“Long may you run,” Neil Young once sang about his 1948 Buick Roadmaster, his first car that he named Mort. Sadly, Mort didn’t survive a blown transmission in 1962, but here are five pretty simple things you can do to make sure your car runs safe and long. These are tasks that don’t require training as a mechanic or a degree in automotive engineering. Rather, these are things that any person can and should do on their own. When you need the help of a trained technician, our service department at Ralph Honda is here to help. We are your Irondequoit Honda dealer, providing you with a vast inventory of the exceptional cars, trucks, minivans, and SUVs built by Honda.
You may not know this, but your car is always trying to talk to you. All you need to do is pay attention, listening to what your vehicle is letting you know about its performance. It may be a slight difference in sound from the engine. Maybe you are getting worse fuel economy than normal. Your passengers may be complaining about an oily smell in the cabin. Whatever the hints are, you should be attentive to your car to keep it running smoothly.
1. Your Car’s VIN and Why You Need to Know It
Every vehicle is given a unique serial number called a Vehicle Identification Number or VIN. This is like a social security number or fingerprint for your car. If your car is ever stolen, knowing the VIN will help the authorities locate and retrieve your vehicle.
Every car manufactured after 1981 has a unique VIN consisting of 17 characters made up of letters and numbers, except for the letters I, O, and Q since those could be confused for numbers. However, these are not just random characters but actually provide the nation of origin, manufacturer, year of manufacture, model, serial number, and factory where it was built. So, anyone looking at the VIN who understands the codes can tell if someone gave an incorrect VIN for the vehicle in question.
You should keep a copy of your vehicle’s VIN in a secure location, like where you store other vital information. Most vehicles have the VIN on a plate attached to the driver’s side dashboard. While it may be difficult to see it while sitting inside your car, you can find it by stepping outside and looking through the windshield. In addition, you can find the VIN on most state registrations. Keeping a copy of your VIN will be helpful if your car is ever stolen.
2. Knowing When to Get an Oil Change
Most vehicles will have an indicator light in the dashboard, letting you know when it is time for an oil change. This is symbolized by a red oilcan or a yellow wrench. In addition, some newer cars allow you to check oil life by pushing an information button on the dashboard or steering wheel. However, you shouldn’t wait until the light comes on to know when to get your oil changed.
This is because engine oil is the lifeblood of your car’s powertrain. Not only does it lubricate all the moving parts in the engine and transmission, but it also works to keep these machines cool while removing debris that can interfere with their operation. Over time, oil starts to become polluted and breakdown, reducing its effectiveness. If you start to smell oil when driving your car or notice a cloud coming out of your exhaust whenever you step on the accelerator, then your car is long overdue for an oil change.
It is really not too hard to check your engine’s oil. Simply open up the hood and look for the oil dipstick. There may be a number of different dipsticks, so you may have to take a look at the owner’s manual for your car to find the right one. Grab a rag, pull out the dipstick, wipe it off, put it back in, and then pull it out again. If the oil is not getting up to the level, then your oil level may be too low. If the color of the oil is dark, then it may be time for a change, as the oil should be a very light brown color. Getting your oil changed is a very important part of keeping your car running for a good, long time.
3. Keep a Set of Jumper Cables in Your Trunk
Most vehicles use a battery to start the engine. The battery is actually attached to a starter engine that gets the powertrain going. Once the car is running, there is an alternator that captures energy from the engine and routes it back to charge your car’s battery. However, sometimes your battery may lose its charge. This could be caused by a short in the electrical system. Also, using the stereo or infotainment system while the engine is off can drain the battery.
In addition, batteries lose their charge over time, so your car’s battery may need to be replaced. If you are out on the road and this happens, then you will need to jumpstart your car if you want to use it before bringing it to the shop. You can buy a set of jumper cables at most automotive supply stores, as well as a jumper battery with cables attached. You should always store a set in the trunk.
