I don't know about you, but one of the biggest expenses I have is my car. I feel like there is always something that needs to be fixed, replaced or watched. This article gives me an opportunity to share with you some of the preventative maintenance knowledge that I have picked up over my years as a car owner. 

Last month I had to have my brakes replaced. I knew they needed to be replaced because they stopped working. I made an appointment with a repair shop and then realized I wouldn't be able to wait three days. Going against everything I knew to be true (i.e., never, never, never see a specialist) I left my car with a brake specialist. Two hours later the problem was diagnosed - I needed new brakes.

Unfortunately the $75 dollars I was quoted over the phone suddenly ballooned to $340 when I added on rotors, pads, labor, tires, oil change, and new bumper; all things that were required for a brake change at this facility.

Of course I called my dad to confer. His response? "You're a smart girl. Do it yourself." I picked up my car, bought new brake pads, parked the car in the driveway and with some assistance from my 16-year-old, freakishly strong cousin, had the brakes changed in about an hour. Final cost: $16.00. And I feel safe. And I feel good about taking care of the problem myself.

I love being a girl. The chick flicks; the hair care products; the extensive wardrobe; what's not to love? The one time I wish I am a boy is when my car starts making suspicious ticking noises and I have to head to an auto shop. I tell you, all the lash-doubling mascara in the world isn't going to make that experience pleasant. It's a matter of trust. I assume that because I'm female I will not get an honest answer or a fair price.

I've learned to operate on a preventative level so that my trips to the mechanic are few and far between. It helps to have a dad and brother to troubleshoot common problems and advise me on their severity.

Sample conversation:

Me: "So, I'm driving along and when I turn the wheel I hear a kind of clickity clickity clickity noise. Is that bad?"

Dad: "By clickity do you mean tick tick tick, or do you mean bumpata bumpata?"

Me: "More of a da da da da da, but it matches the speed of the car, if that helps."

Dad: "No, that doesn't help. But it sounds fine."

Me: "So, you don't think my tire is going to go flying off my car while I'm all alone and driving at night?"

Dad: "No."

Drive it until it dies. It's almost the family motto.

On that reassuring note, October is National Car Month and whether your buy new or drive an old one into the ground, a car can be a large expense. Preventative maintenance can save you some costly repairs in the future, so here is what you need to know:

Oil Changes:
M y father always told me if you want your car to run forever always do regular oil changes. When you change the oil you should always change the oil filter too! Read your owners manual to find out how often you need to change your car's oil (usually between 3,000-7,000 miles).

Brakes:
Generally on a front wheel drive vehicle (most sedans) your front brakes will be good for 40,000 miles and your back brakes for 60,000.

Check Once a Week:

• Check the Oil
• Check Coolant Level-in the summer your mix should be 70% water and 30% antifreeze, in the winter 70% antifreeze and 30% water.
• Windshield Washer Fluid
• Tire Pressure-you can purchase a tire gauge at your local Wal Mart or other automotive store. The wall of your tires should indicate the min. and max. PSI (the amount of air it can safely hold) for each tire, use that as your guide.
• Power Steering Fluid - Check the level of the power steering fluid using the dipstick attached to the fluid reservoir cap. If the level is low, top it up and check the whole system for leaks.
• Brake Fluid - Check the fluid level in the master cylinder. If it is low, top it up and have the system checked for leaks. Every two years, you should flush the system and refill it with fresh brake fluid. If you are not sure which fluid to use, ask your mechanic.

*Check your owners manual if you are not sure where the gauges are for the above mentioned fluids.

Things to Check Once a Quarter:

• Check Your battery and charging system
• Check and replace all hoses that are cracked or have cuts in them.
• Automatic Transmission Fluid - Check the fluid level and color, using the transmission dipstick. If the fluid is low, top it up to the full line. If the fluid is brown or black, change the fluid and the filter. Regardless of the color, you should change the fluid and the filter every two years.
• Suspension-press down hard and firm on the left front fender (repeat on right side), if the car bounces more than once or twice you need new shock absorbers.
• Wiper Blades

Things to Check Bi-Annually:

You can easily remember to check these items if you do it after each Saturday session of General Conference.

Things to Check Once a Year:

Other Things to Watch For:

Additional information can be found here:

Sikorsky, Robert: Drive It Forever, Your key to long automotive life, updated and expanded McGraw Hill, 1983.

Ramsey, Dan: The Idiot's Guide To Car Repair, alpha books, 1997.

Fix It Yourself, Basic Car Care, Time Life Books Inc., 1987

www.accessconnect.com
www.carhelpcanada.com
www.edmunds.com

Maintenance Records  

For me, it is so hard to remember when we had the 60,000 mile tires put on my car, or when I last replaced my brake pads.

NO MORE!! I have come up with a fool proof plan to keeping track of your cars maintenance schedule. All you need is a small (will fit in your glove box) notebook. Dig out all of your old receipts (I know they are all shoved into your glove box) and record them by mileage (not date) in your little notebook. This way you will be sure to know when something was replaced and therefore when it will need to be done again.

How to Find a Good Mechanic

(taken from : The Idiots Guide to Car Repair, Dan Ramsey)

Preparing for a Safe Winter

Wintertime is very unfriendly to a vehicle. Cold temperatures make it harder for an engine to work properly. Snow and ice limit traction. Potholes damage wheels and tires. Salt causes rust and gravel pits the paint. But there are things you can do to help your vehicle in this time of duress. Following are some easy steps to "winterize" your car. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

1. Consider using snow tires. The condition of your car's tires is critical during the winter. Braking, acceleration and handling all suffer if you drive on worn tires on slippery roads. If you don't switch to snow tires, at least check the traction on your existing tires. Having them rotated might be enough to increase performance.

2. Inspect the wipers and wiper fluid. Visibility is particularly key in winter when rain, snow, salt and reduced daylight make it hard to see. The life expectancy of a wiper blade is one year. If your car's blades are older, replace them. Also check and fill your wiper fluid reservoir. A severe winter storm is the worst possible time to run out of wiper fluid or to discover your blades aren't performing properly. Imagine this: A big truck blasts by you, spraying your windshield with dirty slush. You turn on your worn-down summer wipers, and watch helplessly as they create a nice mud-pie smear across your windshield. You hit another button to squirt out some washer fluid (which is water, since you didn't change it to antifreeze washer fluid), and freeze your mud-pie solid. Not fun. Not safe, either.

3. Check the battery. A battery gives little notice before it kicks off. And it absolutely loves to croak when you are driving alone in the rain and can least afford to replace it. Very cold temperatures can reduce a vehicle's battery power by up to 50 percent. If your vehicle battery is older than three years, have it tested at a certified automotive repair facility. Also, make sure the posts and connections are free of corrosion.

4. Prepare for snow and ice. Keep a windshield scraper and small broom for ice and snow removal.

5. Keep the gas tank full. Maintain at least a half tank of gas throughout the winter season.

6. Plan long trips carefully. Listen to the local media report, call law enforcement agencies, or check the Internet for the latest road conditions. Have designated check in points where you call a family member or friend to confirm your safety. A long winter trip was the main reason I got a cellular phone. I feel much safer on the road knowing that I can call someone to come rescue me in an emergency.

7. Carry an emergency kit inside the car. Wintertime requires you to load more junk into the back of your vehicle. But hey, better safe than sorry, right? Things you might want to consider carrying: