Car Care Tips To Keep Your Car
Running Smoothly And Safely.

We hope these Car Care Tips help with the proper maintenance of your vehicle. This is one area of Car safety you can't afford to overlook.

You owe it to yourself, your passengers, and other road users to ensure that your vehicle is safe and roadworthy at all times. You don't want to endanger your own life or theirs. And remember... your insurance company expects it too!

Most auto insurance policies carry disclaimers that may void your insurance cover "... if your car was in an unroadworthy or unsafe condition that contributed to the accident...".

These car care tips may help ensure that when the time comes to trade-up to a newer vehicle you'll get top dollar for your car knowing it's in top condition.

CAR CARE TIPS:

TIRE CARE.

Bald Tires are Illegal as well as Dangerous...and can Void Your Car Insurance.



9% of passenger cars on U.S. roads had at least one "bald tire" with less than 1/16th of an inch of tread. (NHTSA report Dec. 2001)

• Check your tire pressure at least once a month. (ref: NHTSA).
  
  
• Rotate your tires every 5,000 miles for maximum safety and mileage. (ref: NHTSA).
  
  
• 27% of passenger cars on U.S. roads have one or more under inflated tires.(ref: NHTSA).
  
  
• The NHTSA 2001 report also found that 14% of gas stations weren't equipped with or had malfunctioning tire pumps.
  
  
• Nearly 10% of gas station tire pumps were out of order.
  
  
• Less than 50% provided a tire pressure gauge.
  
  
• Of those that did nearly 20% were inaccurate by at least 4 p.s.i.
  
  
• Tires older than 6 years can deteriorate and become dangerous and fail catastophically at freeway speeds (NHTSA Consumer Advisory June 2008)... and have caused at least 128 known fatalities.
  
  

YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL.

What The Warning Lights On Your Dash Mean....

... And What To Do If They Come On.

• Run your air conditioning regularly... it keeps the seals, hoses, and compressor lubricated.
  
  
• Service the AirCon in older cars. A bad smell may mean mould, fungi or bacteria and lead to "Sick Car Syndrome".
  
  
• Faulty windscreen wipers are dangerous and might void your insurance.
  
  
• Likewise for worn pedal rubbers, or headlights, parking lights, brake lights and indicator lights that are defective.
  
  
• "Winterize" your vehicle if you are visiting or live in a cold weather region. That means using the correct viscosity engine oil, checking the battery, hoses and belts, replacing plain water in your windshield washer with washer fluid, maybe switching to snow tires, and adding the correct anti-freeze mix to your radiator.
  
  

CHECK YOUR FLUIDS.

How To Check Your Oil, Brake Fluid, Coolant, And Automatic Transmission Fluid Levels.



...And Keep Your Engine In Good Shape And Your Car Safe To Drive.

So remember... follow these Car Care Tips and don't ignore or cut corners on your car's maintenance.