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| Air Filter |
Check it every month. Replace it when it becomes dirty or as part of a
tune -up. It is easy to reach, right under the big metal 'lid', in a
carbureted engine; or in a rectangular box at the forward end of the air
in a duct hose assembly. |
| Battery |
Extreme caution should be taken while handling a battery since it can
produce explosive gases. It is advisable not to smoke, create a spark or
light a match near a battery. Always wear protective glasses and gloves. |
| Belts |
Inspect belts and hoses smoothly. Replace glazed, worn or frayed belts.
Replace bulging, rotten or brittle hoses and tighten clamps. If a hose
looks bad, or feels too soft or too hard, it should be replaced. |
| Brake Fluid |
Check the brake fluid monthly. First wipe dirt from the brake master
cylinder reservoir lid. Pry off the retainer clip and remove the lid or
unscrew the plastic lid, depending on which type your vehicle has. If you
need fluid, add the improved type and check for possible leaks throughout
the system. Do not overfill. |
| Engine Oil |
Check the oil after every fill up. Remove the dipstick, wipe it clean.
Insert it fully and remove it again. If it is low, add oil. To maintain
peak performance, the oil should be changed every 3,000 miles or 3 months,
whichever comes first. Replace the oil filter with every oil change. |
| Exhaust |
Look underneath for loose or broken exhaust clamps and supports. Check
for holes in muffler or pipes. Replace the rusted or damaged parts. Have
the emission checked at once per year for compliance with local laws. |
| Hoses |
Inspect the hoses and belts monthly. If a hose looks bad, or feels too
soft or too hard, it should be replaced. |
| Lights |
Make sure that all your lights are clean and working, including the
brake lights, turn signals and emergency flashers. Keep spare bulbs and
fuses in your vehicle. |
| Oil Filter |
To maintain peak performance, change oil every 3 months or 3,000 miles
whichever comes first. Replace oil filter with every oil change. |
| Power Steering Fluid |
Check the power steering fluid level once per month. Check it by
removing the reservoir dipstick. If the level is down, add fluid and
inspect the pump and hoses for leaks. |
| Shock Absorbers |
Look for signs of oil seepage on shock absorbers, test shock action by
bouncing the car up and down. The car should stop bouncing when you step
back. Worn or leaking shocks should be replaced. Always replace shock
absorbers in pairs. |
| Tires |
Keep tires inflated to recommended pressure. Check for cuts, bulges and
excessive tread wear. Uneven wear indicates tires are misaligned or out of
balance. |
| Transmission Fluid |
Check transmission fluid monthly with engine warm and running, and the
parking brake on. Shift to drive, then to park. Remove dipstick, wipe dry,
insert it and remove it again. Add the approved type fluid, if needed.
Never overfill. |
| Washer Fluid |
Keep the windshield washer fluid reservoir full. Use some of it to clean
off the wiper blades. |
| Wiper Blades |
Inspect the windscreen wiper blades whenever you clean your windshield.
Do not wait until the rubber is worn or brittle to replace them. They
should be replaced at least once per year, and more often if smearing
occurs. |
Click here for a list of
auto repair and service centers in your area.
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Steering & Suspension
 | Have you noticed uneven tire wear?
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| Or while driving
have you noticed an off-center steering wheel?
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| Swaying, drifting or pulling?
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Difficult steering?
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Any of these symptoms may indicate the need for service or
repairs to your vehicle's steering and suspension system.
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions,
click here for a list of auto repair and service
centers.
Brakes
Any of these symptoms may indicate the need for service or repairs to your
vehicle's braking system.
| Do you hear a squealing noise that stops when you apply the brake pedal?
|
| Does your vehicle pull when braking? |
| Do your brakes make a grinding noise when coming to
a stop? |
| Brake pedal vibrates? |
| Parking brake won't
hold? |
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions,
click here for a list of auto repair and service
centers.
Cooling System
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions,
click here for a list of auto repair and service
centers.
Starting & Charging Systems
| Does your vehicle start slowly?
|
| Do extreme
temperatures affect you vehicle's ability to start? |
| Does your vehicle need to be
jump started? |
Any of these conditions may indicate the need for service or
repairs to your vehicle's starting and charging system.
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions,
click here for a list of auto repair and service
centers.
Engine
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions,
click here for a list of auto repair and service
centers in your area.
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Your car, truck or van is the second costliest purchase you will ever
make -- out ranked only by your home. And it's also likely that you're
discouraged by the thought of maintaining your vehicle. Today's vehicles
seem too complex for your own backyard tinkering, and finding a good
repair facility with competent mechanics seems more difficult than it
should be.
Fortunately there's a group that can help take much of the guesswork out of
finding a competent mechanic. The independent, nonprofit National Institute for
Automotive Service Excellence, better known as ASE, is dedicated to improving
automotive service and repair by testing and certifying the competence of
individual mechanics, or "technicians," to use today's terminology.
ASE is the only automotive certification group that is both national in scope
and industry-wide. It is self-supporting, with a forty-member, volunteer board
of directors drawn from all segments of the automotive service industry, as well
as representatives from education, government and consumer groups.
ASE means Good News for Consumers
ASE-certified technicians have proven their competency to you, to
their employers, and to themselves by passing national, standardized
exams.
