It doesn't matter if your car is old or new, because even though reliable, it may break down when you least expect. You may say that your car has never had problems. Well if this is the case then to keep it that way, now is the time to check out some of the problems, which may occur. Cars, no matter how old or new can have unforseen problems. It is only when we come to a decision that we have a ?lemon? that we do something about it. If you haven't checked your car over for a few months, then perhaps it is time to take a closer look. What do you see that needs to be inspected, and when will a service or repairs have to be done.
We are having one of the longest summers on record, even though we are well into autumn in Melbourne. The weather is fluctuating. With it, come periodical showers, and intermittent dry, hot days. Make no mistake, our cars are suffering.
CAR BATTERY The excessive heat we are getting and overcharging of your battery are the two main reasons for shortened battery life. We all know that heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, damaging the internal structure. And a malfunctioning component in the charging system; usually the voltage regulator, allows too high a charging rate. Now that is a slow death for a car battery.
Your car battery must be able to hold enough charge to start your car on a cold morning and also run all your electrical accessories. It is important that the acid level, battery connections (they must be tight and free of corrosion) and the charging system are all checked at each service to ensure trouble free operation. Do not smoke or use naked flame near the battery, as hydrogen gas given off by the battery is explosive. Never tip your battery sideways as the corrosive acid will leak out and may burn your skin and clothing.
Now a site that deals with car batteries for all types of vehicles is exide.com.au where you can choose the right battery for your car with their easy fitment guide. The other site that has loads of information on motor vehicles for sale throughout Australia is OzFreeOnline.com where thousands of auto classifieds can be browsed and you may even want to sell your car online through their ?free? classified CAR pages.
We know and have most likely experienced, at one time or another, the whirring or click of the engine, only to find that we have an unexpected ?flat? battery. Admittedly, there are more road service calls in cold weather for dead batteries, but that is caused when the output is diminished because of sluggish electro-chemical action that gives the battery its power. The other fact is that colder temperatures increase the thickness of the engine oil, making the engine harder to turn over. These factors lead to harder starting.
You don't need to go through this and to overcome this problem mynrma.com.au has so much advice online that you will want to refer to its pages over and over. OzFreeOnline.com is a favourite site because I am able to browse the thousands of motor vehicles for sale all around Australia and I can refine my results by year, make, model, body type, and price. If you want the best site for the best used cars then OzFreeOnline.com will become a favourite of yours as well.
An average of one out of four vehicles gets a new battery every year, and sooner or later all batteries must be replaced. Having to do this prematurely can involve more than the cost of a service call and a new battery, there is a whole lot of inconvenience as well. What you have to do is get the most life out of a battery, and the following hints may help.
Make sure the electrical system in your vehicle is charging at the correct rate; overcharging can damage a battery as quickly as undercharging. If your battery is the type that needs to be topped up, check it regularly, especially in hot weather and add distilled water when necessary. It is wise to replace your car battery with one that is rated as high as the one originally specified. HINT: Check your owner's manual. Always keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt becomes a conductor, which drains battery power; moreover, as corrosion accumulates on battery terminals, it becomes an insulator, inhibiting current flow.
FUEL SAVING TIPS Here are some tips that will save you money. It we all followed them then we would reduce the demand for petrol and other fuels. This would conserve oil and may reduce its price as well save billions of tons of greenhouse gasses. Most of these are at no cost, but require your commitment to at least try them out for a few weeks so you can see the results for yourself.
Easy things you can do. Pump up your tyres and keep at the correct pressure. At least 32 psi or higher if the manufacturer recommends. Under inflated tyres can use up to an extra 7% fuel. Check pressure every 2 weeks when tyres are cold. Faulty wheel alignment will also increase the rolling resistance of your car, which will increase your fuel consumption and wear your tyres out quickly.
Remove anything from your car boot that you do not require- an extra 30 kgs adds 2% to fuel consumption. Remove roof racks if not in use as they cause air drag. Fill up your car when you see the price reduced at a service station. There can be a price difference of 10c per litre within a week.
Buying premium-unleaded fuel will only benefit fuel economy in some cars, and it costs more to buy. Check your owner's manual to see if your car does actually benefit by using premium fuel. It is time for us to pull together and help our environment. Log on to begreen.com.au where you can find many tips on environmental issues in Victoria. OzFreeOnline.com has ?random? and ?popular? listings pages where you can find all the newest up to date information on environmental issues not only in Australia, but also around the world.
AIR CONDITIONER We take our air conditioning for granted, and wonder how we ever got along without it, but we rarely check the system until it begins to blow out hot air. This is probably something you may have encountered as I have. Not only have I discovered that fixing an inoperative air conditioner costs a small fortune, depending upon the make and model of vehicle.
In order to keep you air conditioning system in good operating condition you must run it for a few minutes at least once a week. This will keep your seals in top condition and help to stop your refrigerant escaping. Running your air conditioning on the ?demist? setting will quickly demist your windscreen.
If your system is not operational, it may mean you may need re-gassing. Maybe your drive belt has broken, your compressor is faulty, or you have an electrical fault. The other problem may be that there are leaks in your air conditioning system. No matter what the problem you will need to see to it in quick time. One of the sites I have searched is adtecauto.com.au who specialise in automotive air conditioning. OzFreeOnline.com ?Cars? is the biggest and best site online for ?free? car listings and has so many vehicles in their used car and cars for sale pages, that you will find just the car you want, when you log into the ?Advanced Search? criteria page.
If your vehicle is older and needs major repairs to the air conditioning, system you can expect to replace refrigerant and the oil in the compressor in addition to the old components. You also may need to install a retrofit conversion. Do not allow anyone to mix refrigerants. They are not inter-changeable. The system must be flushed out first. Ideally, take your vehicle to the makers service centre and have their experts do the necessary work for you. You may pay a little more, but you know that it will be a job done well.
Furthermore, some substitutes are volatile mixtures of propane, butane, and flammable hydrocarbons. Keep in mind the fact that if your vehicle is leaking refrigerant, you are damaging the ozone layer.
If you take your car to a specialist, you will most likely have the following items checked and assessed:
ENGINE COMPARTMENT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM UNDERBODY BODY WORK GLASS WHEELS TYRES BRAKES CLUTCH INTERIOR ROAD TEST
There are many good sites to recommend when it comes to the servicing and checking of your car. Further more you might want information about a used motor vehicle or even find the used car you are thinking of purchasing online. The first site that comes to mind is repcoservice.com that has so many hints and tips on car servicing that you should find all the information you need. I found OzFreeOnline.com to be the best site for Australian car for sale, and the site offered not only a comprehensive ?search? guide, but also a forum where one could chat with auto enthusiasts. With all the above items checked, you shall have absolutely no worries about being the driver of a safe, reliable motor vehicle.
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