Weekly Checklist For The Smooth Functioning Of Your Car

Your car takes you safely anywhere you want to go and in return, it just requires that you take good care of it regularly. Taking care of your car is important for its smooth running and for your safety as well. You don't need to be a car enthusiast or a mechanic to perform the basic regular inspections and tune-ups of your car. Learn a few simple maintenance tips to avoid any accident or injuries. Spare some time and make sure that these 11 things are examined every week to keep your car reliable, safe, and road-ready.

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follow these things every week

1. The Engine Oil

A clean and correct level of oil in your engine keeps your car running smoothly. Check your oil level by simply by pulling out the dipstick and note the mark. Checking the oil level regularly is a good practice to catch leakages. Change the engine oil as recommended by the manufacturer or mechanic on a regular basis.

2. The Tyre Pressure

Improperly inflated tyres cause blowouts resulting in worst cases. Also, the wrong level of inflation can decrease your fuel efficiency. Check your tyres every week for correct tyre pressure using a tire pressure gauge. Keep your tyres inflated with correct pressure as recommended by the tyre manufacturer.

3. The Brakes

Don’t wait for that shrieking sound to figure out that the brake pads have worn out. Always have a pro check on your brakes so that they work efficiently in those panic stops also and prevent an accident.

4. The Battery

Examine your car battery for signs of wear and corrosion. As soon as you notice that your car doesn't start up as effortlessly as it used to be, check all the contact points of the battery. Clean those contact points up that are gummed up by the battery components.

5. The Transmission Fluid

Facing difficulty in shifting the gears while driving is not something that can be ignored for some time. To keep your car in your control always, ensure that the transmission fluid is topped up to the right level and is changed regularly so you can shift transmission smoothly.

6. The Alignmentl

Bad alignment affects the way how your car manages on the road. Keep a regular eye on your alignment and adjust it as needed to make sure your car responds perfectly when you steer.

7. The Windshield Wipers

Replace the wipers as soon as you figure out that its blade is coming loose, cracking, or any gaps in the coverage when they are operating.

8. The Spark Plug

Check the spark plugs of your car customarily and also, replace them when needed. As they play a vital role in your car's fuel combustion mechanism and can stall your engine.

9. The Air Filter

Make it a regular part of your car maintenance routine to check the air filter and replace it when needed. A clogged air filter blocks the proper air passage through the engine and increases fuel consumption.

10. The Lights – All of Them

Headlights, turn signals, reverse lights, brake lights or any other light on your should function properly. Check all the lights of your caron a regular basis to avoid any kind of misunderstanding and to prevent accidents.

11. Wash Your Car Regularly

Besides going through all the regular maintenance keep your car clean and wash it daily to prevent your car from being affected by the climatic factor that may eat up the vehicle's exterior.

Also read: How To Install Wiper Blades

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Driving mistakes everyone makes – and how to fix them

We’re afraid to say that you may have been driving the wrong way for all these years. But you’re far from alone. Here’s the Autocar guide to common motoring errors, and how to fix them:

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Incorrectly using the ventilation recirculation button.

You may have a vague idea that this is the button you press (circled here) when you’re trailing behind an old van belching black smoke like it’s a giant container ship. And this would indeed be the right thing to do. But you shouldn’t use it in winter after entering your car, because it will take a lot longer to de-fug the windows.

But you should use it at least temporarily on hot days at start-up because it will get the temperature down the quickest. And while we're on the subject, on a hot day lower all the windows to allow the hot air out of the car before first setting off; then close them after a few minutes to get the full benefits of your air conditioning.

Not using the parking brake with automatics.

Even some modern automatic gearboxes don’t automatically engage the parking brake when you engage Park and switch off the engine. But you always should engage it, since relying on the transmission entirely to demobilise what might be a heavy car on a hill puts it under a lot of stress it could easily do without.

Additionally, you may go on vacation and end up driving a stick-shift rental car in a hilly area. Having got out of the habit of using the handbrake after you park your car could cause you a great deal of trouble.

Not allowing a space of 3-4 feet in front of you in traffic.

