Daily Car Care

Owning a vehicle these days is a fairly easy task... the tough bit comes later.
The best and most efficient method of learning about your car is by going through the owner's manual which provides complete information on every component of your car.
You should inspect your car every time you enter it, or on a daily or weekly basis or at intervals as recommended in the manual.

You will avoid strange expensive repair bills if you ensure that you take your car for frequent service as recommended.
Car owners must develop a good car maintenance culture and with the tips below you will soon be on your way to becoming a good car owner.

Battery
Check the water level regularly and top up with distilled water. Keep battery terminals clean. Smear them with Vaseline to minimise corrosion.

To Prolong the Life of Your Battery Keep battery terminals clean and dry at all times  Top up the battery fluid with distilled water  Maintain correct fluid level, but never overfill your battery  Disconnecting your battery? Check your car manual first to ensure your computer memory or radio code won’t be lost  Don’t leave your battery standing for long periods without being charged ......More.....

Safe Handling
Take care when handling or working around a battery. They contain sulphuric acid, and also give off explosive hydrogen gases. Keep children and naked flames away from batteries. Should you get any acid on your skin, or the car paintwork, wash off with plenty of fresh water.

Cleaning
Regularly cleaning windows and headlights enhances visibility. Keeping the interior windscreen clean and clear is also important for visibility, especially on a cold wet night. Also check the windshield washer jets have any blockages, and ensure that they are positioned correctly. Cleaning and adjustment can be done by gently inserting a pin. Ensure that your wiper fluid is toped up regularly either with Water or the recommended wiper fluid.

Cooling System
Check engine coolant levels regularly, preferably once a week, do so when the engine has cooled down. Low coolant level will cause engine to overheat and may cause serious damage to the engine. Check radiator and heater hoses for leaks, cracks, or swelling. Replace as necessary.

How to check the engine coolant level:
The coolant level should be between "LOW" and "FULL" marks in the coolant overflow tank as in the picture. If it's lower, top it up. If there is no coolant in overflow tank or you have to top it up quite often, have your car inspected in the garage, possibly there is a coolant leak.
Never open the radiator or coolant overflow tank when the engine is hot!

Fan Belts
Check fan belts for correct adjustment, cracks or fraying. Have them replaced as necessary. Ensure that your mechanic checks on the fan belt and the respective brackets that hold it into position every time you take your car for service. Keep a new one in the boot as an emergency spare.

Leaking Fluid
Look under your vehicle for signs of fluid leakage (excluding normal air conditioning drainage). This is a good way to recognize a potential problem before it becomes a major repair. Have it attended to immediately.

Service
Have your vehicle serviced according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, or every 5,000 km or six months.

Tyres Check tyre pressure regularly at least once a month and before any long journey/safari. Do not forget the spare tyre. Refer to the owner’s manual and ensure that you rotate tyres regularly after every second service or oil change. This ensures that all the tyres will wear equally. Uneven tyre wear would indicate that your tyres are not balanced properly. Have the tyres balanced once you have rotated them. Check the tread for adequate depth and even wear. If the tyres are wearing unevenly, it indicates a possible steering or suspension problem. If the car pulls to one side or feels unstable on the road have the alignment checked.

Wipers
Inspect your wiper blades regularly, at least once a week. Clean them, or replace, as you see fit. During the wet months, make sure that they are in tip top shape to avoid poor visibility while driving.

Strange Smells
A Strange smells emanating from your car is a symptom that something is wrong. They should never be ignored, and immediate attention could save you a large amount of money in the future.
The possible causes may be:

• Musty odours this could indicate that there is possibly something damp in your car e.g. trapped water under the carpet, or mats or wet seats. This water will ruin the carpet and mats and also speed up or cause corrosion. The best solution for this is to remove the carpets and mats and dry up both the carpet the floor and wet seats.
  
• Smoke. Any electrical smoky smells are dangerous and it is recommended that you stop the car, shut down, open the bonnet, disconnect the batteries and seek professional help. Causes of smoky smells include burning of the heat proof lining inside the engine space. It is very important to trace the cause. Smoke could result in a full blown fire so ensure that you have a fire extinguisher in your car for emergencies.
  
• Fuel smells usually occur either when the fuel tank venting is choked or if there has been an overflow or a fuel leak. Leaks are very dangerous and must be located to avoid other dangerous disasters.
  
• Oil or exhaust smells from the engine may occur. This is either due to excess engine oil, or overheated or burning old engine oil.
  
• A sweat smell emanates when varnish is being burnt which occurs when your dynamo or alternator is about to pack up and would, usually be accompanied by flickering lights.
  
• Burning rubber smells of overheated tyres or a result of you’re driving with your brakes on.

