Take good care of your car
It’s important to familiarise yourself with the manufacturer’s requirements and recommendations.
Caring for your car is not only good for you and other road users, but can also extend the life of your vehicle.
Warren Castles, a technician with 16 years’ experience and owner of WRK Vehicle Maintenance in Brakpan, shared his top vehicle maintenance tips:
• Read the owner’s manual
Cars do not have identical maintenance needs, so it’s important to familiarise yourself with the manufacturer’s requirements and recommendations for the safe and proper operation and maintenance of your vehicle.
READ: Maintenance is crucial as motorists keep their cars for more than 10 years
• Make sure fluids are monitored
Engine coolant, engine oil, power-steering and brake fluids are like a blood stream for cars.
If you need to top these up regularly, it may be time for a service or vehicle health check.
• Listen to and feel your car’s operation
If something sounds or feels abnormal, it shouldn’t be ignored.
Make note of the conditions when a new “feel” or noise occurs – if it’s at a certain speed, during specific weather conditions, etc. and make a video or audio recording of it to share with your mechanic for quicker diagnostics to be done.
• Never ignore a warning light
The colour of the warning light generally also assists in understanding the criticality of a fault.
Amber is a “heads up” or reminder whereas red is critical and must be reported to your mechanic immediately.
• Check your tyre pressure on a monthly basis
Check the tyres when they are “cold” as checking pressure when they’re warm will give an incorrect pressure reading.
Tyre pressure that is too high or too low will affect your car’s fuel efficiency, increases wear-and-tear and affects how your vehicle handles while driving.
Your vehicle’s correct tyre pressure should be indicated on the driver’s door jamb or in the owner’s manual.
• Rotate your tyres
Another way of ensuring your tyres last longer is to rotate them either according to the manufacturer’s recommendations or at every service.
Because front and rear tyres wear differently, rotating them equalises natural wear patterns, thereby extending their life and maintaining a smooth, safe ride.
• Prevent ignition switch failure
To prevent ignition switch failure, limit the number of other keys or keychains on your car keys.
Extra weight and movement of the keys as you drive will cause the tumblers inside the ignition to wear.
• If the car engine is off, make sure everything else is off too
Leaving car electricals, such as the radio or lights, on if the engine is not running will drain the battery and could leave you stranded.
READ: Top 20 driving and road safety habits worth adopting
• Make sure you have your car keys with you
Many new vehicle models have a self-locking feature, so don’t leave the keys in the ignition.
Make sure your keys are with you before closing the boot or any doors so you don’t find yourself needing a locksmith or break-down service.
• Avoid using multiple mechanics
Finding one reliable mechanic with whom you can build a relationship means he will know your car, it’s repair history and any quirks it may have, making it easier to troubleshoot and solve any issues.
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