When pulling up behind another car in traffic, always allow a space of around 3-4 feet from the car in front. This allows enough space to always overtake them when they break down or become otherwise immobile.

Not standing on the brakes when you really have to.

If you need to stop quickly, stand on those brakes. Modern brakes are very powerful, and modern tires are very effective in stopping you too. Let them do their work; don’t worry about locking-up – nearly all modern cars have anti-lock brakes (ABS) fitted, and most have stability control and automatic wheel-brake distribution too, which will also help.

Many accidents occur not only because drivers don’t brake early enough, but also not hard enough. If your car has automatic emergency braking, even better – but don’t ever switch it off.

Not using the steering-wheel mounted shortcut buttons.

These were originally invented for safety reasons, not convenience. Once you get the habit of altering functions like the audio system through them, it will ensure you take your eyes off the road far less and you’re much less likely to have an accident.

Not checking your tires.

This may sound like a simple one, but it’s something that’s so readily ignored, and yet your tires are so important. After all, the only contact your car physically has with the road – whether it’s a sports car, a compact or an SUV – are those four small patches of rubber.

So, the law in most states of America requires you to have a minimum of 2/32 of an inch (1.6mm) of tread on your tires, and that’s more or less the same for most developed nations.

How to check? Simply place a penny into your tire's tread groove with Abraham Lincoln's head upside down and facing you. If you can see all of Lincoln's head, your tread depth is less than the minimum needed. If your locality is notably wet, it’s safer to replace tires quite a bit sooner. Tire-makers recommend you check your tire tread depth and your air pressure level once per month.

Playing loud music.

We’re all guilty of it. Your favourite song comes on the radio so you automatically crank up the volume. But did you know that playing loud music, while enjoyable, also has a detrimental effect on your ability to focus? This was demonstrated by research conducted by the Memorial University of Newfoundland, which showed a direct link between a higher sound volume and reaction time.

Incredibly, when music was played at just 95 decibels (the average smartphone speaker is capable of over 100 dBA), reaction times increased by 20% across all participants. Additionally, loud music can also mask the noise of your engine, which can make judging your speed more difficult. So if you’re planning on going for a spirited country drive, make sure you turn the radio off.

Also read: How To Protect Your Car’s Interior

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To Know More Honda Car Service Center in Borivali and Andheri, Visit Solitaire Honda Mumbai, Contact us at 022 67385588 or email us at info@solitairehonda.com

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How To Protect Your Car’s Interior

Try to add up the hours you spend in your car. It’s a lot, isn’t it? Commutes, errand runs and road trips can have you sitting in those bucket seats for hours on end, and during that time, you and your passengers are actually living in the interior. That means smudges on the windows, scratches on the dash and food in the seat crevices accumulate and leave you wondering what happened to the spotless interior you swear it had when you first bought the car.

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A Quick Clean

Luckily, it’s not that difficult to keep a car’s cabin from looking a little too, well, lived in. First things first, get something to stuff your trash into. Just use a plastic bag or a container you don’t use around the house and throw it in the backseat. You can even affix a temporary hook to the door or seat to keep things even neater. Every once and awhile, take it out and relish in the fact that you haven’t spent an hour cleaning up. Keeping trash off the floor also preserves your carpets, which can get stained from any number of items.

The idea of taking a rag to your dash and leather seats is made easier if you have them on-hand. The key here is to just use a little bit of soapy water to wipe the surfaces of your car – some cleaning products contain alcohols that prematurely dry and age the materials by reducing the flexibility in the vinyl. Store a small spray bottle of your homemade cleaning fluid and a rag under your seat or in a storage bin for access when you’re waiting for your kids to get out of school or sitting in that crazy-long drive-through line. This will also come in handy when an emergency spill happens. Lastly, keep your car smelling like roses (or at least a laundromat) by adding dryer sheets under the seats.

Weather Resistant

You can’t discount the impact weather has on your vehicle either. In summer, sandy feet can quickly make a mess of an interior, and dare we mention the destruction caused by mud and snow? If you spend a lot of time ducking in and out of the elements, you might want to grab some all-weather floor mats. They’re easy to clean and do a great job of keeping the muck in one place.

