duct tape
First aid kit
Flashlight (test the batteries regularly)
Gloves
Ice scraper
Jack and jack stand
Jumper cables
Motor oil (1 quart)
Pliers
Screwdrivers (flat-head and Phillips-head)
Socket set
Spare tire
Starter cables
Tire iron (and a hollow pipe to fit snugly over its handle)
Wrench (adjustable)
Wheel chocks (wedges to lodge under the wheels of
the car to stop it from moving)
pipe over the handle of the tire iron and pulling on that.
Loosen each lug nut bit by bit, but dont remove any of
them entirely just yet. Dont loosen adjacent nuts:
if theres an even number of nuts, work in an X pattern;
if theres an odd number, work in a star pattern.
1. Park the car in a level spot off the road. Apply the
parking brake and switch on your hazard lights. Make
sure you have space to work thats a safe distance
from passing traffic.
2. If you cant see the lug nuts holding the tire to the
wheel, you need to remove the hubcap. Depending
on the type of hubcap, you may have to remove some
screws or pry off the hubcap using the flat end of the
tire iron.
6. Unscrew the lug nuts. Place them somewhere secure
for safekeeping, such as in the removed hubcap.
Remove the flat tire. The tire will be heavy: be careful
not to let the weight roll you backward into the road.
lug nut
Its also a good idea to have a cell phone when youre driving so you can call for help if necessary. If youre going on a
long drive, also bring along some extra water.
The information contained in this and every Quamut guide is intended only for the general interest of
its readers and should not be used as a basis for making medical, investment, legal or other important
decisions. Though Quamut makes efforts to create accurate guides, editorial and research mistakes can
occur. Quamut cannot, therefore, guarantee the accuracy of its guides. We disclaim all warranties, including
warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, and must advise you to use our guides at
your own risk. Quamut and its employees are not liable for loss of any nature resulting from the use of or
reliance upon our charts and the information found therein.
Photo Credits: Page 1: Thinkstock/Jupiter Images; Page 3: Charles D. Winters/Photo Researchers, Inc. (photo 1), Ingram Publishing/Jupiter Images (photo 2), Hemera Technologies/Jupiter Images
(photo 3). Illustrations by Precision Graphics.
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8. Try to start the car with the dead battery. If it wont start, wait five minutes and try
again. If it still wont start, check to see if there are other problems, such as a lack of
fuel. Do not keep trying to start the dead car, as you might cause additional damage.
9. Once the dead car does start, remove the jumper cables in the reverse order in which
you attached them in step 5. Do not let the cables fall into the engine or allow any part
of the cables to touch.
10. Keep the newly jump-started car running for at least 30 minutes to make sure the
battery recharges fully. It may also be a good idea to take the car to a service station
to get the battery thoroughly checked or replaced.
booster car
1. The battery will have cables attached to its positive and negative terminals. Remove
these cables by turning gently and removing the nut that holds them in place. Do not pry
on the terminals to return the nut. Always remove the negative (black) cable first and
then the positive (red) cable. Getting the order wrong can result in a dangerous shock.
Dont allow the clamps to touch.
remove negative
remove positive
2. Sprinkle baking powder on a
first
second
toothbrush and dip it in water. Brush
the terminals until the deposits are
gone. If the clamps have their own
deposits, brush them in the same way.
Dry the clamps and deposits with a
clean, lint-free rag or cloth.
step 5C
step 5A
step 5B
step 5D
dead car
If you have a maintenance-accessible battery, you may have to add water to it. You should
check the water levels in each of the batterys cells every three months or so. If the water in
the cells doesnt reach the bottom of the
fill holes, the battery needs more water.
Fill the battery only with distilled water, which is free of impurities that might
affect the batterys efficiency. Pour the
water into the cells through the holes covered by screw or pressure caps. Do not fill
the cells any higher than the bottom of the
fill-hole. Never add anything but distilled
water to your battery.
The type of battery you should have depends on the car you own. Check your owners
manual to see whether it recommends what type of battery is best for your car. If theres no
specification, you should base your choice on your climate. In a warm and dry climate, youre
better off with a maintenance-accessible battery because batteries in those climates tend
to lose water. Otherwise, a maintenance-free battery is probably your best bet.
Battery Maintenance
All batteries, even maintenance-free batteries, need a little maintenance. When working
with a battery, always wear protective eyewear, cover all exposed skin, and follow all safety
precautions. Also, remove all jewelry and watches, and never place tools on the battery
or allow any sort of fire (including cigarettes) to come near the battery. Always wash your
hands before and after working with a battery.
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How to Rotate Tires and Check Treads
Contact with the road wears down tire treads, the ridges
and bumps that help the tire grip the road. This wear compromises the vehicles handling and overall safety.
