Taking care of a second-hand car
What is used car maintenance? It is keeping our cars working well and looking good. Maintenance is the most important word in a car owner’s vocabulary. As you will appreciate, used cars require more attention than new cars.
Tyres
We have spoken about tyres in a previous segment but it bears repeating. Good tyre care is essential for not only safety, but also good fuel consumption. Invest in a tyre tester so that regular air pressure checks can be carried out. Take a moment or two to do this at least once a month. Or do it when you take gas at the service station. The recommended pressure for your car’s tyres is in the owner’s manual or on the tyre’s sidewall. You might even find this information in the glove compartment or on the driver’s door. Remember that when the car has been driven for a while the tyres heat up and the air expands so the reading isn’t always accurate. Because outside temperatures affect tyre pressure, it is important that these checks be done regularly.
Also, keep in mind irregular tyre wear can be corrected by periodically rotating your tyres. It is recommended that tyres be replaced when the tread is worn down to 1/16 of an inch, so as to avoid the car’s susceptibility to skidding. A simple test if you do not have tread wear indicators is to place a twenty-five-cent coin into a tread groove. If you can see Garvey’s entire head, then you need new tyres.
When shopping for new tyres it might be a good idea to get large diameter tyres for the rear wheels. And radials are largely recognized as fuel-savers.
Remember, even if your tyres are warranted, it is necessary to perform regular maintenance to keep the tyres functioning properly and to ensure the validity of the warranty.
Hoses and Belts
Your engine will not work with broken belts. Pop the hood and make sure the belts are firm and tight. They should not flex more than half an inch. While checking belts, inspect hoses as well. Remember, the hoses are also known as the arteries of your car’s cooling system. So look for leaks, cracks and bulges, which can be indications of overheating problems ahead.
Giving your brakes a break
If your ‘check brake lights’ light is flashing, have your car checked immediately. Ladies, if you don’t know where that light is, find out! Brakes are critical for the safe operation of a car. Turn down the music sometimes and listen carefully for changes in the sound during braking and take notice if the brakes have longer stopping distances and have them serviced at once by a professional.
Make sure brake lights are functioning. We see it all the time: one brake light working or neither. Remember, malfunctioning lights can cause sudden accidents if the motorist travelling behind you doesn’t divine that you have made a stop. Park in front of a glass door and examine.
Headlamps, Taillights and Signals
One of the most often overlooked simple maintenance tasks is checking that all the lights are in working order. Don’t assume they are working. Other motorists may remind you that a headlight is out or a turn signal isn’t functioning by flashing bright lights or impolite hand signals. A policeman may also do so with a citation. Don’t wait for this to happen. The law requires that all vehicle-operating lights work properly. Enlist the help of a friend or a child to help check lights as you sit in the vehicle operating them. If a bulb is out and you can’t, or don’t want to, replace it yourself, a repair person will do it for little cost. Remember bulbs cost very little too.