The sun’s rays can also wreak havoc on your car’s surfaces, causing vinyl to crack over time and materials to fade. A simple solution is to regularly put a sunshade on the windshield. They’re inexpensive and help to keep your interior looking new.

Saving money on repair work and cleaning comes more easily when you take the time to make preventative care a priority. Not only will these tricks make your car a nicer place to be, keeping grime out of your ride will cut down on large maintenance costs in the future and will help to retain its value over time.

Also read: Seatbelt Maintenance

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Source - www.carcare.org

Seatbelt Maintenance

Seatbelts in its modern form have gone through a lot of initial development. Volvo was the first manufacturer to offer seatbelts as a part of standard equipment in all their cars in 1955 and were soon followed by other manufacturers globally. In India, a provision to fit seatbelts became compulsory in 1991 and factory fitted seatbelts for the front seats became compulsory in 1995. Today, seatbelts are a compulsory fitment for all front-facing seats in any car sold in India. A seatbelt’s maintenance though is something we take for granted, as they are not known to go wrong.

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Here are some tips that will help you keep your car’s seatbelts in top shape.

1. Cleaning seatbelts

If by chance you do spill something on your seatbelts and it leaves a stain, use mild soap and warm water when cleaning spills from the seatbelts. Do not use a strong detergent, bleach or dye, since these caustic fluids may weaken the belt's material and affect the seatbelts basic integrity. A dirty seatbelt apart from being weaker due to gradual disintegration of the seatbelt material also looks dirty especially if the seatbelt is a shade of beige or brown.

Advanced drivers can also use the light reflected off trees to be able to judge whether a vehicle is approaching. While navigating these turns, one should slow down and keep in their own lane. If another vehicle is approaching, and there isn't enough space, it is best to let the other vehicle pass and then continue.

2. Keep the buckle areas clear

Keep the buckle area clean and dry. Foreign particulates, dust and liquids can clog up the buckles and prevent them from doing their jobs properly. Also remember to squirt a dab of WD40 into your seatbelt buckles to keep them smooth and rust free. Older cars are prone to seatbelt holder failures due to fault springs inside the buckle assembly. If your car faces this issue, replace the buckles from an authorised service centre.

Find a place to put up and let the rain and snow stop or road ice to melt before going on. If you decide to move on, for whatever reason, wait for a larger vehicle to approach and ask them to help. Trucks plying on these roads have powerful engines and enough torque to tow you and cross the steep climb.

3. Replace your seatbelt if damaged or worn

Seatbelts are not something you would want to take a chance with. If you find the stitching on the seatbelt to be coming off or the seatbelt itself facing wear issues, it is best to replace them as soon as possible. By design, seatbelts cannot be repaired. If they are damaged, especially if bits that hold integral parts like the loops that hold the buckle (which also act as a force limiter) are showing signs of stretching, it is best to change them as soon as possible. Remember to get them replaced only by an authorised service centre as the bolt used to fasten a seatbelt assembly to the body of your car and the torque to be applied on that bolt are very specific and are best left to professionals.

Although it is advisable to use only company provided seatbelts, aftermarket race seatbelts and harnesses can also be used for specialty applications. For motorsport uses, a 4-point/5-point/7-point harness is usually compulsory. It is essential that the mounting points for these belts are on a separate bolt on the body structure or on a roll cage type structure. Remember to always use Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) approved seatbelts from manufacturers like Sparco, Recaro, Sabelt, Simpson, etc. for motor sport applications.

Also read: New Car Buying Tips

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10 Tips To Stay Safe On Foggy Roads This Winter

December, 2018

Fog can be one of the most dangerous conditions to drive in and the recent accidents in North India are a testimonial to this. Stay safe with these tips

On the morning of January 29, thick fog on the Jaipur-Agra highway caused a kilometer long, 30 vehicles pile-up, killing one and injuring 15. It is no secret that driving in the fog can be a complete road safety nightmare, even for the most experienced and confident drivers, and a single misstep can cause massive accidents. Every year, North India witnesses multiple accidents as a result of the dense fog that sets over the region in the months of December and January. “The density of fog is often quite unpredictable. In a dense fog, the driver cannot see beyond his own vehicle’s limits. In such conditions driving can prove to be quite challenging unless proper precautions are taken,” Delhi Traffic Police Inspector Manju Singh explains.

