When a car does what it ’s supposed to do , it ’s fairly easy to take it for grant . But thing can ( and do ) go incorrectly with no notice at all . Sometimespartsfail without any kind of warning – without a seemliness period that would have you know something ’s wrong so that you might have a opportunity to fix it . But let ’s face it ; most drivers are hangdog of ignoring job with their vehicles at some point or another . And that ’s the first ( potentially ) fatal flaw . But it gets even worse when the trouble is " fixed " improperly . We ’ve compose a leaning of some plebeian auto maintenance problems to watch over for , whether you service your railcar yourself or even if you pay a pro to do it for you . And do n’t concern , it ’s fine if you choose tooutsourceyour motorcar care – we wo n’t judge .
10: Roaming Around with Burned-out Lights
Compared to most othercar maintenance , it ’s comparatively comfortable and inexpensive to supplant loose bulbs . So do it . You should bed passably quickly if yourheadlightsor high beams burn out since you wo n’t be able to see , and the turn signal indicators on your dah should clue you in if something ’s wrong there . Running brightness , tail lamp and brake igniter are n’t quite as obvious , so just take a look every now and then .
And when they do bite out , pull out your possessor ’s manual of arms and replace them . It ’s not toilsome ; it ’s not dangerous . Getting pulled over for a burn off - out luminance is just additional stress you do n’t involve , and getting hit because another driver could n’t see you is just ridiculous . Both of these likely issue will be a destiny more expensive , too .
9: Attempting a Jump Start Without Really Knowing How
lay jumper cables in your trunk does n’t mean you automatically know how tojump - start a car , but at least you did it before your barrage fire died , right ? But if you do n’t usejumper cablesproperly , you’re able to fry your car … or yourself . Though the routine is really simple , you should learn how to do it before you actually demand to . Not standing on the side of the highway while study this article on your phone . That ’s serious .
Here ’s the stuff a tone - by - step guidebook might leave out : First , get out of the way oftraffic . Common sense ( or ego - preservation instinct ) should tell you not to fume . Less obvious , but otherwise logical , you should wear center protection , ensure the two car are parked so they ’re unaired but not touching and check no cable or connector ends relate anything other than the correct terminals . Do n’t keep crank if it does n’t fire up – just give it a little more prison term . And make certain the inflammation is switch off in both cars before you start attach cables . Even the dead one .
8: Haphazard Electric Work
You would n’t tackle a wiring project in your star sign without turning off the power at the source and then twice - checking at the situation of the problem , right ? ( Well , let ’s hope you would n’t , anyway . ) Same matter with your car . A little laziness might get you zap .
Some self-propelled pro say that the stream in your railroad car is n’t strong enough to really hurt you but it ’s always better to be on the secure side , which means assuming that you could support injury [ author : AA1Car ] . Even if you do n’t suffer an electric impact , you could easily start an electrical ardor , or possibly overload your car ’s wiring or other electrical components . So , you should get it on what you ’re take with ahead of time . verify your car is off when it needs to be off ( which would be most of the clip ) and remember to disconnect ( and then isolate ) the battery ’s negative cable . And if you drive a hybrid car with ahigh - voltage battery , debar affect the stamp battery at all costs . Since hybrid are designed specifically for heavy - duty electric king , the barrage has much more shock potential than an median car and can cause hurt on contact .
7: Assuming Bald Tires will last a bit Longer
It ’s always tempting to essay to squeeze a few more miles out of yourrubber , but it ’s sure as shooting not wise . You ask to give your car what it needs to maintain right contact with the road . believe of all you require your automobile to do for you , every individual day . Now imagine picking up the kids from school in a snowstorm wear out flip - flops , or take the dog for a rivulet while wear stiletto . It ’s all untimely . Your feet need expert equipment to get the job done . So does your car .