Making sure your car has the proper amount of motor oil is
among the simplest and most important auto maintenance
tasks. Motor oil cools and cleans the engine, reduces friction, and keeps your car running smoothly. If your car runs
low on or out of oil, permanent damage to your engine can
result. Check your oil every three months or 3,000 miles
and get an oil change every six months or 6,000 miles.
X pattern
forward cross
rearward cross
temperature gauge on the dashboard. Keeping an occasional eye on the temperature gauge as you drive is the best
way to monitor your cars temperature. When the engine
overheats, the check engine light will illuminate. The most
likely cause of overheating is low coolant, which you should
know how to check and remedy.
Because the coolant system is under heat and pressure,
it will scald you if opened while the engine is still warm.
Check the coolantor any other capped engine componentonly after the car has been turned off for at least a
few hours and ideally overnight.
1. The coolant tank is a clear or translucent hard plastic
tank attached to the radiator by a hose. Its usually
near the front of the car. If you have trouble finding it,
refer to the illustration in the Under the Hood section of
this guide or see your owners manual.
2. The coolant tank has a cap that youll need to remove
in order to check the coolant level. Once the tank is
open, look for markings for full and low. If the tank
is low, add a mixture of equal parts coolant and water
to the tank, using a funnel. Continue until the coolant
level reaches the full line.
3. If your car has no coolant and you have no access to a
fresh supply, pure water will work as a temporary fix.
However, drive to the nearest service station as soon
as possible and add coolant to the tank.
Coolant levels should not go down as a result of everyday
driving. If you notice that your coolant is persistently low,
you may have a leak in the coolant tank. Be sure to have any
possible leaks checked out by a service station immediately.
Coolant should be flushed and replaced after every 20,000
miles of routine driving.
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How to Change the Brake Fluid
A cars brake fluid should not leak during normal operation. Regardless, you should check
the brake fluid every three months and change it once a year. If you suspect a leak due to
persistently low brake fluid levels, bring your car to a service station.
If you decide to change the brake fluid yourself, make absolutely sure that no water gets
into the brake systemwater reduces the braking systems effectiveness, putting you in
danger. Never change brake fluid in the rain.
1. The brake fluid reservoir is a translucent hard plastic canister that sits above the
master brake cylinder in the part of the engine closest to the drivers seat. If you cant
find it, see the diagram in Under the Hood of Your Car or refer to your owners manual.
2. The brake fluid reservoir should have a line that indicates when its full. Since the
reservoir is typically made of translucent plastic, you can check the level without
removing the cap.
3. If brake fluid is low, remove the reservoirs cap and fill the canister to the full line.
Most cars use a type of brake fluid called DOT 3 or DOT 4. Check your owners manual
to see which you should use. If the reservoir has two halves, fill both. Do not overfill.
4. Many cars made before 1980 have brake fluid reservoirs made of metal rather than
plastic. For these, youll have to remove the cap to check the fluid levels.
If youre not sure whether your car has a carburetor or a fuel-injected engine, check your
owners manual.
Most air filters cost about five dollars. Once youve bought a new air filter, you can install
it yourself using two screwdrivers: a flat-head and a Phillips-head.
1. The air filter housing is held in place by either clips or screws. If there are clips, slide
the flat-head screwdriver in and wedge open the filter housing. If there are screws, use
the appropriate screwdriver to unscrew them.
2. Remove the air filter. It should look like a round or rectangular ruffle of paper or plastic
with a rubber rim.
3. Clean out the air filter housing with a vacuum cleaner and then a clean rag.
4. Slide the filter into the housing.
5. Replace the air filter cover and clip or screw it on tightly.
Like the oil filter, the fuel filter should be replaced by a professional at your service station.
The fuel filter needs to be changed once a year.
Wear on the belts: Look for cracks, brittleness, fraying, or a glazed shininess.
Wear on the pulleys: Look for spots where the belts rubber has built up on the metal
wheels that drive the belts.
Belt tension: Poke your finger against the longest length of the belt. The belt should
give between a 1/2 inch and 1 full inch. No more, no less.
Belt alignment: Make sure that the belts line up straight with the drive pulleys.
Squealing sounds from the engine: These often indicate worn or damaged belts.
If you see or hear any of these warning signs, take your car to a service station. Belts should
be replaced once a year.
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The package you buy will contain a variety of blade attachments. Choose the one that matches the way the blade is
attached to your car.
1. Pull the windshield wiper arm gently away from the
windshield and toward you. Some blades may pull only
a few inches away from the glass. Others may swing
out nearly perpendicular to the windshield.
2. Remove the blade from the arm. You may be able just
to unsnap the blade from the arm, but often you have
to depress a tab of some sort with your fingers or a
screwdriver in order to pull the blade free.
3. Install the new windshield wiper blade. If youre
installing it correctly, it should snap right into place.