Because ASE's program is voluntary, technicians who have paid in time and
money to earn ASE certification can be counted on to have a strong sense of
pride in their profession. Moreover, prior to taking ASE exams, many mechanics
attend training classes or study after work to increase their knowledge, another
plus for consumers.
ASE certifies only the individual technician, not the repair shop itself, but
it stands to reason that employers and managers who encourage their technicians
to earn ASE's national credentials will be concerned about all aspects of their
business.
The Nuts and Bolts of ASE Certification
Twice a year some 100,000 technicians sit for ASE certification exams at
over 600 locations. The exams are administered in the field by ACT, the
same organization that offers college entrance and other professional
exams.
The exams, which stress real-world diagnostic and repair problems, are
designed by representatives from the automotive service and repair industry,
vocational educators, and ASE's own in-house technical specialists.
There are eight automobile exams: Engine Repair, Engine Performance,
Electrical/Electronic Systems, Brakes, Heating and Air Conditioning, Suspension
and Steering, Manual Drive Train and Axles, and Automatic Transmissions. There
are also tests for collision repair/refinish technicians, engine machinists,
parts specialists, and medium/heavy truck technicians.
The exams are no cinch to pass; on average, one out of three test takers fail
any given exam. But those who pass and fulfill the work experience requirement
earn the title of ASE-certified Automobile Technician, while those who pass all
eight auto exams earn Master Auto Technician status.
Every ASE technician is issued credentials listing his (or her) exact areas
of certification and an appropriate shoulder insignia.
Nor does it end there: certification is not for life; ASE requires its
technicians to recertify every five years to keep up with technology and to stay
certified.
How to Find an ASE Certified Technician
ASE-certified technicians can be found at every type of repair facility: new car
dealers / dealerships, independent garages, service stations, tire dealers, special shops,
and major franchises. There are about 375,000 ASE technicians at work across the
nation.
Repair facilities with one or more ASE-certified technicians are entitled to
display the blue and white ASE sign and post their certified technicians'
credentials in the customer service area.
Choosing the Right Technician
As with physicians, auto technicians specialize. Because ASE offers
certification in all major technical areas of auto repair and service, it's wise
to ask the shop owner or service manager specifically for a technician who is
certified in the appropriate area, say, brakes, engine repair, or air
conditioning. The technicians are issued pocket-sized credential cards listing
their exact areas of certification.
For free information about ASE technician certification, send a
business-sized, self-addressed, stamped envelope to: ASE Consumer Brochure,
Dept. CCC-F95, P.O. Box 347, Herndon, VA 22070.
Click here for a list of
auto repair and service centers in your area.
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When It Comes To Your Vehicle Repair & Maintenance
From Acuras to Volvos, Buicks to Saturns, we can help you protect
your new car or truck warranty. By using our quality service and parts,
our technicians can perform all of your new foreign or domestic
vehicle's maintenance and repairs while keeping your warranty in effect.
You don't have to return to the New Car Dealer for scheduled service or
checkups to ensure your manufacture's warranty remains in force. We
bring you this information because you have the right to have your
vehicle serviced wherever you choose.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BY OWNERS OF NEW OR LEASED VEHICLES
| My new car dealer says I have to return to their facility for all
of my car's maintenance to keep from voiding the warranty. Is this true?
Absolutely Not. You can have routine service done by any competent
independent service station, shop or garage and still maintain your
warranty. |
| Do I have to use the manufacturer's original equipment parts to
keep my warranty valid? No! The Magnuson-Moss Warranty act prohibits
automakers from specifying the use of their or anyone else's parts for
your vehicle's maintenance. You may use any brand-name quality parts
such as CARQUEST to replace fan belts, hoses, brakes, exhausts, chassis
parts, oil and more. |
| What do I have to do to keep my car or truck's warranty in effect?
Make sure your vehicle is serviced at the intervals specified in
your Owner's Manual or Warranty Booklet and keep very clear records of
your vehicles maintenance. Be sure to have the date, parts installed,
vehicle identification number, and mileage recorded on the invoice. Keep
these receipts in a safe place. If you have a service log in your
Owner's Manual or Warranty Booklet, use it. |
| My car is a leased vehicle. Am I responsible for maintenance? Yes!
Even if you lease a vehicle you are responsible for all maintenance and
repairs and to keep the vehicle in good working order and condition as
outlined in the Owner's Manual. |
| What parts should be replaced and at what intervals should these
services be performed? Check your owner's manual. It will give you
all of the information you need regarding what parts to replace and when
to do it. Make sure to read it thoroughly and note any exceptions or
severe service notations. Warranties are there to protect the consumer,
but you must follow, the requirements. |
| What if my new car needs repairs other than regularly scheduled
maintenance such as a brake job or other repairs? Do I have to return to
the dealer for these repairs? What if these repairs are covered under my
warranty? The choice of where to have your car serviced and repaired
is yours. AS far as repairs covered by the warranty, you will probably
have to take the car back to the dealer. Thoroughly check your warranty
to be certain that the repairs are covered. |
| How does the quality of aftermarket parts compare with original
equipment parts? Some are manufactured by the same supplier and may
even be warranted longer than original equipment parts. |
| If I do have a warranty-related problem with a dealership, what
rights do I have? If you have a problem, contact the customer
service department of the car manufacturer and ask for assistance. They
are concerned with customer satisfaction, and may be able to help. If
not, call the Federal Trade Commission at (202) 326-3128. |
Click here for a
list of auto repair and service centers in your area.
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