Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Follow These Tips If Your Car Leaks Brake Fluid




Do you suspect that your vehicle may have a leaky brake system? Is your brake fluid level just a little bit low? Well, one explanation for the low fluid level may be relatively simple: If your vehicle has worn brake pads or brake shoes, the fluid level in your brake fluid reservoir will be low.

Your braking system is comprised of series of rubber and steel hoses, check valves, pistons and cylinders. They're all joined together, and work in concert to slow and stop your vehicle. It may help you to understand it all a little better if you imagine your brake system as a cardiovascular system, pumping blood to several different areas of the body. The vehicle's master cylinder acts as the heart and pumps brake fluid through brake lines to the extremities, in this case, the calipers and drums. This is where a lot of brake problems originate. At all four corners of your vehicle, brake lines -- with fittings that serve to connect the master cylinder to the different parts of the brake system that actually slow or stop your wheels -- quite simply, can leak. 

To properly diagnose a brake leak, you must first locate the leaking point. The best way to do this is by parking your vehicle on a level surface for a couple of hours, then observing the position of the brake fluid that has accumulated beneath the vehicle. This will give you an idea as to which fitting may be the culprit. If you find that the puddle of brake fluid is beneath the rear of the engine -- not near one of the wheels -- you may have a leak somewhere in (or near) the master cylinder.

Whatever the situation, if you have a brake fluid leak, you need to find and repair it as soon as possible. If you don't address the problem, your vehicle will eventually run out of brake fluid, just Remember, brake fluid is essential for the brake system to operate properly.











Content credited to: http://auto.howstuffworks.com
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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Tips On How To Check Your Oil



The best time to check your oil is before the automobile has been started or when the engine is cold. The oil is settled which allows for a more accurate reading. If you check the oil after the car has been running, you will encounter a hot engine, so please use caution. Make sure that you do not have anything, such as your hair or a scarf, hanging into the engine. If the engine is hot, turn your vehicle off and let it cool for a few minutes.



As always keep safety in mind make sure the automobile is on a level surface and the parking brake is engaged.

  • Pop the hood and locate the dipstick. Here are two of examples of different dipsticks (circled in blue) and where they are located in the engine.
  • Pull the dipstick out.
  • Use a clean paper towel or rag to wipe it clean.
  • Reinsert the dipstick making sure to push it all the way in. Pull the dipstick out again and check the level by looking at the end of the dipstick. The oil level should be between high and low or full and low. Some dipsticks like the one pictured are not labeled. Low is the dot closest to the end.
CAUTION: Do not over fill! If you fill your car with too much oil, you could destroy your engine. If you are uncertain about how much to add, add a little and then recheck. Continue this process until you have reached the full level. Be sure to allow enough time (30 seconds) to let the oil settle before re-checking.










Content credited to: http://www.pedalsandpumps.com
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Wednesday, August 13, 2014

When Should You Replace Your Air Cabin Filter?





Cabin air filters clean the incoming air and remove allergens, it should be replaced every 12,000 to 15,000 miles, or per the owner’s manual. Some filters require basic hand tools to remove and install the replacement filter; others just require your hands. Filters should not be cleaned and reinstalled; instead, they should be replaced.

The cabin air filter helps trap pollen, bacteria, dust and exhaust gases that may find their way into a vehicle’s air conditioning and heating and ventilation systems. The filter also prevents leaves, bugs and other debris from entering the heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) system.

A dirty or clogged cabin air filter can cause musty odors in the vehicle and cause contaminants to become so concentrated in the cabin that passengers actually breathe in more fumes and particles when riding in the car compared to walking down the street. A restricted cabin air filter can also impair airflow in the HVAC system, possibly causing interior heating and cooling problems, important for staying comfortable this winter. Over time, the heater and air conditioner may also become damaged by corrosion.










Content credited to: http://www.carcare.org
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Wednesday, August 6, 2014

How Not To Get Car Sick



Blame your eyes and inner ear for sending conflicting messages to your brain. If you get car sick, you most likely dread every single extended road trip. Dizziness, fatigue and nausea might make the trip miserable. So how do you go about preventing car sickness in the first place? Here are some ways to enjoy the ride, sickness-free.



Look out the front window.
  
Watching the scenery can confirm your balance system's detection of motion and help resolve the mismatch that causes car sickness. Focus on a non-moving object in the distance, such as the horizon. Don't do anything that involves focusing on a fixed spot, such as reading or playing a card game. Don't turn around or look from side to side much

Close your eyes.  
Sleep if you can. If your eyes are closed, you don't see anything, and that removes the cause of motion sickness. In addition, sleeping will do wonders for taking your mind off of the motion sickness.
 
Take breaks.
Go outside to stretch your legs. Sit on a bench or under a tree and take some deep breaths in through your mouth, breathing deeply from your stomach to help relax. This is especially important during journeys that involve a long distance of curvy roads. Not only does stopping frequently help alleviate car sickness, but it is also good for the driver to take a break.
 
Take steps to prevent nausea.
  
Since nausea is the most debilitating symptom of car sickness, it's always good to take precautionary measures. Ginger root is a classic remedy because of its widely recognized anti emetic (nausea-preventing) effects. Keep in mind, however, that many medications which are normally effective against nausea might not work against nausea caused by motion sickness.









Content Credited to: WikiHow.com 
http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Car-Sickness