Care for Your Car

It is a well-established fact that NCR boasts of more cars on its roads than pedestrians. Buying and driving cars comes as naturally to us as breathing, so much so that often a family houses more cars than the number of inhabitants! The tendency to acquire newer models and machines with latest technology is on the rise. However, a car with superb features and elegant style requires a good amount of maintenance too. Here are a few easy tips that will ensure that your ‘baby’ does not suffer from frequent breakdowns and runs smoothly to give you a joyful ride, every single time you are behind the wheels.

Buying your dream machine certainly calls for investments of various sorts. But once acquired, how much do you really care about its regular maintenance? Besides the regular car servicing, washing and shielding it from extreme weather conditions, here are a few vital maintenance tips that will ensure that your car outlives your expectations, both in terms of years and optimum performance.

1. Check engine oil
The engine is the soul of the car. It is no fallacy that the actual performance of a car largely depends upon the engine oil. The decrease in oil levels can easily be monitored through the indicator. Do not take a toll on your car’s life; do not be over confident of its performance either. For a long, smooth journey and effective engine performance it is crucial that you check the engine oil level at a regular interval of 10 to 15 days, irrespective of your usage of the machine. To check the oil, park on level ground and wait until the engine has cooled down. Locate the dipstick. Pull it out, clean it and push it all the way back in until its top is sealed back in the dip tube. Wait for a few seconds and pull it back again. Check the oil level. A marking between high and low indicates that you are good to go.

2. Check brakes
The security aspect of driving your dream car cannot be neglected. Brake-failures are common and may cost you your life. Therefore a few important factors need to be paid utmost attention to in order to ensure that your car runs at your will. Check if the brake pedal is too soft owing to a small quantity of brake fluid and whether it squeaks when pressed. The accumulation of dust further produces undesirable sounds when the brakes are applied. Clean brake dust regularly with a damp sponge or clean water as they contain all sorts of harmful stuff. Accumulation of road grime, dust or even heat and moisture on the brakes will directly affect the wheels.
If you car pulls on to a side when you apply the brake, it indicates an alarming problem in the adjustment of the brake clearance. Brake problems do not crop up out of the blue; they develop gradually. Monitoring these factors from time to time is an absolute must to avoid a bumpy, dangerous ride. Check the following:
- Check disc brake pads for wear and rotors for surface wear.
- Check drum brake linings for wear and cracks.
- Check whether the cable of the parking brake adjuster needs to be tightened.
3. Check transaxle fluid
While checking the brakes, also check the transaxle fluid level both manual and automatic. Fluid loss may lead to a severe problem. Therefore, add the desired quantity of fluid as indicated by the dipstick.

4. Check tyres
The functionality of your car depends upon how smooth the four wheels run. Car tyres have an important bearing on the performance and safety of the car Hence, checking the tyres is mandatory. Make sure that your car’s tyres are filled with recommended air pressure since both high and low pressure will impede a smooth drive. It goes without saying that deflated tyres be filled with air as soon as the problem is noticed and punctures repaired well within time to avoid accidents. Tyre rotation is a healthy practice as it keeps the wear on the tyres even. When your car’s tyres are balanced, there is an overall reduction in vibration thus ensuring that the tyres run smoothly and longer.

5. Check electrical system
Understanding a car’s electrical system might not be everybody’s cup of tea. But it is an integral part of the car and requires its fair share of attention and maintenance. It is quite frustrating to have your car stall midway due to electrical faults and leave you deserted in the middle of nowhere. Therefore, proper maintenance of the electrical system is prescribed to ensure that you are not stuck anywhere and your car gives you a hassle-free drive.

6. Check air conditioner
What is a car without comfort? A smooth running air conditioner has a considerable contribution in providing a comfortable ride to the passengers. Given the scorching heat of the NCR region and the mugginess in the weather, an efficient car air conditioner is a must.

7. Check car cooling system
The cooling system of a car prevents the car engine from overheating. Therefore, the use of a good quality coolant is an absolute necessity. Also, the coolant level should be monitored at regular intervals, say fortnightly, the frequency increasing during summers.

8. Check car gears
Handling the car gears is a task that needs to be excelled right at the on start of learning how to drive. Maneuvering the gears needs special attention since they define and control the speed of your machine. They simply cannot be fiddled with. The clutch should be placed properly and adequately while changing gears.

9. Check car alternator
The alternator of a car produces electricity which is used to maintain battery storage charge and to help all the electrical accessories, including the ignition and the engine control systems to run properly. It is belt-driven by the engine and produces an Alternating Current (AC). This is turn is converted internally to 12 volts of Direct Current (DC) by the diode bridge or rectifiers. Any negligence in the maintenance of the car alternator can yield severe damages to your car. Therefore it is mandatory to get the car alternator checked every time you take your car for servicing.

10. Check car battery

If your car is a human body, its battery is the neural centre. The car battery governs the entire electrical system of your car. It stores the energy produced by the alternator and supplies it to the systems, like lights and fuel injection system that require a smooth, uninterrupted flow of current. Make sure your battery runs properly. Once the car battery collapses, your machine would be as good as a vegetable.

11. Check car starter

Car Starter is simply a DC motor that turns the engine crankshaft through the flywheel, starting the combustion process by creating compression within the cylinders. Voltage to the starter is supplied directly from the battery and is controlled by a relay and/or solenoid operated from the key switch inside your car.

12.Check car fluids
Check the oil, transmission fluid, differential fluid, wiper fluid, power steering fluid, and hydraulic clutch fluid (if applicable) regularly. Checking the radiator fluid is quite easy and also a must. Fluids are to a car what water is to humans. Checking them is easy but can cost you a fortune if not done on time.

13. Check paint and wax
Do not compromise on this front. Choose a superior quality of supplies to keep your car interiors and exteriors sparkling. There is a wide variety of sophisticated paints and waxes available in the market with compounds that protect the polish from fading. Waxing ensures that your vehicle shines beautifully and remains free of corrosion.

14. Check spare parts
Local spare parts, although available at much a cheaper price will affect the overall performance of your vehicle, especially in the long run. Whenever you drive your car to a workshop, do not compromise on the quality of the spare parts. Always go for branded, original products as they will only keep your car in good shape for years together.

15. Check auto essentials - maps, torch and escape hammer
Finally, a car is your investment; it is as much your status-symbol as a vehicle that gets you to places. An efficient car must not desert you, at any cost. Therefore it should be equipped with these auto essentials that ensure that you are never stranded, always on track and safe behind your wheels.