Auto Repair & Maintenance for Beginners

g CONTENTS

Introduction

My car is doing something weird. What would cause that?

That question is why I decided to write this book. As an owner of a business that deals with automobiles, I’m constantly getting some form of that question from family, friends, and customers. Sometimes it’s a difficult question that requires me to retreat to my library in search of answers, and sometimes it’s common knowledge that everyone who owns a car should know.

When I began researching this book, I looked at what was already out there. So many books try to educate you to the point where you can describe exactly what’s happening in a four-cycle engine. I think that’s missing the point. You probably aren’t looking for that much information you just want to know why the car is making that funny rattle. Often, the expert wants to share their entire knowledge base with you, and all you want to know is if you need to get that thing checked out. I don’t typically respond to the above question with a full explanation of how the engine operates. Instead, I usually ask a follow-up question or two and then give you a few things to check. What you find will determine whether you can fix it yourself or if it’s time to take it to a professional.

The other problem that arose in writing this book was the fact that automobiles are changing and becoming more sophisticated every year. What was common knowledge a few years ago is now ancient history, so keeping this book relevant was a challenge.

To this end, I decided to write this book as if I were answering your direct question about what’s going on with your vehicle. I’ll start by answering questions that will most likely pop up while you own your car. I’ve asked other experts about what they want you to know about your car when you bring it to them and what you can do to prevent problems from arising. I won’t cover everything that might happen, but I will touch on the most common problems. I’ll give you some tips along the way on things you can do yourself, and how to stretch the life of an older car if you’re on a budget.

The aim is that you’ll keep this book to use with your future vehicles. If your friend who’s good with cars isn’t available, you’ll have somewhere to go to for the answers you need. Or perhaps you’re the uncle or parent who gives this book to a new driver who’s in need of some basic knowledge about their car. Either way, I hope this book serves you as well as your automobile does.

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CHAPTER 1

THE BASICS

The Basics | CONTENTS

IN THIS CHAPTER

What Every Driver Should Know

Types of Cars

A Look Under the Hood

Identifying Your Car’s Fluids

Finding a Good Mechanic

Routine Maintenance Checks

Ten Tips for Maintaining Your Car

g THE BASICS g CONTENTS

What Every Driver Should Know

There’s a lot of information in this book about how to take care of your car and not all of it will apply to you. But because you’re a car owner and driver, there are some things you need to know and some things you need to have with any vehicle you drive. Here are the things I — your mechanic, your emergency roadside service, your tire dealer, and your friend who’s good with cars—wants you to know when driving any vehicle. The rest is optional reading.

1. KNOW WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY ( CHAPTER 2 ).

You might have the best roadside service or automatic call-in on the planet, but it takes time for emergency and roadside help to arrive. You need to be able to secure yourself, your passengers, and your vehicle from harm.

2. UNDERSTAND HOW YOUR SAFETY SYSTEMS WORK.

Car manufacturers are always improving the safety of their vehicles by adding features, such as automatic braking and warning sounds, to alert you if you drift out of your lane or if there’s something in your blind spot. These features can be very helpful, but if you aren’t aware of them or don’t know how they work, they can cause panic or confusion when they engage. Familiarize yourself with your car’s safety features so you know what to expect.

It’s also important to know how passenger restraint systems, such as seat belts and airbags, work in your particular car. Height and distance restrictions are very important, especially for children.

3. CARRY YOUR OWNER’S MANUAL.

The owner’s manual contains a lot of information about your specific vehicle and what to do in emergency situations. Used cars might not always come with an owner’s manual. If you don’t have one, check with your dealer or go online to get one.

4. KNOW HOW TO INSPECT, MAINTAIN, AND CHANGE YOUR TIRES ( CHAPTER 14 ).

Carry a tire pressure gauge and inspect your tires regularly for signs of wear. Maintaining the correct air pressure will save fuel and prevent unnecessary wear. Regular inspections will alert you to any potential problems.

Even if you never have to change your own tire, you should know how to do it correctly and have the necessary equipment in your car. You need to know where your spare is located and how to get it out. The location of the spare might make it challenging to remove, so check to see if you’re capable of removing it and changing it yourself. If you buy a used car, make sure the spare is in good condition and be sure you have a jack and jack wrench in the car.

5. KNOW HOW TO CHECK THE FLUIDS IN YOUR CAR (see Types of Cars and A Look Under the Hood ).

Most people don’t check their fluids as frequently as they should. Like checking your tires, checking your fluids can prevent problems down the road.

6. KNOW HOW TO CHECK AND REPLACE FUSES ( CHAPTER 2 ).

Consult your owner’s manual so you know where to look if you have to change a fuse. Newer cars typically have two fuse boxes: one for high-power circuits and another for low-power circuits.

7. KNOW HOW TO CHECK COMPUTER CODES ( CHAPTER 10 ).

Your car can tell you more about itself than I can. If your car doesn’t show you the codes on your computer display, know how to use a scanner and read the computer error codes. This way, you know if the repair guy is being honest with you, and whether the problem is serious.

8. KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY JUMP-START YOUR VEHICLE ( CHAPTER 2 ).

As with changing a tire, you might never do this, but you need to know how to do it on your car. The battery isn’t always in a convenient location, and it’s easy to damage the electrical system if the car is jump-started incorrectly.

9. KNOW HOW TO FUEL YOUR CAR.

There are a lot of fuels available today: gasoline, E-85, methanol blends, bio fuels, and high and low octane. Not all fuels are compatible with all vehicles. Check your owner’s manual to see what kind of fuel your car is designed to use.

10. OWN A SHOP MANUAL.

For those who own an older car, plan on keeping their car for a long time, or simply can’t afford to take it to a professional, a shop manual is essential. Even if you never open it, if you ask for help or advice from a friend who’s good with cars, it’s the first thing your helper will ask you to provide.

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Types of Cars

Vehicles are categorized in two ways: how they’re powered (by engine, battery, or a combination) and how that power is transferred to the wheels (the drivetrain). Taken together, the power source and the drivetrain are called the power train. It’s important to know what kind of vehicle you have, because different vehicles perform and behave differently and require different maintenance.

POWER SOURCES

Most cars are powered in one of three ways: by a combustion engine, by one or more electric motors, or by a combination of both called a hybrid.

FUEL-BURNING ENGINES

Many vehicles on the road today use an engine to generate power by burning fuel. The most common types of fuel are gasoline, diesel, hydrogen, and methanol. The advantage of fuel-burning engines is they deliver plenty of power to move the car and generate lots of electricity to power computers, air conditioners, and other vehicle amenities. The disadvantage to fuel-burning engines is most of them produce harmful emissions, and require additional equipment to help keep pollution to a minimum.

ELECTRIC MOTORS

Electric vehicles use energy stored in a battery (or batteries), which power one or more electric motors to drive the wheels. Because electric motors don’t burn fuel, they don’t generate any harmful emissions. The downside to electric cars is they have limited range, and using energy-intensive features, such as air conditioning and power windows, can drain power quickly. Electric batteries are also expensive to replace.

HYBRIDS

A hybrid vehicle has a battery (or batteries) and an electric motor as well as a fuel-burning engine. The electric motor can be used to drive the wheels, and the engine can generate electricity to charge the battery and supply power to drive the wheels. This dual power source results in greater engine efficiency and reduces emissions. Hybrids come in many sizes and rival conventional engine-driven cars in abilities.

DRIVETRAINS

The drivetrain is the mechanism used to transfer the power generated by the engine or motor to the wheels that move the car. The components of the drivetrain vary depending on the orientation of the engine in relationship to the driving wheels. Most cars on the market today use one of three configurations: rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, or four-wheel drive (also called all-wheel drive).

REAR-WHEEL DRIVE

In a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, the rear wheels are the drive wheels. They receive the power from the engine through the drivetrain and push the car, while the front wheels are used for steering. Most rear-wheel-drive vehicles have the engine at the front of the car, which means the power to drive the wheels travels through a transmission, a drive shaft, and a set of gears before reaching the rear wheels. This layout makes rear-wheel-drive vehicles easier to maintain and build because there’s more room to spread things out, and the front wheels are less complex. However, rear-wheel-drive vehicles are generally less fuel-efficient than front-wheel-drive cars.

FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE

In a front-wheel-drive vehicle, the front wheels are the drive wheels. They receive power from the engine, which is located at the front of the car. This allows for better weight distribution in the car, and the weight of the engine helps the traction of the wheels and reduces the amount of power lost through long drivetrains. However, front-wheel-drive cars can be mechanically complicated because the drive axles and the steering system are all together. Front-wheel drive is typically used on smaller, more fuel-efficient cars.

FOUR-WHEEL OR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE

In this configuration, the engine sends power to all four wheels. The engine is located at the front of the car in most all-wheel vehicles. When all four wheels receive power, the car can handle better in poor driving conditions. This type of drivetrain adds complexity to the car and reduces efficiency. Larger trucks that drive in off-road conditions and SUVs benefit from all wheel drive.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE DRIVETRAINS

Electric vehicles can be front-wheel, rear-wheel, or four-wheel drive. Electric vehicles might not use a transmission and might have multiple motors driving the wheels. You might have a single electric motor driving the rear wheels through a transmission or four separate motors driving each wheel without a transmission.

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A Look Under the Hood

Every car is different, but this quick guide will give you a general idea of where things are located on front-, rear-, and four-wheel-drive vehicles as well as hybrid vehicles. Check your owner’s manual for the location of components in your specific vehicle.

FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE

A typical front-wheel-drive car has the engine on the left and the transaxle on the right.

1. Oil fill location

2. Oil dipstick (under the cover)

3. Coolant reservoir

4. Brake master cylinder and brake fluid fill

5. Transmission fluid dipstick

6. Power steering fluid reservoir

7. Air filter

8. Fuse box

9. Windshield washer fill

10. Battery positive post

11. Drive belts (under the cover)

12. Radiator fill cap

FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE

This V6 car doesn’t have a transmission dipstick tube, and it uses electronic power steering, so there’s no power steering reservoir.

