---

General Car Maintenance Tips

• Keep an up-to-date log book with the date, type of car repair or maintenance done, and mileage at the time of the service.
  
  
• Check all of your lights regularly to make sure none are burned out.
  
  
• Never postpone replacing worn brake parts.
  
  
• Do your windshield wiper blades need replacing? Don't wait for a rainy day to find out.
  
  
• Regular replacement of filters--air, oil, gas, fuel, transmission, and other filters will extend your car's life and will improve performance.
  
  
• Check tires for air pressure and wear.

Choosing Jumper Cables

It is extremely important that you read all information in your automobile owner's manual or on top of your battery about connecting jumper cables. You need to know how to connect the cables safely to prevent sparks and a possible explosion. There are additional dangers of using low quality jumper cables, which is similar to connecting a thin, poorly insulated extension cord to an electric heater. There is a possibility that the wire could heat enough to melt the insulation and causing a short circuit. With household wiring, a fuse or circuit breaker might prevent a fire in this case. With jumper cables, there is no circuit breaker protection, and the inadequate wiring quality of cheap cables could lead a dangerous situation of melted insulation. Other concerns you should have about purchasing inferior booster cables include:

• Flimsy, poorly insulated clamps with weak springs can provide poor electrical connections.
  
• Poor quality insulation becomes excessively stiff in freezing weather.

Good quality cables include:

• Built in warning lights to signal incorrect connection;
  
• Flexible cable guards at the clamp handle to prevent wear at stress points;
  
• Pure copper wire in the cables for best conductivity;
  
• Adequate length (12ft. to 16ft.) and gauge of cable (4 gauge);
  
• Tangle-free design with a heavy duty insulated jacket;
  
• Clamps covered with bonded vinyl insulation;
  
• Insulated clamp jaw with no exposed metal parts which could bend when contacting vehicle frame or other parts; and
  
• Clamps should fit both top or side terminal batteries.

How To Avoid Being Stuck In "Park"

Have you ever had a lot of trouble shifting out of "Park" on a steep grade? An automatic transmission, when in the "Park" position, locks the wheels. On a steep grade you will need more than normal pressure to move the shift lever because the transmission's parking setting resists the vehicle's tendency to roll. To help a stuck shift lever, on a very steep grade, the vehicle will need an uphill push or pull, thereby releasing pressure on the transmission. By using the following simple procedure, you may be able to prevent being jammed in "Park" on a grade: Before putting the vehicle in "Park," with foot brake applied, secure the parking (emergency) brake. Then, when you're ready to take the vehicle out of "Park," before releasing the parking brake, apply the foot brake and move the shift lever to NEUTRAL or DRIVE.


Do You Keep an Auto Log Book?

Keeping information about your vehicle is an essential aspect of your vehicle's performance and dependability. You should keep an auto "diary," which is actually a very simple and inexpensive way to keep up the maintenance of your car. It's just a matter of keeping a pencil and notebook handy to record anything of importance about the maintenance and operation of your vehicle. The following are most important types of entries:

• Gasoline fill-ups and mileage;
  
• Additions of various fluids such as engine oil, coolant, power steering fluid and at what mileage;
  
• Maintenance services performed: what, when, by whom and how much it cost;
  
• Services performed other than routine maintenance, i.e. body repairs or paint, accessories installed, etc.;
  
• Insurance and/or registration information;
  
• Basic part numbers and/or specifications which may not be readily found in the owners manual (belts, hoses, headlamps, spark plugs, filters, etc.)

Also, keeping a running record of gas purchases vs. distances driven will give you the opportunity to notice decreases in gas mileage, which could mean something is malfunctioning or a tune-up is needed. A log book will make you aware of abnormal oil or fluid consumption, which could be the tip-off to a leak or other potential problem. It can also serve as a reminder that the vehicle is overdue for an oil and filter change, transmission service or other important maintenance.
When it's time to sell or trade, this kind of documentation can make a substantial difference in the vehicle's saleability. A used car buyer likes to know what maintenance has been done and when. In case of mechanical trouble, especially with an older vehicle, it may be useful to report to a mechanic exactly what work has been done.
If you have an import car, you may also want to record not only the original numbers for basic parts but also the conversion numbers from among the readily available domestic brands. This can be a big time saver if a crisis occurs far from a major source of auto parts.