Keep the cowl area (the screen or grate under the hood just below the
windshield) clean and free of leaves and debris. This is where the
heater/vent/air conditioner gets the air to blow through the heater core and
air conditioning evaporator core. When the leaves crumble and the debris
makes it's way into the HVAC system it can block the air flow through the
system, cause the cores to corrode and leak, and gum up the various air flow
directional doors.
During freezing weather, make sure that you shut off your windshield
wipers and that they are all the way down before you shut off the vehicle.
Before you get in and turn the key on the next time, make sure that the
wiper blades are not frozen to the windshield. If they are frozen, and the
wiper motor tries to move them, some expensive parts can be ruined.
Do you drive a pick up truck with a plastic bed liner? If you do, and you
go to the filling station to fill up a gas can, be sure to take the can out
of the bed and set it on the ground. Static electricity can build up due to
the flow of liquid through the hose and nozzle into the can. The plastic bed
liner is an insulator. Several instances of explosions and fire have been
traced to a spark of static electricity caused by the fuel can sitting on
the plastic liner.
Have you read your owner's manual? Believe it or not, many people are not
using all of the features of their vehicles simply because they have not
read the manual and do not know that the features exist. The manual also
contains the maintenance schedules. Following these schedules will help
insure that your vehicle will provide you with the maximum number of
economical, trouble free miles possible. If you cannot find your owner's
manual contact the dealer and they can provide you with another one as long
as they are still available.
Before replacing those streaking windshield wiper blades try cleaning the
windshield with a good glass cleaner and cleaning the rubber surfaces of the
blades with rubbing alcohol.
Quick! When was the last time you checked your tire pressure? Not only
will the proper tire pressure improve fuel mileage and handling; it will
also greatly reduce tire wear. Check your owner's manual for the proper
pressure.
Make a habit of checking your oil and coolant levels once a week. Check
them on the same day at the same time each week. For example, check them
every Saturday morning when you go out to get the paper. You do need to make
sure that the engine is cool before you remove the radiator cap.
After you wash your vehicle, or have it washed, be sure to use a water
displacing type of spray oil with a tube on the nozzle to lubricate the door
and trunk locks.
Carry last year's registration certificate with the current license number
written on it in your wallet. Should your vehicle be stolen the registration
has all the pertinent numbers that the police will need.
To adjust your outside rear view mirrors for optimum performance put your
head against the driver's window and adjust the left mirror so that you can
just see the left rear fender, to adjust the right mirror put your head on
the center line of the vehicle in the front seat and adjust the mirror so
that you can just see the right rear fender. To adjust the inside mirror
adjust it so that the center line of the vehicle is visible in the center of
the mirror.