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Here are some tips to stay safe while driving through dense fog.

1. Set the headlights on low beam

It is imperative to see and be seen on a foggy day when the visibility is already very low. Setting the headlights on low beam can help with this. Using headlights on high-beam is inadvisable because the fog actually reflects this light back, hindering the driver’s vision. If the visibility drops below 100 meters, it is a good idea to turn on the car’s fog lamp (if your car is equipped with one).

2. Reduce your speed

Since visibility is so poor, it can get difficult to gauge your surroundings or react quickly enough to real-time road conditions if you are speeding. Driving at a reasonably slow pace better equips you to react to the road and traffic and stop in time, if necessary. Sometimes it may seem that there is no car ahead and that it okay to speed. However, it is impossible to truly ascertain whether there is someone beyond the limit of visibility and not considering this could lead to collisions.

3. Listen for the traffic that can’t be seen

One’s ears can be the greatest asset while driving in foggy conditions. While your visibility may be impaired during dense fog, the sounds of tyres and horns can help you estimate the distance from unseen vehicles. So, while driving through fog, keep your music off and listen to the sounds of the road.

4. Stick to your lane

With low visibility while driving through fog, it is very difficult to figure out when someone is switching lanes , which means that other drivers can often get startled and this could lead to collisions. It is better to concentrate on one part of the road and stick to a particular lane.

5. Use your indicator

Once again, it is important to be seen on a foggy road and indicate one’s intentions to the other drivers. When making a turn, it is advisable to give an indication for at least ten seconds to allow vehicles behind some time to slow down.

6. Try to keep your windows clear

Try and keep your vision as clear as possible. Clean your windscreen on the inside and the outside to ensure that there are no further impediments to your sight.

7. Turn on your heater

The fog outside often causes condensation to build up on the inside of the vehicle, hampering one’s vision even more. This can easily be cleared by turning the heater on.

8. Do not overtake

The key to driving during foggy conditions is patience and trying to overtake is highly discouraged. Your efforts to overtake can be distracting for the driver in front and can also catch them unaware, not allowing them to slow down on time, and can lead to a collision.

9. Maintain a good distance between vehicles

Keeping a sensible amount of space between you and the vehicle ahead is a very good idea. This gives one enough time to react, slow down and stop when required. Pile-ups are often caused when vehicles are following each other too closely and are unable to react when things start to go wrong.

10. Stay focused on the road

The most important thing while driving through fog is to stay vigilant and keep your eyes on the road. It takes a split second for something to go wrong which means that every driver has the responsibility to minimise all types of distractions and focus on the traffic and weather conditions.

Also read: How To Install Wiper Blades

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To Know More About Car Care Service Centre In Mumbai, VisitSolitaire Honda Mumbai, Contact us at 022 67385588 or email us at info@solitairehonda.com

Source - sites.ndtv.com

What Happens When Spark Plugs Go Bad

December, 2018

Spark plugs might be small but they play a huge part in starting your car. The spark of electricity they emit produces the ignition for the combustion required to start your car. But what happens when spark plugs go bad

Without a functional spark plug, you’ll have a hard time sustaining maximum power and you’ll experience either misfire during acceleration or problems with cold-starting. Now, you wouldn’t want those things to happen, right?

With that, you have to know how often you’ll need to replace your spark plugs.

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On Replacing Spark Plugs

Spark plugs, in general, don’t require frequent replacements. In fact, your car can go for years and several miles before you have to worry about getting a replacement.

For certain car manufacturers, however, it’s essential to have a new spark plug installed for every 30,000 miles. Take note, however, that it’s not a strict rule since the longevity of a spark plug depends on what type it is as well as its condition.

For example:

Copper plugs have the shortest life. With that, you can expect to replace them more often.

Why You Need to Replace Your Spark Plug

Spark plugs wear out as they age. After enduring abuse for hundreds or and thousands of miles, you really can’t expect them to stay intact and show excellent performance.

