Windshield Wipers Replacement

NOTE: If you purchase your windshield wipers from your dealership, those wipers are made specifically for your car, making them easier to install. Most dealers will put your windshield wipers on for free if you buy them at the dealership.

If you can pull the rubber from your windshield wipers, it’s time for some new wipers. Make sure to check your user manual before you begin this process. Some cars have a special service setting specifically for changing your windshield wipers. As a precaution before you purchase new wiper blades, check if there are any contaminants – such as hot wax – that may be contributing to the problem.

WARNING: Leave the wiper arm stationary in its extended position. If you try to move to the arm as you work, you could cause damage which could lead to a costly repair.

1.    Take a hold of the wiper blade.

2.    Gently lift the wiper arm until it is in the extended position.

3.    Move the wiper blade into a horizontal position with the rubber side facing upward.

4.    Locate the clip on the wiper blade.

5.    Press the clip to release the old wiper blade.

6.    Slide the wiper blade clip down. It should separate from the wiper arm.

7.    Push the hook on the wiper arm through the center of the wiper blade.

8.    Pull the old wiper blade free from the arm.

9.    Check for special instructions on the new wiper blades before you attach them to the vehicle.

10. Take the new wiper blade out of the package and locate the clip in the center of the blade.

11. Rotate the clip so that the rounded side is upward or in the center of the wiper blade.

12. Line the clip up with the hook on the wiper arm.

13. Slide the hook over the clip.

14. Slide the clip into the hook until you feel the clip lock into place.

15. Return the wiper to its normal position and lower the arm back to the windshield.

Content credited to: PedalsAndPumps.com

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Signs of a Bad Timing Belt

If the timing belt brakes, your car will stop running and it won’t start again until you get a new belt. You may also have to fix the damage that was done to your engine as a result of the belt breaking.

Signs of a Bad Timing Belt: 

If you think your car has a bad timing belt, get it checked out ASAP.

 

• Your check engine light comes on.
  
• The timing belt is making a whining, slapping or other unusual noise.
  
• Your engine is misfiring or running poorly.
  
• The car has trouble starting.

The average timing belt should be replaced every 60,000 –100,000 miles. If you are going on 120,000, you might be playing with fire. No matter what kind of engine you have, interference or non-interference, your car will not run without your timing belt. It just makes sense to have the belt changed at your convenience as opposed to when it breaks.  Check your cars maintenance schedule to see how often your timing belt should be changed.

Content credited to: PedalsandPumps.com

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Three Ways to Avoid Overheating Your Car

Watch Your Temperature Gauge

This may seem like rather elementary advice, but it does warrant a mention because so few drivers actually make a habit of monitoring their truck's engine temperature gauge. Once you've located your truck's temperature gauge, pay attention to what the gauge displays as a normal operating temperature for your engine. If your engine's cooling system is operating properly, you'll find that the temperature should remain fairly stable or at least consistently fall within a certain range. If you see the temperature reading begin to increase rapidly, you may have a problem.

Look for Obvious Leaks

One clear indicator of a problem under the hood (or really anywhere on your vehicle) is the presence of fluid beneath your parked truck. But how do you determine if you're seeing coolant and not some other type of fluid? Typically, it's fairly easy to determine the specific type of fluid your truck is losing based on the fluid color and location of the puddle. To put it in the simplest terms: If you see a puddle of coolant beneath your truck, you have a leak. And if you have a leak, that means you're in danger of running low on (or running out of) engine coolant, which would definitely cause your engine to run hot or even overheat. So, don't delay in getting that leak repaired, or you could end up with a hefty repair bill.

Don't Get Hosed

Again, this falls under the category of "routine maintenance" but it certainly is deserving of additional recognition. Checking hoses and belts is a step that's frequently overlooked or forgotten, despite its simplicity. And this is yet another engine overheating cause that doesn't differ all that much from the way it would be handled in a car. Check the edges of the belts for fraying or wear, and while you're at it, check the tension. If a belt's tension isn't correct, it'll make the alternator work much harder than necessary, as it tries unsuccessfully to transfer power to other components. 







Content Credited to: howstuffworks.com
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Four Items You Should Always Have In Your Car

Flashlight

A big aluminum Mag lite used to be the favored flashlight to carry (good enough for police work, good enough for everyday citizens), but now there are compact LED flashlights that are really bright and don't take up much space in the glove box. It's a help that you can hold one in your teeth when you need both hands to change a tire or open a fuse box on a dark night. An LED headlamp is a great alternative, and a set of spare batteries is always a good idea.

Tire-pressure gauge

Keep an air gauge in the center console as a reminder to check each tire once a month. Low tire pressure can cause dangerous blowouts, and tires under inflated by only 6 pounds per square inch can reduce fuel economy by 5 percent and reduce tread life by 25 percent. Your car's specified tire pressure is posted on a sticker in the driver's side door frame. It's normal for tires to lose a pound or two of pressure a month.

First-aid kit

For those minor injuries that don't require dialing 911, a few bandages, gauze, tape, disinfectant, tweezers and ibuprofen are handy for handling minor cuts and scrapes on the road, especially if you are traveling with kids. Medication for motion sickness is another thoughtful addition.

Jumper cables

Some day you will turn the ignition key and hear — nothing. A dead battery is not a disaster if you have a set of jumper cables and a friend to call, or if a friendly driver happens by. Your owner's manual will have instructions on how to use the cables to start your vehicle without harming the electronics or — more importantly — hurting yourself.

Content Credited to: MSN.com

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