Check your car Safe or sorry

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 486, 18 May 1993, Page 6

Check your car

Safe or sorry

The colder winter months are almost here and drivers should by now be giving their cars a pre-winter check-up. This should include the following: Tyres - Check for a 1 .5mm tread depth on all tyres. In winter traction is reduced by slippery roads and it becomes more important than ever to ensure that tyres are in first-class condition. Make sure the spare tyre is included in the check. Tyres should also be checked for cracks and bulges in the walls and for correct inflation. Know the recom-

mended pressure for the car's tyres and make the pressure check part of the regular oil and waterlevel checks. Over-inflated tyres are more likely ' to skid. Incorrectly inflated tyres can also reduce the life of the tyre. If liquid tyresealants are used as a temporary emergency measure after a puncture or blow-out, it-is important that drivers should proceed with extreme care to the nearest service station. Brakes - Check for wear. Is the master cylinder topped up? Exhaust System - Make sure there are no

holes. Battery - Clean the terminals and tighten the leads. Check the water levels. Spark plugs - Clean and check the gap. Are the leads firm? Fanbelt - Check for wear. Air Cleaner - If your air cleaner has summer/winter setting, set to' winter. Radiator - If you live in an area where water freezing in the radiator is a possibility, use an anti-freeze in the cooling system. Carburettor - Check for leaks. Windscreen Check the windscreen wiper blades. If worn, replace. Keep the windscreen washer bottle full. Protect your windscreen with cloth or sacking if parking for a few hours in freezing temperatures. Keep handy at all times a clean cloth, antimist spray and solution to

clear grime from fogged or dirty windscreens. Heaters/Demisters - Check they are working properly. Body Work - Check rust spots and clean them. Plug leaks in window surrounds. Emergency equipment - Check that the jack works. Put a torch in the car and check the batteries and bulb frequently. Carry a first aid kit. Also consider a tow rope and battery jumper leads.

The vehicle becomes an extension of the driver and it is your responsibility to keep it up to the mark. Otherwise it will gradually wear out to the extent that it may not pass its next Warrant of Fitness test, it might break down on your next trip, a tyre could blow out, it may not stop as well as you expect it to or its shock-absorbers won't help you stay on the road. It is surprising how a

set of new radials, reconditioned brakes, shocks and good general suspension can improve characteristics rapidly. It is a good idea to get someone to check out the mechanical condition of your car as things do tend to sneak up on a driver without much warning. A little bit of time and effort involved in regular maintenance and servicing could save you much inconvenience and possibly large repair bills at a later date and

more importaritly could prevent a potentially fatal accident because of mechanical failure. Items such as engine oil level, engine coolant level, belt-tension, battery electrolyte level, brake:fluid level, windshield washer-fluid level, headlight cleanerfluid level, tyre infla-tion-pressure should all be checked regularly. An idea could be to perhaps do this at the time of refuelling your vehicle. Clean, pollution-free operation is of primary importance these days. Basic maintenance of ignition and fuel systems and exhaust blueprinting are fine, providing the engine runs efficiently, but expertise is required in checking out emission levels. Carburettors can be an obvious problem and electricals even more so. Electricity gets easily confused and can leap with a single bound. Dodgy ignition systems create many problems, hard starting, high fuel consumption, rough idling, engine cutting out, etc, so regular maintenance here is a must. Unfortunately, even the best-maintained car can throw the occasional wobbly, (usually at the most inconvenient time). Fortunately, you needn't be an A-grade mechanic to know your way around an engine. A little knowledge can go a long way. Here is a quick check list: • Battery terminals loose or covered in corrosion. • High-tension lead arcing over onto heater pipes or anything else. • Loose distributor cap or leads. • Burnt-out rotor carbon button. • Fuses. • Carburettor flooding. • Vaporising in fuel pump or lines. Remember, prevention is better than cure. Don't overlook servicing dates, check the basics at regular intervals and problems such as the ones mentioned can be avoided.