Strange sounds
Due to all the noise around us as drivers, traffic sounds, car stereo, passengers etc any strange sound in the car might be ignored. However, if the problem persists, the car will make its condition known every time you take a corner or ride over a bump. Some sounds are unique to each car and can only be deciphered by the owner. Some of the strange sounds could be:-

• Strange clicking while taking a turn from the front wheels means that the front shaft is about to fall apart. Have it attended to immediately.
  
• A fan-belt squeal means that another one is needed.
  
• Rhythmic clicks from the wheel indicate faulty bearings at worst or just large pebbles stuck in the tread pattern at the best.
  
• A change in engine tone usually indicates engine overheating, especially if you have been driving at constant speeds for a long time. Stopping or varying the engine speed should be enough if there is no severe problem. Otherwise, let the car cool down and then check radiator and water levels.
  
• Backfiring while normal driving means serious problems and should be properly investigated. Promptly.
  
• Engine knocks means that it is time to get into a lower gear. If it persists, however, it is time to get your engine and engine oil checked.
• Strange 'hiccups' while driving indicate faulty fuel which would in turn cause faulty carburator or fuel injector. If there is unequal or wrong air pressure in tyres, it is evident on braking. Unexplained shudders in braking indicate problems in suspension or linkages.

Safari Checklist

Going on Safari, make sure that you give you car a once over a few days before embarking on your journey. This allows for any service or part replacement before the material day. It’s also important to drive the car around so as to confirm that it’s in order after coming from the garage, to ensure that all is working well and that it will give you a safe and comfortable drive.

Prior to Departure

• Tyres: Check air pressure of your tyres, including the spare. Under-inflation is a leading cause of tyre failures and blowouts.
  
• Warnings lights: Ensure there are no vehicle warning and reminder indicator lights on and that any outstanding vehicle services have been performed.
  
• Checks: Ensure all weekly checks recommended in the owner's handbook have been performed:
  
• Batteries: Weak batteries can lead to breakdowns, possibly at the worst time and place. Check the battery fluid, terminals and if the battery requires replacement do so before embarking on the journey. Carry a set of jumper cables especially if you are going on a long safari.
  
• Brakes: Let your mechanic inspect the brakes and confirm that they are functioning properly with full braking capability.
  
• Windshield wipers: Replace any old or worn windshield wipers so as to avoid situations of poor visibility. Check the windshield wiper jets and ensure that they are also working properly. Top up the wiper fluid accordingly.
  
• Headlamps: Check and confirm that all the lamps are working. Ensure that the headlights are properly aimed and that all the bulbs are working.
  
• Oil: Change the oil and filter at recommended intervals to minimise engine wear and reduce the possibility of internal damage. Check the owner's manual for recommended intervals.
  
• Fluid levels: Check all the fluid levels (coolant, oil, power steering, transmission, brake fluid and even washer solvent) so as to ensure that you get optimum vehicle performance, durability and safety.
  
• Belts and hoses: Have your mechanic check all the belts and hoses. A broken belt or ruptured hose can cause costly engine damage and travel delays.
  
• Wheel alignment: Check your tyres and confirm that they are properly aligned and balanced. It’s important to have this done before undertaking a long safari. Incorrect alignment makes the wheels drag, which increases fuel consumption and causes uneven and premature tyre wear.
  
• Restrain loose items: If you are travelling with luggage, where possible, stow articles in the luggage compartment and ensure that they are firmly stowed. Where possible fit a roof rack to store additional items on the roof (as per recommendations in owner’s manual) and a cargo barrier to avoid loose objects entering the cabin. Check load capacity in the owner's manual.
  
• Mass distribution: Loading the vehicle changes the handling of the vehicle. After loading, be sure to take time to become familiar with the feel of the vehicle.
  
• Towing: Check the owner’s manual to confirm how towing and recovery should be done. If you are towing a trailer check wiring, lights and towing hitch tyres and pressures (trailer tyre pressures should be higher than car tyres around 40PSI). Make sure caravans are loaded correctly, placing most weight forward of the trailer axle to ensure there is sufficient weight on the tow bar. This reduces sway.

On the Road

Do not speed: Stay within the speed limits at all times. Power naps: Try to avoid driving at times when you would normally be sleeping. If tired or fatigued pull over and sleep for 15 to 20 minutes. Share the driving: If your passenger or passengers are licensed, share the drive. Change drivers at least every two hours. Safe distance: Leave a minimum two second gap between your vehicle and the one in front. If towing, driving four-wheel-drive or if it's raining increase to a four-second gap. Time: Accept that during the holiday period it may take a little longer to get to your destination.