Pre-Summer Preparations

You definitely can't change the summer heat, but you can make sure your car is ready to face it and keep you comfortable during your summer rides.

img src: http://shadesofpinkmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/summer-car-care-tips.jpg

• Make sure your car has tires suitable for the summer weather conditions.
• Have the A/C system checked.
• Make sure the engine's cooling system is working perfectly to avoid overheating .
• If your car doesn't use oil suitable for year-round use, it's better to switch to thicker oil that protects engine components better when it's hot.
• Don't forget the basic checks which you should be doing all year round:  FLOWER Basic Checks        

Dashboard Lights

Nowadays cars have different self-check actions which alert the driver in case of malfunction through the dashboard warning lights.
it's important for the driver to know whether a warning light requires immediate attention or whether he can continue his journey and get a garage to investigate later.

If a warning light comes on or doesn't turn off after having started the engine, the driver should stop as soon as possible in a safe place.

Oil Pressure

If the light stays on after starting or illuminates during a journey, stop immediately, switch off the engine and check the engine oil level.
Add the necessary amount of oil if the oil level is low.
If the warning lamp illuminates, even though the oil level is correct, do not start the engine and seek assistance.

Battery charge

If this light doesn't illuminate when you start the engine and switches off or illuminates and doesn't switch off, or if it illuminates while driving, your battery is not being charged.
The reason could be one of the following:

• slack battery or starter terminal
• a broken or loose alternator drive belt
• an alternator failure

If the drive belt is broken, it must be replaced before you restart the engine. The coolant system may rely on this belt and its failure could cause the engine to overheat, in turn causing engine damage. Immediately move the vehicle to a safe location and switch off the engine. Do not restart the engine and seek assistance.

Engine warning light

Illuminates when the ignition is switched on. Should extinguish as soon as the engine starts. If it illuminates with the engine running, it indicates a malfunction with the engine management system. Have this checked as soon as possible.
If it flashes when driving, reduce the vehicle speed immediately until the light illuminates constantly. If it continues to flash, avoid heavy acceleration and high engine speed, stop the vehicle and have it checked immediately.
If it is safe to do so, try stopping the vehicle, switching off the engine, wait two minutes, then restarting the engine to reset the engine management system.

Brake system

This light will remain illuminated when the handbrake is engaged. Illumination after releasing the handbrake may indicate low brake fluid level.
As the brakes wear the fluid level will slowly drop. Check your brake fluid level frequently to ensure there is no further rapid loss of fluid.
If the brake fluid is too low and brake pedal travel is distinctly longer than usual, one of the two hydraulic brake circuits may have failed. Do not continue your journey and seek assistance.
If the light remains illuminated, even though the brake fluid level is correct, this may indicate a sensor fault. Take your vehicle to a dealer or garage as soon as possible.

Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) partially blocked

Diesel Particulate filters (DPF) catch bits of soot in the exhaust.
They have to be emptied regularly to maintain performance. For a DPF this process is called 'regeneration' – the accumulated soot is burnt off at high temperature to leave only a tiny ash residue. Regeneration may be either passive or active.
Passive regeneration takes place automatically on motorway-type runs when the exhaust temperature is high. 
If the journey's a bit stop/start the regeneration may not complete and the warning light will illuminate to show that the DPF is partially blocked.
It should be possible to start a complete regeneration and clear the warning light by driving for 10 minutes or so at speeds greater than 40mph.

ABS warning light
When the ignition is switched on, the light illuminates briefly to confirm that the system is operational.
If it illuminates when driving, it indicates a malfunction. Have this checked as soon as possible.

Brake system and ABS warning lights

If both warning lights illuminate at the same time when driving, stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
Reduce vehicle speed gradually and immediately move the vehicle to a safe location. Use the brakes with great care. Do not step on the brake pedal abruptly. Seek assistance.

