{"id":91,"date":"2016-11-30T18:34:03","date_gmt":"2016-11-30T23:34:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/?p=91"},"modified":"2016-11-30T18:34:03","modified_gmt":"2016-11-30T23:34:03","slug":"quick-checkup-for-your-cars-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/?p=91","title":{"rendered":"Quick checkup for your car\u2019s health"},"content":{"rendered":"

Regular maintenance to keep something running smoothly often slips our minds, whether it is for us or for our things. But sometimes just checking things out to make sure they are ok can save you money and keep you safe. Especially when you are checking your vehicle.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This is a quick checklist that if preformed often will let you know if there is a problem and stop them from showing up, keep you safer, keep your fuel consumption lower, and keep your car on the road longer. And it\u2019s easy enough to teach your teenager to do.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Windshield Washer Fluid<\/p>\n

Check: monthly or if you use it a lot.<\/p>\n

How: Check the reservoir located in your engine and marked with the universal wiper fluid icon. Keep some in your trunk or (if there is room) hooked in your engine compartment.<\/p>\n

Why: grime, insects and rain can impede your vision and add glare at night. Your wipers can\u2019t do all the work themselves, but like a dishrag with no soap won\u2019t really clean your dishes.<\/p>\n

\"wiper-fluid\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Windshield Wiper Blades<\/p>\n

Check: with each oil change and if you notice them not clearing rain in a single swipe, or leaving streaks or vibrating against the window.<\/p>\n

How: Look for worn cracked or stiff areas. They ought to be smooth and flexible. Remember, they only last 6-12 months, depending on use and conditions, so purchasing a pair to keep in the garage or in the trunk is not a bad investment.<\/p>\n

Why: Just like with fluid, if you can\u2019t see, you can easily be extremely unsafe while driving.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tire Pressure<\/p>\n

Check: Once a month before driving.<\/p>\n

How: Use a simple mechanical gauge to compare the pressure with what your car (not the tire) recommnds (this is located normally on a sticker in the glove box, door jam, or trunk.<\/p>\n

Why: Over inflated tires wear the center of the tires faster and will give you a less than smooth ride. Under inflated tires wear the edges of the tires faster and give you less control of the car and worse fuel mileage.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Brake Fluid<\/p>\n

Check: Every 3-6 months, or if your brakes feel odd. Replace completely once every two years.<\/p>\n

How: Check the reservoir located in your engine and marked with the universal brake fluid icon. Keep some in your trunk or garage to top it off.<\/p>\n

Why: Brake fluid allows your foot to communicate with your brakes to come to a smooth stop when you need to. If your fluid is low, or old, it can allow air bubbles to enter the fluid, causing you to brake unevenly or lose your ability to brake completely.<\/p>\n

\"brake-fluid\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Power Steering Fluid<\/p>\n

Check: Every month, or if your steering feels stiff. Unlike brake fluid, you probably will never have to replace it, only add to it. Check your car\u2019s manual for this.<\/p>\n

How: Check the reservoir located in your engine and marked with the universal steering fluid icon. Keep some in your trunk or garage to top it off.<\/p>\n

Why: Checking if your fluid is low will alert you to a leak that could potentially cause serious steering issues when you don\u2019t expect them. Just like brake fluid, steering fluid helps you communicate with your car. If your fluid is low, you can suddenly lose your ability to steer.<\/p>\n

\"power-steering\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Belts<\/p>\n

Check: Every 4-6 months.<\/p>\n

How: Look for worn or cracked edges. These need to be replaced every 3-4 years. Look for specifics in your car\u2019s manual.<\/p>\n

Why: Belts help your engine control your car\u2019s varies parts. If the belts are too lose, they will slip and waste efficiency. If they are too tight, they can cause permanent damage. If they are too old, they can snap and leave you stranded.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Battery<\/p>\n

Check: every 4-6 months<\/p>\n

How: The battery\u2019s cables, clamps and connections ought to be checked for corrosion at least twice a year.\u00a0 If the battery is showing other signs of weakness or age, like dim lights or slow engine cranking, you can have your battery checked. That\u2019s actually a service AAA will provide for free.<\/p>\n

Why: No one wants to be stuck with a dead battery.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lights<\/p>\n

Check: every 4-6 months<\/p>\n

How: Simple enough if you have a partner to walk around the vehicle and check if lights are out. If you don\u2019t, check while stopped in front of a glass window and you can see your own reflection.<\/p>\n

Why: It\u2019s way safer to have working lights, and you can avoid a ticket.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Regular maintenance to keep something running smoothly often slips our minds, whether it is for us or for our things. But sometimes just checking things out to make sure they are ok can save you money and keep you safe. Especially when you are checking your vehicle.   This is a quick checklist that if … Continue reading Quick checkup for your car\u2019s health<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"amazonpipp_noncename":"","amazon-product-isactive":"","amazon-product-single-asin":"","amazon-product-content-location":"1","amazon-product-content-hook-override":"2","amazon-product-excerpt-hook-override":"2","amazon-product-singular-only":"","amazon-product-amazon-desc":"","amazon-product-show-gallery":"","amazon-product-show-features":"","amazon-product-newwindow":"2","amazon-product-show-list-price":"","amazon-product-show-used-price":"","amazon-product-show-saved-amt":"","amazon-product-timestamp":"","amazon-product-new-title":"","amazon-product-use-cartURL":"","amazon_featured_post_meta_key":"","_amazon_featured_alt":"","amazon-product-template":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[8,33,34,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-91","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-maintenance","category-safety","category-vehicles","category-winter"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5HEA6-1t","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":656,"url":"https:\/\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/?p=656","url_meta":{"origin":91,"position":0},"title":"Brown sugar","author":"Gina Kleinmartin","date":"February 8, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"All commercial brown sugar is is molasses and sugar. If you ever need brown sugar and you normally purchase it, that's good to know. If you have molasses. Me, I would rather have sugar and molasses on hand and just use that. But those days you want brown sugar straight,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "desserts"","block_context":{"text":"desserts","link":"https:\/\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/?cat=124"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/wp-1549678995195828167944.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/wp-1549678995195828167944.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/wp-1549678995195828167944.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/wp-1549678995195828167944.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/wp-1549678995195828167944.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/wp-1549678995195828167944.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16,"url":"https:\/\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/?p=16","url_meta":{"origin":91,"position":1},"title":"Ice Dams","author":"dr.hexk@gmail.com","date":"February 20, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"An ice dam is an occurrence where a ridge of ice forms along the edge of a roof such that melting water under the snow is blocked form leaving the roof by the ridge of ice. \u00a0 Our roof has an area where ice dams form in a valley of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "House"","block_context":{"text":"House","link":"https:\/\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"Anatomy of a simple ice dam.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/icedam-300x293.gif?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":582,"url":"https:\/\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/?p=582","url_meta":{"origin":91,"position":2},"title":"Slower than Molasses in January: The Great Molasses Flood of 1919","author":"Gina Kleinmartin","date":"January 15, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many of us remember being told we were slower than molasses in January when we were dragging our feet and our parents wanted to go somewhere. 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There is nothing that can ruin\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Maintenance"","block_context":{"text":"Maintenance","link":"https:\/\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/?cat=8"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=91"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":95,"href":"https:\/\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91\/revisions\/95"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=91"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=91"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homesteadinginthecity.kleinmartin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=91"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}