Do you pride yourself on your unconditional love for cars and everything that revolves around them? Do you have a list of dream cars you wish to own or at least drive at least once in your lifetime? Can you talk about it to anyone who cares to listen even when you are sleeping?
Well, if any or all of these sound like you, you might qualify as a car buff. Many people love cars for their speed, appearance, personality, their ability to move independently from one place to another, and so much more, but when it comes to the small details, most are clueless. If you are getting a car, there are a few things that you should know, including the basics of maintenance which might not be as eventful. Here are a few things to keep an eye on and help up your game.
Checking tire pressure
Source: barum-tyres.com
Driving with under or over-inflated tires can be a life-threatening hazard. You can seamlessly steer clear of putting yourself and everyone else at risk when on the road by purchasing a tire pressure gauge and use it to check the pressure of the tires. To know the optimum pressure for the rear or front tires, check the sticker on the driver-side door, on most vehicles. It gives you the information you need to ensure your tires consist of the right tire pressure. Moreover, checking your tire pressure also makes it simple to maximize fuel economy.
Maintaining traction in snow or rain
Statistically, there are approximately 156,000 car accidents during the winter season, and out of those crashes, 1,300 can lose their lives, and 76,000 can get seriously injured. Given that even experienced drivers can find driving through snow challenging, most people recommend keeping your foot light if conditions are particularly dilapidating. You can lose control when you accelerate suddenly. Furthermore, know that when driving with a manual transmission, it is better to go in for higher gears which works to reduce wheel slip.
As time goes by, your beloved vehicle will begin exhibiting signs of old age. This will include symptoms of electrical inconsistencies that may affect a ride. Some electrical issues include wiring concerns, control module problems, issues with the engine control unit (ECU) or the transmission control module (TCM) or turbo actuator glitches. When this happens, you should follow this site Npcautomotive.com to have your car properly checked. It is best not to ignore signs of electrical failure since these could also put you and your passengers at risk. Specially trained service center technicians will be able to check what’s wrong with your car electrical system with the help of the most up-to-date tools and equipment.
Understanding that not all cars handle the same
Source: 66kia.com
There are a variety of ways you can move a car. There are rear wheels and front wheels along with all wheels. The most popular is the front-wheel-drive which gives you the benefit of ploughing forward while you have the wheel fully turned in low traction situations. While a favourite with high-performance cars that run on rear-wheel drive, you can lose the tail end of the vehicle particularly easily, if you drive dangerously. For the safest ride in challenging situations, all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive is the best since it directs power to the wheels with most traction although you might want to refrain from driving like a maniac and expect no consequences.
Changing a tire
It is the most basic thing to know whether you call yourself a car buff or drive to work daily. Luckily, a flat tire is not cumbersome to change. Be aware of where you keep your toolkit so you don’t spend half your time searching for it. To change a tire, locate the jack point underneath. Once you get the vehicle airborne, begin heaving the lug nuts off and switch tires. Next, you have to make sure you tighten the lug nuts back down in a star pattern, and you are all set with a changed tire.
Examining your oil
Source: carsonautorepair.net
Checking out and changing your engine oil is another very vital and easy procedure to follow. First off, you need to get an idea of where the dipstick on your engine block is. Pull the dipstick out and wipe off the oil you find there, considering there is some left. Push it back in and remove it once again. Be aware of the indication levels you notice so you gain an understanding of how far the oil runs up the dipstick.
Controlling a slide
On particularly snowy or rainy days, there is a real chance that your brakes can lock, which proves to be hazardous as you can skid wildly. To avoid falling into a slippery situation, lift off the brake pedal so the wheels can rotate seamlessly and press down to slow the rubber mass from revolving. Jamming the brakes with a jerk can be dangerous since the wheels could lock, and you could lose control of the vehicle. However, drivers can simply stomp and stay if they have anti-lock brakes.
Jumpstarting a car battery
Keep a pair of jumper cables in your trunk. To jumpstart, first, turn off both cars. Beginning with a dead battery, put a red clamp on the dead battery’s positive terminal while attaching the other red clamp to the live battery’s positive terminal and the black clamp to the live battery’s negative terminal. Attach the final black clamp to an unpainted metal surface on the engine block of the dead car. Turn on the live car and attempt to jumpstart the dead one.
Getting an MOT check
Source: fixter.co.uk
Other than making sure you have complete control of your car, drivers have to get an MOT check if they are planning on using their vehicle on public roads. The MOT check makes sure that it is safe for a vehicle owner to use the vehicle without hampering others. It makes sure it is environment-friendly, safe and roadworthy. Although the test is mandatory, approximately 10 million cars did not clear it in May 2018.
There are many websites and other platforms that assist drivers when it comes to getting through the test. It allows them to block dates at the nearest centre so they can take their car in for a check. During the Coronavirus pandemic, the authorities implemented changes, followed by some garages who sent people to the house to collect the car and drop it off after completing the test. The primary reason was that people were not looking to leave their homes, although the tests were marked as essential services and were open throughout the lockdown. People can use websites like checkmot.com to assist with the process and for more information on the same.