Fuel filter water trap (diesel engines)

This light illuminates when the ignition is switched on and should extinguish after a few seconds.
If it illuminates while driving, it indicates that water has been detected in the fuel filter.
This light warns you that the amount of accumulated water in the fuel filter has reached the specified level.
Normally the vehicle is quite safe to drive, but have the accumulated water in the fuel filter drained off as soon as possible.
If the vehicle has just been re-fueled, immediately move the vehicle to a safe location and switch off the engine. The fuel may have been contaminated and could cause damage to the injection system.

source: http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/breakdown_advice/warning_lights.html

FLOWER Basic Checks

To download the rules: http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/breakdown_advice/flower-power.pdf

Source:  theaa.com

How to check if you need new tires

Tires get old and worn down. And because a tire failure while you're driving can be catastrophic, causing your car to go out of control or leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere, you want to know when your tires are in bad shape so you can get new ones before something goes wrong.

Tread Depth: The tread on your tires should never fall below 1.6 millimeters in depth. If you regularly drive on slick, wet surfaces, you'd be even better off with twice that much. 



The Tread Wear Indicator Bar: Newer tires have tread wear indicator bars built into the tires themselves. These bars, invisible or barely visible when the tires are new, gradually begin to appear as the tread wears down. They appear as flat rubber bars running perpendicular to the direction of the tread itself. If more than one or two of these are visible on a tire, the tread is getting low.

Cracks in the Sidewall: Look for tracks or cuts in the sidewall.This could be a sign that your tire is developing a leak (or worse, that it's nearly ready to blow out). This is definitely something you want to avoid.

Bulges and Blisters on the Tire: Sometimes the outer surface of the tire begins to weaken. The result can be a bulge or blister that extends outward from the rest of the surface. This weak spot can cause a sudden blow out, and if you don't put the car in the service center before this happens, it may end up putting you in the hospital when the tire blows out on the freeway. 

Too Much Vibration: A certain amount of vibration is inevitable when driving, especially on poorly paved roads, but if you've been driving for a while, you probably know how much vibration feels right and how much means that something's going wrong. There can be any of a number of causes for the vibration -- maybe your tires are misaligned or unbalanced, or your shock absorbers are starting to go. But it could also indicate that there's some sort of internal problem in the tire itself. Even if the tire isn't the root cause of the vibration, the vibration could damage the tire and pretty soon you'll have a problem. So if your car has a bad case of the shimmy-shimmy shakes, especially if you notice this when you aren't driving on bad roads, take it to the mechanic right away to have it checked out.

Source:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/5-warning-signs-you-need-new-tires.htm

Gas Saving Tip: A/C

What about the age-old question of whether you can save gas by turning off your air conditioner and rolling down your windows or whether you’re better off leaving your windows up and turning on your air conditioner?

It all depends on how fast you’re going. The tipping point is 60 mph. If you’re driving 60 mph or faster, it makes sense to roll up your windows and turn on the A/C. On the other hand, if you’re driving slower than 60, you can get better gas mileage by rolling down your windows and turning off the A/C. This has to do with aerodynamic drag. The faster you drive, the more drag, so if you roll up your windows, you reduce drag.

Engine Oil

What is the use of Engine Oil?

Lubricating oil prevents moving metal components seizing or bonding with each other.
Modern car engines need oils that are really durable, and last for many thousands of miles between services.

Modern oils protect against corrosion and sludge formation, and contain detergent additives to keep the engine clean.

The vehicle handbook includes information about the specification(s) of engine oil that are suitable for your engine.

Maintain the wiper blades of your car, by Bosch.

As the snow falls, we thought it might be a good time to share some preventative maintenance tips to help you get the most from your wiper blades.
1. You should never wipe your blades clean with a rag. This removes the graphite coating, which reduces friction and prevents blade jumping.

2. Clean ice, snow and dirt from your windshield before turning your on windshield wipers. Using the wiper blade to remove accumulated snow and ice will damage the blade, shortening its life and cost you more money.

3. If you’re expecting snow or sleet, lift the wiper arm to its upright position overnight or while parked so that the blade doesn’t freeze against your windshield.

Whether you're pushing the limits of your engine or driving around town, wouldn't you rather know that you can always rely on your wiper blades to see the road? Clear the way with Bosch ICON wiper blades. http://boschautoparts.com/ClearTheWay