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Below is a sample schedule of the maintenance inspections and
services required for many cars and trucks. Refer to to your
owner's manual for exact maintenance service and to achieve the best performance from your
vehicle. This sample schedule should not replace
the schedule provided in your owner's manual.
Accident Tips
Cleaning Tips Paint & Finish
Tips Weather Tips
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Suggested Regular Vehicle
Maintenance
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| Once a week or at each fill-up:
Check your oil, water, wiper fluid, engine coolant/antifreeze level,
and tire condition and pressure |
| Monthly: check Inspect transmission fluid and
brake fluid, windshield wiper blades, and power steering fluid. Review
condition of belts, hoses, and battery cables. |
| Every 3 months or 3,000 miles: Change oil, oil
filter, and air filter. Inspect engine drive belts, shock absorbers,
and all lights on car. Check battery. |
| Every 6 months or 6,000 miles: Check the brake
system, and inspect and/or rotate tires. Review condition of clutch
system (manual transmissions), and chassis lubrication. |
| Once a year: Have underbody flushing performed,
and service engine cooling system (which should include inspecting the
radiator, water pump, fan belt, thermostat(s), radiator cap, and
anti-freeze). Check accelerator control system, and lubricate doors,
locks, hinges, and parking brake. |
| 15,000 miles: Inspect automatic transmission.
Change auto transmission fluid and filter. |
| 30,000 miles or 2 years: Change spark plugs and
fuel filter, inspect spark plug wire, check engine timing. |
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Note: In some cases, automakers do not advise tire rotation. Check
your manual to find out when wheel alignment and wheel balancing are
necessary.
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What
to do in case of an Accident
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Turn off your vehicle's engine and leave it where it is if you feel it is
safe to do so. If you feel threatened, or your car is in danger of being hit
by another car, slowly drive to a place where you feel safe, such as the
side of the road or a well-lit parking lot.
- Keep calm.
- Are you injured? Assess the amount of impact and judge to what degree you
may be hurt. If you think you're injured, stay in your car and try to relax.
Be honest if anyone asks how you are. Ask someone to call for help and let a
professional assess your condition.
- Assess your situation. When examining the possible damage to your vehicle,
NEVER walk directly between the two cars - if one is hit again, you could be
trapped between the two vehicles.
- Provide medical help to others ONLY if you are trained to do so.
- Call the police. Dial 9-1-1 first. If that doesn't work, dial 0 and ask
for the police.
- Don't say the accident was your fault, even if you believe it was.
- Be tactful and courteous, even if you're angry.
- Get the names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses. If you can't
get their names, at least get their license plate numbers.
- Exchange names, addresses, license numbers and insurance information with
any other drivers involved in the accident.
- Know where you want to get the damage to your vehicle repaired. You're
more likely to get a good repair if you take your car to a shop that
displays a logo for one of these associations: I-CAR. The Inter-Industry
Conference on Collision Repairs offers the latest in technical training. If
a facility is I-CAR Gold Class, then 80 percent of its technical staff is
I-CAR trained.
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Cleaning
Tips
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Inside
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Dashboards
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- Apply protectant with a rag and avoid spraying directly on the
dash.
- Use a vinyl protectant regularly to prevent fading and cracking.
- Once vinyl protectant is applied, it will need to be re-applied
regularly to prevent drying and cracking.
Scott Edmondson
- Vinyl dashes can also be cleaned using Lemon Pledge, which
leaves a nice smell, too.
Leonard Agius
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Upholstery
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- Vacuum regularly to remove dirt, salt, leaves and other items
that can damage carpets and mats.
- Clean Leather interiors with leather products that are designed
to penetrate the pores.
- For leather, avoid high-alkaline content which can bleach the
color.
- Use only upholstery cleaners designed for cars, not household
cleaners.
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Outside
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- Remove leaves and bird droppings from your car as soon as possible to prevent the
release of acid that can permanently stain your finish.
- Avoid parking under trees that release sap. If sap falls on
vehicle, use
finger nail polish remover on a cotton ball to remove. Use a paste of water
and baking soda to wash off the remover, then apply wax.
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Car Washes
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- Avoid brush-style car washes as they cause dirt to scratch the
car's finish.
- Use the lowest setting in do-it-yourself car washes to avoid
"blasting" grit into the car's finish.
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Hand Washing
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- Avoid washing your car in the sun.
- Avoid household detergents and soaps as they strip your car's
protective surface causing the finish to dry out and age
prematurely.
- Wash in straight lines with overlapping strokes to reduce the
standing water you need to dry off.
- Clean tires first, then the wheels to prevent irreversible
corrosion caused by brake dust and road salt.
- Be sure to wash the inside bottom edge of doors, lift gate, hood
and trunk to eliminate the trapped dirt and moisture that can cause
premature rusting.
- Never wax your car in direct sunlight to prevent the surface
temperature of your car from causing the chemicals in the wax to
damage your finish.
- Look for car wax which contains imported vegetable wax, which is
safe for your car's finish.
- Avoid waxes that promise to remove dirt, oxidized paint or
scratches as they are not pure wax and can actually remove paint
from your vehicle.
- Do not "polish" light scratches as new car finishes have
a clear coat finish that can be damaged.
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Moldings & Bumpers
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- Mask off all textured moldings and bumper parts before rubbing on
wax to avoid discoloring or other damage.
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Rinsing
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- Rinse off dirt prior to washing to prevent scratching from rubbing
it into the surface.
- Rinse dirt from moving parts, such as suspension components.
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