When you use a set of jumper cables, you should exercise extreme caution, as the charge in a car battery is powerful enough to injure or kill a person. Bring the car with the live battery next to your car, close enough for the jumper cables to reach. Open the hood and locate your car’s battery, as well as the battery on the other car. You will see two bolts on the top of the battery; one marked red and the other black. These are terminals, with the red side positive (+) and the black side negative (-).
Attach the red cable to the red terminal on your car’s battery and the corresponding red cable to the other battery. Next, attach the black cable to the black terminal on the other car’s battery. Finally, attach the remaining black cable to an unpainted metal part on your car’s engine compartment. Do not attach it to the black terminal on your car’s battery. Now you should be able to start your car. Once you get it running, leave it on for a few minutes to charge up, then remove the cables first from the battery on the other car as those wires are currently carrying an electrical charge until you remove them from the live battery. Remember at all times that safety is key.
4. Tire Pressure and Rotation
Every tire manufacturer has set an ideal pressure level for the tires they make and manufacture. This all depends on the type of tire (like all-weather versus summer weight) as well as size. You can find the ideal pressure level on most cars by looking in the lower part of the driver’s side door well. While most new cars have a tire pressure warning light that looks like a yellow exclamation point inside of two parentheses, most don’t tell you the amount of pressure or identify the tire with low pressure. This is why you should keep a tire pressure gauge in your glove box.
Testing for air pressure is simple, as you can just remove the tire valve stem caps, put the gauge on the valve, and then check the number against the proper tire pressure. If it is slightly below the level, it could just be caused by cold weather as cold air lowers pressure, and the pressure may go back up as you drive. Not necessarily an immediate cause for concern; however, if it is a more significant difference, you should investigate further. Low pressure could also be caused by a nail or screw that got into your tire and is slowly releasing air. If this is the case, we can help you remove the nail or screw and plug the hole.
Tires also don’t wear evenly. Depending on the type of drive on your car, you may find that the treads are not wearing out at the same rate. Therefore, you should get the tires rotated each time you stop by for an oil change. This is a simple and inexpensive maintenance that will give you longer life on your set of tires, as well as better performance.
5. Those Warning Lights on Your Dashboard Are Not There for Decoration
We have already told you about the tire pressure monitoring system, low oil pressure, and maintenance minder warning lights. If these show up and don’t go away when you start your car, then you should take immediate action.
There are also a number of other important warning lights. If a yellow light shows up that is shaped like an engine, this is your check engine light. This may be the most important warning light, as it is telling you that there may be a very big problem occurring inside your drivetrain, like a loss of coolant or a blockage in the exhaust system. If you ignore the check engine light, you could seize the engine, which would require a very expensive powertrain rebuild. So, if this comes on, go immediately to our service center to have it checked out.
Similarly, your brakes can be critical to your car’s operation. If you see an exclamation mark inside a circle surrounded by parentheses in red letters, it may be that you have forgotten to turn off the parking brake. If it is still on when you disengage the parking brake, then it may be a loss of brake fluid or power. If this happens, do not drive your car as your brakes may fail, resulting in a dangerous collision. Call our service center, and we will arrange to have your car towed to our dealership. A yellow light with the word ABS inside a circle surrounded by parentheses means that there is an issue with the antilock braking system. Just like the brake warning light, this should not be ignored.
Finally, if a red battery light comes on, it means there may be an issue with the vehicle’s electrical system. This is the light that will come on when you need to jumpstart your car because of a battery failure. If it is on when operating your vehicle, then you may have a short in the electrical system. You should arrange to drop off your car so we can make sure there is no problem with your vehicle’s electrical system.
A Little Knowledge Is Always a Good Thing
While there are many repairs that you should leave to trained experts, as you can see, there are plenty of things you can do to keep your car running safely for a good long time. Always check the oil and tire pressure regularly, and pay attention to any warning lights that appear on your dashboard. Also, keep a set of jumper cables or a jumper battery in your trunk and a copy of your car’s VIN in a safe location. Neil Young may have made a great song when his car got stuck in Blind River, Ontario, in 1962. But I bet at the time it happened; he wished it were still running.