One good reason is the deposits that form on the spark plugs which results in pre-ignition of the fuel. This translates to an unreliable supply of energy for your vehicle.

Additionally, another reason why spark plugs can’t last for a really long time is its exposure to debris, extreme temperatures and the normal wear and tear process. These things increase the gap or space where the spark has to travel in order to create the right combustion at the right time.

The primary benefit you’ll get from replacing your spark plug is peace of mind. With a new one installed, you won’t have to worry about your car not starting.

Additionally, Getting New Spark Plugs Also Offers the Following Benefits:

Reduction in Harmful Emissions

Regular engine tune-ups, particularly when it comes to spark plugs, won’t only help you save on gas but it can also lower air pollution.

Ensures Smooth Starts

An old spark plug may cause your car to experience jerky starts. Changing it with a new one ensures smoother and more energetic starts.

Creates Optimal Combustion

Having a fully functional spark plug means having an efficient and fully functional combustion system.

Signs You Need to Replace Your Spark Plug

What happens when spark plugs go bad?

Well, a lot of things can happen and most of the time, you won’t have a hard time realizing the signs of spark plug replacements

Rattling and knock-like noises are the first things you’ll notice. This typically happens when the spark plug starts to misfire and the combustion is no longer working properly.

Another sign is trouble starting your car. You’ll feel that it’s jerky and disjointed as the spark plug shows an erratic performance.

Engine surging can also happen. After producing sudden jerks, the engine starts and then stops all of a sudden, preventing any vehicular movement.

Picking The Right Type Of Spark Plug

One of the most common problems car owners experience when it comes to changing spark plugs is knowing what spark plug fits their car best.

Well, if you have the same problem, the easiest and most reasonable answer is to check your car’s manual. Its manufacturer knows best what your car’s engine needs and what spark plug can meet those needs exactly.

In most cases, you’ll see a minimum of 4 different types of spark plugs. Below is a quick discussion of each type.

Copper Spark Plugs

This type of spark plug has a solid copper core. Its business end, however, is typically a 2.5mm-diameter nickel alloy. This is the largest diameter electrode among the four.

Now, consider this: when you have a smaller diameter, there’s less required voltage to create the spark

Copper spark plugs are the best choice for older vehicles that come with a low-voltage distributor-based ignition system. If your car has a DIS or Distributor-less Ignition System or COP (coil-on-plug) ignition system, you’ll find this type wearing out too fast.

Single Platinum Spark Plugs

A platinum spark plugs are great for newer vehicles with DIS. It’s typically designed based on the copper spark plug with a platinum disc installed at the tip of its center electrode. Its material is harder than nickel allow which means that it’s able to run hotter without fouling or deposit buildup.

Double Platinum Spark Plugs

This kind of spark plug has side electrodes that are not designed to handle reverse sparks. This means that if your car came with a double platinum spark plug, you can’t really downgrade to a single platinum spark plug or get a copper spark plug for your car.

You can, however, upgrade to a platinum combination plug or an iridium plug.

Iridium Spark Plugs

While Iridium is expensive, manufacturers of this kind of spark plug reduce the diameter of its center electrode to about .4mm. Apart from reducing the cost, the size of its center electrode also boosts its firing efficiency.

Conclusion

Knowing what happens when spark plugs go bad is essential to knowing when to get replacements. The signs are pretty obvious and you’ll recognize signs of a bad spark plug as soon as they appear. The tricky part, however, is in choosing what type of spark plug will meet your car’s demand. As there are a lot of options and factors to consider, you shouldn’t choose in a haste.

An obvious solution is to check your car’s manufacturer and see what type it recommends. Some manufacturers are specific about not downgrading your existing spark plug as it can cause problems to your car and its engine. Now, if you aren’t sure, you can always take your car to an experienced mechanic and get his opinion. This is the most ideal thing to do, particularly if you’re not sure how to install a spark plug, too.

Also read: What Is A Tune Up? The Most Important Things You Should Know

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To Know More About Car Service Centre In Mumbai, VisitSolitaire Honda Mumbai, Contact us at 022 67385588 or email us at info@solitairehonda.com

Source - globalcarsbrands.com