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Author Topic: General Maintence Post a Reply Back to Topics
m3sons12

Rookie Author
Virginia

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Message Posted: Mar 3, 2011 4:48:12 PM

With the newer cars these days, it's easy to forget to "check under the hood" on a regular basis.
You should use your newer cars features to assist you in that endever.
Many of the newer cars have an oil life indicator, tire pressure indicator etc.
It's best to check these when you start your car, that alone will give your car a chance to warm up.
It is also a good idea to check the oil under the hood and check your tires on a regular basis.
Tire pressuge gauges are inexpensive.
Anybody have any other suggestions?
REPLIES (newest first)
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the1roadhog
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2011 9:07:08 AM

Be consistent with routine maintenance.
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ricebike
Champion Author New Jersey

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2011 8:48:28 AM

neighbor didn't check under the hood

ran out of oil

seized the engine

vehicle is now heading for the scrapyard
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GLM4205
Champion Author Toledo

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2011 8:27:52 AM

Always good advice. Easier said for the DIY'ers but it is important to know your vehicles service intervals. New cars need less service compared to older vehicles but you still need to keep on top of it.

Most common issues are from not servicing the power steering, brakes, and transmission fluids. Most small cars today are 100k miles for tranny but every 3 years for brake fluid despite mileage
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wintersucks
Champion Author Minnesota

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2011 8:04:00 AM

Would not have gotten my '98 F150 to 175,000 miles without it. Probly would have cost me a fortune to make it this far if I couldn't do regular maintenance myself tho.
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monkey102010
Sophomore Author Tampa

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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2011 11:51:48 PM

I have an 02 Impala. Trans is just startng to slip. I have nev chnged or done anything to the Trans. Got opinions from different mechanics. They say to just flush it. I am scared to throw a chunk of somethin' somethin' somewhere. Might head out next time I get some money

Flushing your tranny at this point may only make things worse! Instead pull the pan and change the fluid and filter!
In some caeses like yours its usually just the fluid, but its hard to tell! Usually have to go through the process of elimination! Is there a check engine light or any other warning light on the dash that make indicate a problem with the tranny? Like my ford has a sprocket shaped light that comes on when my tranny stumbled (torque converter)! If not then inspect the fluid maybe its low! See how it runs after you change the fluid.

[Edited by: monkey102010 at 3/10/2011 11:54:35 PM EST]
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JimBlake56
Veteran Author Akron

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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2011 9:05:04 PM

Regular maintenance is becoming a lost art.
With 10k or 15k oil change intervals, there's people who never check their oil level for that long. It's SO EASY to learn how to do some of that stuff.
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csh7586
Champion Author Wilmington

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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2011 8:28:00 PM

I do my own oil and filter changes on schedule (or less) and turn the major service intervals (30000, 60000, 90000, etc.) over to a trusted mechanic. This has never failed me.
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moised
Rookie Author San Diego

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Message Posted: Mar 8, 2011 3:26:13 PM

car maintainance specially the regular check up w/ the dealer cause soo much,...
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vbgirl03
Rookie Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Mar 8, 2011 8:52:20 AM

I have an 02 Impala. Trans is just startng to slip. I have never chnged or done anything to the Trans. Got opinions from different mechanics. They say to just flush it. I am scared to throw a chunk of somethin' somethin' somewhere. Might head out next time I get some money.
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the1roadhog
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2011 7:49:31 AM

Get regularly sked maintenance done before the deadlines.
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m3sons12
Rookie Author Virginia

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Joined:Mar 2011
Message Posted: Mar 5, 2011 6:08:13 AM

The car I bought had a dealer service included and after the expiration of that I could purchase a service plan every 5k for 30k at half the daaler seervice cost.
Let's say a 45k service costs 1,000 with this plan I would only pay 500.
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monkey102010
Sophomore Author Tampa

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Message Posted: Mar 4, 2011 10:08:49 PM

I do I walk around on my car checking the lights and looking under the car for fluids, and also don't ignore your check engine lights. Auto zone and advance auto will tell you what codes are being sent for free. Also while driving take a few miuntes to drive with everything off and listen to your car. You may hear or feel something abnormal. It all comes down to your general knowledge. I'm training at a dealer to be a technician so I am learning a lot and have the resources as well.
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ChrisM22
Rookie Author Virginia

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Message Posted: Mar 4, 2011 3:27:00 PM

Always good advice. Easier said for the DIY'ers but it is important to know your vehicles service intervals. New cars need less service compared to older vehicles but you still need to keep on top of it.

Most common issues are from not servicing the power steering, brakes, and transmission fluids. Most small cars today are 100k miles for tranny but every 3 years for brake fluid despite mileage!
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Metaldragoon83
Rookie Author Baltimore

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Points:9,135
Joined:Mar 2011
Message Posted: Mar 4, 2011 10:03:54 AM

A good habit to do, one which I need to start, is to keep a log book of your car's maintence. Also writing down milage once in a while so you can see if a higher grade oil works or just to see if something is going on in your engine if its going down.

I change my oil every 3 months, don't enough miles but I do some city driving and its about revolutions not miles, and I check my tires at least once a month even tho I know I should do more, but my tires are freakin awesome for some reason and don't lose pressure. Still a bad habit to let it go for so long.

Cause your sensors can and do go bad, your eyeball... not so much, unless you piss off your wife.

[Edited by: Metaldragoon83 at 3/4/2011 10:04:04 AM EST]
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bustermoves
Champion Author Fort Worth

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Message Posted: Mar 4, 2011 5:52:44 AM

engines and transmissions are expensive,oil is cheap,per say.always a good idea to check the fluids,even if your driving a newer car.
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