If you do n’t have sex how quondam your cable car ’s tires are ( you bought your car secondhand , or you ’re not a punctilious receipt- or record - keeper ) chance are you ’re probably due for a Modern set . Even if the stride depend decent , rubber deteriorates over time . The damage might not be easy to see , but miniscule cracks cause release of geomorphologic rigidity , which think the tire ca n’t perform as design . If the rubber disintegrates where thetreadjoins the tyre , the pace can split ( yup , just like a semi - truck ) . Not really deserving taking the prospect , is it ?
6: Sloppy Lube Job During Brake Repair
Even though brake jobs typically are n’t ( strictly speaking ) all that difficult , a lot of amateur grease monkey like to hire a pro for this kind of work . And it ’s perceivable . Screwing up a brake job can have pretty serious consequence , for obvious reasons . Your auto ’s bracken work out because of rubbing . It ’s not alone that simple , but that ’s the basic rule . When you press ( or slam ) the brakes , hydraulic atmospheric pressure in the organisation make yourbrake calipersand brake pads force in , and this friction causes your wheels to slow down .
That ’s a lot of friction , and it depends on a lot of move role . Moving parts require lube , or else they ’ll grab . So when you ’re contract bracken components apart and redact them back together , you ’ll demand to utilise bracken - organisation - specific grime to make certain everything ’s operate at top - notch mental ability . And if you ’re working with the axle , there ’s a strong fortune you ’ll be using oily substances in the Pteridium aquilinum vicinity . Either mode , you ’ll want to be highly heedful with lube software – it ’s essential . It take the precision of carve a really expensive steak , or yield someone a tattoo . If axle grease orcaliper lubegets on the rubbing Earth’s surface of the brake pads or rotors , your elevator car ’s brake wo n’t work . Not at all .
5: Forgetting to Torque the Lug Nuts
Even thoughPopular Mechanics has this William Christopher Handy tutorialthat explicate how to attain the proper amount of strength for lug nuts , do n’t permit that restrain you . If you negociate to change out a wheel ( or rotate all four corners ) without dump the car off the Jack-tar , you should be capable to handle simple lug addict installation . Just say your owner ’s manual for the right spectacles and use a torsion wrench . That ’s what they ’re made for .
But apparently , plenty of masses ca n’t seem to get this right field . So , after buy the farm through all the effort of moving the wheels around for atire rotationor replacement , they scamper off with the wheels insufficiently bolted on . estimate what – they wo n’t be on for long . Note also the very genuine hypothesis of over - tightening the lug testis – it may be a little less obvious than under - tightening , but it has standardised consequences . Instead of a wanton wheel simply wobbling until it works its way off , all the tautness of driving compound to further stress out the over - tense lugs . unlawful measure of alloy - on - metal friction ensue , and over sentence , something ’s acquire ta give . The lug nut or the rack stud , being the smallest parts of the equality ( and belike damaged by over tightening ) , may eventually snap - off . Not respectable .
4: Forgetting to Replace Drained Fluids
Fluids have a lot of purpose in a car – and believe it or not , most of them are equally as significant as petrol . rightful , without fuel , you ’re not going anywhere … but that ’s probably the worst that ’ll pass off ( assume you ’re out of harm ’s way when you actually start to struggle out ) . Your railcar ’s other liquids actually bear a expectant burden , too . mayhap even heavy than the expensive clobber you cauterize to keep go .
You always need oil – if your engine ’s moving parts go dry , they ’ll seize up for effective . Same with the contagion fluid . Brake fluid helps maintain proper force per unit area within the brake system . And your car’scoolant(aka antifreeze ) maintain things from getting too red-hot or too cold – running out of any of these fluids can be black .
And everyone ’s heard revulsion history about a minimum - wage technical school at the local outstation of the national lube Ernst Boris Chain who forgot to refill theoilafter a alteration , right ? Well , those thing materialise . It can occur to the so - name pro and it can befall to you , too . So if you ’re DIY - ing it up in your service department , double- and then triple - cheque that you replaced whatever liquidity you drain . It does n’t hurt to check after your auto-mechanic ’s done , either . If you have sex that up , it wo n’t matter that you ’re always out of windshield automatic washer fluid .
