Back To School Tips!
August is good time to get your car ready for back to school driving. Owners can follow these tips to ensure their vehicles are ready to roll:
BATTERIES: Poor battery conditions can compromise their cranking performance. Test and replace old or weak batteries, especially those more than three years old. It can be cheaper than a tow and replacement on the road.
TIRES: Changes in weather can reduce tire pressure, so make sure all tires, including the spare, are properly inflated and balanced, and wheels are properly aligned. Inflate tires to their recommended pressure - check the inside of your car door to find out what the proper air pressure should be.
Under-inflated tires can reduce fuel economy by up to 3.3 percent, cause premature tire failure and are a safety hazard. Tire failures and blowouts, often a result of under-inflation, contribute to 414 deaths and 10,295 injuries each year in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In addition to tire pressure, check for tread wear and any obvious damage caused by potholes or sharp objects.
Belts and hoses: Inspect and replace worn or cracked belts, as well as hoses that are blistered, brittle or too soft. Belts and hoses older than five years, even if they look intact, might need to be replaced.
Brakes: A brake safety checkup can uncover any damage. Inspect the brake system, including lines, hoses, and parking brake. Inspect brake fluid for proper level. Low brake fluid can be an indication of excessive brake wear or fluid leak. Have the brake linings/pads inspected and measured.
Suspension: Deep potholes aren't friendly to shocks and struts. An inspection to determine wear or leaks can alleviate bigger issues down the road.
Other items to have inspected in the spring:
Inspect the antifreeze/coolant level, making sure the coolant used meets the specifications listed in the vehicle owner's manual.
Check oil level regularly and change the oil every three months or 3000 miles, whichever comes first, for top performance and longer engine life.
Check the transmission fluid for correct level. Check the owner's manual for the right type of transmission fluid to use and the proper interval for service and replacement. Watch for leaks that can cause your transmission to fail.
Inspect power steering fluid for proper levels. Low power steering fluid can cause damage to the power steering system and lead to premature power steering failure.
Inspect windshield wiper blades for wear and cracks, ideally each spring and fall. DAE recommends replacement of blades that look worn. Also inspect and replace the rear wiper blade, if equipped. Don't forget to check the windshield washer fluid.
Inspect and replace the engine air filter and the cabin air filter as necessary.
Inspect steering components and steering linkage.
Timing Belt: Out of
Sight+Mind
Remember when cars used to have at least several rubber belts under the hood? Called “fan” belts or drive belts, they’ve been replaced on most late model vehicles with a single, “serpentine” drive belt. Another belt under the hood of most cars is hidden under a cover at the front of the engine. It’s the timing belt, often overlooked during routine maintenance.
On the majority of vehicles if the timing belt fails the engine will quit, unharmed. The lucky motorist will have only the inconvenience of being stranded on the side of the road. The car can then be towed to a repair facility to have the timing belt replaced. On some engines, however, a broken timing belt can cause major damage to internal components. This potential disaster can be avoided easily and relatively inexpensively by replacing the timing belt as recommended in the owner’s manual.
Timing belts resemble an engine accessory serpentine belt in appearance, only they typically have square teeth on the inside surface. They’re usually constructed of rubber reinforced with nylon. Simply put, the timing belt transfers the rotation of the crankshaft to the camshaft. The rotating camshaft activates the valves, which provide air and fuel to the cylinders and expel combustion gases to the exhaust system.
The valves and pistons are constantly moving up and down at very high speeds. When the pistons are down, the valves are open; when the piston is at the top of its travel, the valves are closed. Some engines don’t allow clearance between a valve at its lowest point and a piston at its highest. The timing belt, therefore, is the critical link to ensure that these components don’t collide. If collision occurs, damage to the valves, pistons, cylinder head, and cylinder walls can result. This can be an expensive repair.
Many domestic vehicles built within the last several years and the majority of imports are equipped with a timing belt. Other engines rely on a timing chain rather than a belt. Refer to your owner’s manual or take your car to a repair facility if you are unsure. The owner’s manual maintenance schedule shows timing belt replacement intervals, typically every 60,000 to 90,000 miles.
Timing belts usually are protected from foreign objects by a cover, making visual inspection impossible. Replacement usually requires removal of the engine drive belt that operates the alternator, water pump, power steering pump, and air conditioner. Consider replacing this belt, or multiple belts, when having a new timing belt installed.
