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Car Care

Understanding Your Car

Summer motoring

In the lead up to warmer weather, a pre-summer check for your car should be a priority, whether you are going on holidays or staying put. The most common problem affecting motorists during summer is an overheated engine, but a few simple checks can identify potential problems and reduce the risk of being stranded by the roadside with an annoying and possibly expensive breakdown. The pre-summer checklist should include not only the radiator and cooling system, but also the electrical system, brakes and tyres, plus an overall "spring clean".

Cooling system

Top up your radiator coolant to the required level, taking care to add the correct amount of coolant mixture as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Check all radiator hoses (including heater hoses) for firmness, replace any that are spongy or leaking, and keep spares of the main hoses and belts in the boot for emergencies. The fan belt and any other drive belts, such as for air-conditioning or power steering, need to be inspected thoroughly for fraying and correct tension so that they do not slip, and any belts that are even slightly frayed should be replaced.
All the water spout connections and hose joints should be checked from leaks and coolant leaching, which will rapidly accelerate corrosion in these areas. Radiator cooling fins need to be clear of any debris and fins should not be deteriorated by corrosion.

Electrical

Batteries manufactured today are maintenance free but you should check the water levels and top them up if necessary. Use distilled water - never use tap water because it will harm the battery. Routine maintenance should include removing any corrosion from the battery terminals, which should then be smeared with petroleum jelly to slow the corrosion process. An added precaution is to wipe the high tension leads, spark plugs and distributor cap with a dry cloth.

Tyres

All tyres, including the spare, should be properly inflated to cope with the demands of long trips and hot weather. Check the pressures when the tyres are cold; recommended tyre pressures are printed on a sticker affixed to most cars. Tread depth should not be less than a match head, while many tyres now have tread wear indicators to remove the guesswork. Uneven wear of tyres may indicate a fault with the steering, suspension or wheel alignment, and these items should be checked if in doubt.

Brakes

Consult a brake specialist if the car has a tendency to pull to one side when braking. Or if the brake pedal goes too close to the floor - or, for that matter, has any other symptoms which seem unusual. Check the handbrake as well: park the car on a hill, put it in neutral and, if it does not hold firm on the handbrake, have it checked and adjusted.

Clean windows and lights

Car windows should always be kept clean, as dirty glass can drastically reduce the driver's vision when driving towards oncoming headlights or a low sun and increases the effect of glare. Exterior dirt is easy enough to wash off, bit it can be a constant battle to keep the inside of the glass free from the hazy film that builds up when a car is parked in the sun. This haze can usually be wiped off with a chamois, methylated spirits, or most domestic glass or general cleaners, but there is no magic formula to eliminate the problem altogether. For good visibility, keep the windscreen washers bottle topped up, and clean headlights, tail lights and rear windows as well as windscreens whenever they start to become grimy.

Interior