3: Forgetting to Tighten the Oil Filter
It come in right on the heel of like advice , but still , we ca n’t emphasize this enough : If your engine is n’t circulate the proper amount of oil , it wo n’t be long before you ’re calling for a tow hand truck .
Mike Allen , of Popular Mechanics , says it ’s significant to have the correct size pull to dispatch and replace your oil filter – if the twist wrap around the tin too generally , it might feel like you ’re crank hard without in reality making any progress . If you switch filter types , your honest-to-god wrench might not act anymore . ensure you assure the fit before you exit the role counter .
You should be able to install your oil filter by hired hand ; however , once the filter is hired hand - tight you ’ll need the wrench to crank it down the final half - turning . It ’s really significant to make trusted you do that last part . A loose filter will before long institutionalize your locomotive ’s oil spewing everywhere . In that character , yes , yourenginecould seize ; but it ’s more likely that afireunder the exhaust hood will put an end to your drive before that happens .
2: Ignoring Warning Lights
word of advice light are kind of like the little boy who exclaim wolf – you know you demand an oil change , but thatcheck engine lightcomes on all the fourth dimension , good ? The sad truth is this : It ’s moderately comfortable to get desensitize to those dashboard monition lights . A quite a little of the time , there ’s really nothing wrong … or at least , you think you know what ’s wrong and you ’ll get around to it – eventually . There ’s nothing wrong with getting to know your railroad car this way . In fact , it ’s proficient . But when your car is trying to order you something , you really should heed , even if you ’d really rather not hear what its saying . And that ’s precisely what warning lights are for . Conundrum !
At the very least , you should know what all the warning indicator mean – if one come on and it ’s not intimate to you , face it up in your proprietor ’s manual of arms . If it ’s something you’re able to well fix yourself ( broken tyre pressurewould be a good deterrent example ) , go do it . rather is better than later . See ? You fixed it ! How satisfying ! And if a word of advice Inner Light bespeak something more complicated is going on , it ’s a good idea to have your car looked at by a professional . Becoming immune to your railcar ’s outcry for help might be less expensive in the curt run , but definitely not in the long run .
1: Flouting Safety Recalls
Sometimes safetyrecallshappen because an automaker finds a problem . Sometimes a callback is ordered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA ) , which keeps detailed phonograph record of consumer automotive complaints . The recalls might be major safety worry – like explode tires or ego - speed gun foot pedal . Others might seem trivial in comparison – flake off clean-cut pelage on your wheels is n’t pretty , but it wo n’t take to your imminent dying .
Major recalls ordinarily make the news . Yourcar ’s manufactureror the franchise will probably hear to contact you by chain armour . you’re able to also see on-line , or call your dealership – which is especially useful if you bought a used car because the dealership can extend your car ’s VIN to see if there are any other outstanding recall on that make and model year . And if you ever have to pay for the franchise to fix a safety issue that is n’t already part of a recall , keep your paperwork – if your motorcar is recalled in the future for related return , you might be eligible for reimbursement . from time to time , someone else is willing to take responsibility for your car – do n’t squander such a rare opportunity .
Lots More Information
There are so many slow , dangerous , irresponsible and idiotic things you may do to a automobile that it was hard to constringe this listing down to just 10 . I saw quite a few examples when I traveled a few hundred mile at a time to attend regional and national shows with my car cabaret . Once , a few of the guys made an parking brake transmitting repair in a hotel parking lot with the railroad car balanced on four jack stands – the cheap , thin I – the morning after a long drive followed by an all - night bender , surrounded by people showing off and doing burnouts . Car shows are sometimes a circus of desperate , ill - thought - out or seemed - like - a - safe - musical theme - at - the - meter fixture .
So I did n’t fill this clause with clobber like that . The kind of clobber I do n’t think I have to severalise you not to do , because I ca n’t imagine a situation in which anyone else would ever have to do it .
