Take Care Of Your Auto More By Checking Over

It's that time of the year, spring will be here soon, following that, hot summer days (I hope)

Anyway it'll be time to get our cars and trucks ready for spring and summer:

Under the hood

Oil, I advised that you change both the oil and filter,
Coolant (level, colour and strength) Don't run with only water, and keep the antifreeze at -45 C or -50 F
Air condition, check it out now, don't wait until summer when it's hot out, (your wife and children will not be extremely happy if it does not work)
Transmission, Is it due for a Transmission service? How does the oil smell? Is the colour nice and red? How does it perform? (slippage, hesitation, bump, slow engaging) Is the level within limits? Do you see any leaks?
Power steering, once more check the level, smell and leaks.
Belts and hoses, check for fractures and/or frayed hoses, check hoseclamps and if you'll find spring kind clamps, give them a close look (I have seen them break in two, in addition to the radhose came off) You can guess what was next!
Battery and Cables, maintain the clamps clean and tight, check the battery charge, charging system.
Sparkplugs, when was the last tune-up? Some engines have long life plugs in them, but in case you have 60,000 km or miles on your vehicle, pull one or two plugs to look at what they look like. Check the plugwires (Corroded, Oil soaked, cracked) replace them, it can be that you go up a long hill, you come upon that the engine is bucking (could possibly be just one or two wires)
Airfilter, I feel that the filter is the most forgotten item under the hood. Can you see light by means of it when you hold it up to a lamp (lamp on, of course, LOL) I have seen some pretty dirty 1 where no air can pass by the use of, if the engine does not get enough air, it just works harder to breath and uses more fuel, at today's price of fuel......well, you fill inside the blank. It is attainable to clean the filter by tapping it against a wall, check it again, replace if necessary.
Windshield washer fluids, what I do is any more I start adding the summertime washer fluid, you know the pink stuff (the bug remover fluid). If the container is clean just add to it, that way you'll have some antifreeze washer fluid ( in case it still get cold).

Under the vehicle

Exhaust system, check for leaks, damage, rusting muffler, etc.(keep in mind exhaust fumes can kill)
Steering, check all steering parts for looseness, (bear in mind that pothole you hit?)
Suspension, check ball joints, struts, springs, shocks. (all these parts can make your vehicle act like a donkey on a narrow path) (can you picture this?) All kidding aside, failure in some of these parts can make you loose control over your vehicle!
Ride height, search for low hanging parts, i.e.. low exhaust system, brake/fuel lines, wire harness, etc.
Engine/transmission mounts, Swaybar, check all bushings for crevices or wear.

Outside of vehicle,

Wipers, replace those winter wiperblades, if last years blades are still good, try them. (precise same with the winter blades, if still good, maintain them until next fall)
All lights, check all bulbs, replace those that are out. (possibly the most forgotten light is the centre brakelight and licenseplate bulbs) Check also for headlight beam height, fog and driving light included. ( we've all had a motor vehicle coming towards us with high adjusted lights)
Tires, Off with those studded tires, (most states or provinces have a law against studded tires at a particular date) Keep in mind AWD's and 4WD......Identical size tires all around (I suggest: same size, precise same brand!)
Tire pressures, as shown on the drivers door or within your owners handbook.

Within the vehicle.

Brakes, how does the brake pedal feel? If the pedal is spongy or the brakes do not work as very good as they really should, you might have air within the system and/or the brake rotors/drums, pads/shoes are worn. (remember, poor brakes makes for a slow stopping vehicle.........whoooo there Nellie)
Brake and warning lights, (bulb check on the dashboard) these really should come on for a couple of seconds when you initial set up the engine, if all OK go off and stay off.

General, I feel we all recognize that a clean vehicle runs and rides best, so give baby a nice warm bath and slap an excellent coat of carpolish on her and she'll hum like a happy bee.

Happy and safe Motoring.

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