1. Oil fill location

2. Oil dipstick

3. Coolant reservoir

4. Brake master cylinder and brake fluid fill location

5. Air filter

6. Windshield washer fill location

7. Battery positive post

8. Drive belts (under the cover)

9. Radiator fill cap

FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE AND REAR-WHEEL DRIVE

This four-wheel-drive truck has the engine located right in front. It has two batteries, one on each side of the radiator. The engine drive belts are on the front of the motor. Most rear-wheel-drive vehicles have a similar layout.

1. Oil fill location

2. Oil dipstick

3. Coolant reservoir

4. Brake master cylinder and brake fluid fill location

5. Transmission fluid dipstick

6. Power steering reservoir (below the hoses)

7. Air filter

8. Fuse box

9. Battery positive post (two on this vehicle)

10. Drive belts (under the cover)

11. Radiator fill cap

HYBRID

Hybrids use a coolant system for the batteries that isn’t found on typical engine-only cars. This hybrid doesn’t use hydraulic power steering. Because the batteries are remotely located, a charge point is located in the fuse box.

1. Oil fill location

2. Oil dipstick

3. Coolant reservoir (under the cover)

4. Brake master cylinder and brake fluid fill location

5. Transmission fluid dipstick

6. Air filter

7. Fuse box

8. Windshield washer fill location

9. Battery positive post (inside the fuse box)

10. Drive belts

11. Radiator fill cap

12. Battery coolant (hybrid only)

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Identifying Your Car’s Fluids

You’ve just found a puddle under your car. What is it? Is it something serious or even dangerous?

Your car uses fluids to do many things, and they occasionally leak out of the car. It’s important to know what the different fluids look, feel, and smell like as well as what to do if you find a puddle.

OILS

Your car uses oils to lubricate metal pieces, allowing them to move against each other without friction. Oil is made from petroleum or is synthetically produced. The color of engine oil will differ depending on the manufacturer and its type. Clean engine oil is usually tan or light brown in color. Heavy gear oil is darker in color and thick like honey. Used motor oil is blackened by the deposits left in the engine after burning fuel. Oil is very slick when you touch it and smells like sulfur or burnt popcorn.

A car that’s leaking oil will eventually fail when the metal parts are no longer able to smoothly move against each other. Oil leaks can be caused by engine or axle seals failing, a clog in the engine vent, a loose oil filter or drain plug, or even spilling oil on the engine while filling it up.

If you find oil, try to locate the source of the leak. If the leak is from the engine, check your oil level. If the level is okay and the leak is small, you can take the car in to have it checked out by a professional. If the leak is big or your engine is low on oil because of the leak, have the car towed to a mechanic—don’t trust it will make it there on its own.

BRAKE FLUID OR HYDRAULIC FLUID

Hydraulic fluid is used to operate the brakes and sometimes the power steering. Hydraulic fluid is designed to be compressed, creating high pressure to operate various devices. Brake fluid is clear or light amber in color, and it’s the consistency of water, but it’s slick like oil. It smells a little like fish or baby oil.

If you find brake fluid under your car, doesn’t drive it. Leaking brakes are dangerous, and if the hydraulic fluid is leaking from your power steering system, that system can be destroyed very quickly. Have your car towed to a mechanic.

TRANSMISSION AND TRANSAXLE FLUIDS

Transmission and transaxle fluids work like oils and hydraulic fluids. They lubricate the metal parts and can be pressurized like hydraulic fluids to operate the transmission while shifting. They’re sometimes used in place of hydraulic fluids in power steering systems.

Transmission fluids are usually dyed to distinguish them from other fluids. They’re often dyed red, but some manufacturers use other colors. The bright color is the easiest way to identify transmission fluids. They’re oily but usually have a thinner consistency, and they have a burnt smell.

If you find transmission fluid, locate the leak and determine if it was caused by overfilling. A car with a very small leak can be driven to the mechanic. If it is a big leak, don’t drive the car.

ANTIFREEZE

Antifreeze, or coolant, is mixed with water and is designed to remove the heat from your engine. At the same time, it prevents the water in your cooling system from freezing and expanding, which will tear apart metal and destroy the engine.

Antifreeze comes in a rainbow of colors, but most of them are a fluorescent color. Neon yellow and green are the most common. It has a very sweet smell to it, and it feels slick like soapy water.

An antifreeze leak means a seal has failed or the engine is getting too hot and the coolant is bubbling out of the system. Because the hot coolant expands, the system builds pressure, so be careful when checking a hot engine for leaks—coolant can scald. If the coolant is coming out of the overflow reservoir, your engine is probably running too hot, so you need to have it looked at by a mechanic. If it’s a very slow leak, check for drips around hoses and fittings. If you have a high-pressure leak that streams out of an area because of corrosion or a seal failure, have your car towed to the mechanic.

WATER

Water can drip off your car for a number of reasons most of them harmless. Most often, dripping water is coming from condensation on the air conditioner. Water might also condense in the exhaust system and be blown out of the tail pipes before the exhaust is hot enough to evaporate it. Water can also collect in areas after washing or driving through wet conditions and be jostled out of place at a later time.

You need to be concerned if your engine cooling system is leaking straight water, which might mean