General Car Maintenance

Table of Contents iiiTable of Contents

How to use this manual...............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1; Tools...........................................................................................................................1

Chapter 2; Tires...........................................................................................................................5

Chapter 3; Battery........................................................................................................................9

Chapter 4; Dash lights................................................................................................................13

Chapter 5; Fluids........................................................................................................................17

Index..........................................................................................................................................23

Introduction vHow to use this manual

Consult the Table of Contents to determine which section contains the information you desire. Since the specification of your vehicle depends on the items of equipment ordered, certain descriptions and illustrations may differ from your vehicle’s equipment. The detailed index at the back of this Owner’s Manual contains a complete listing of all subjects. Consult the following table for a description of the symbols that may be used on your vehicle or throughout this Owner’s Manual.

Chapter 1Tools

It’s important to have the right tools for the right job. This section is all about how to use different tools for the jobs that are in this manual.

Chapter 1 3Tools information

Pressure gage –

Flashlight –

Tire Iron –

Jack –

Rags and a funnel –

Jumper cables –

Spare tire –

Reflectors/ Road flares –

Oil wrench-

Oil pan-

Screw driver-

Chapter 2Tires

Chapter 2 7

Checking the Tire Tread

1. Get a penny2. Hold the penny with Lincoln’s face pointing

down towards the tire3. Place the penny between the treads of the

tire4. If Lincoln’s forehead is showing, it’s time to

replace the tire

Changing a Tire

1. Get the spare tire out of the car2. Loosen all of the lug nuts with the tire iron

3. Take off all the lug nuts with hands and place them somewhere safe

4. Place your jack under the support beam Note: This is usually the axel of the vehicle. Consult the owner’s manual for proper placement of the jack

5. Slowly raise the car by pumping the jack6. Remove the tire from the car7. Replace the used tire with the spare tire8. While the car is still raised, hand tighten all of the lug

nuts9. Lower the car to the ground10. Tighten all of the lug nuts with the tire iron

Checking Tire Pressure

1. Unscrew the air caps off of the tire2. Use your pressure gauge to determine the psi of the tire3. Repeat step 2 on the remaining three tires

Note: All four tires should have approximately the same psi for the best

Chapter 3Battery

Chapter 3 11

Changing a battery

1. Unscrew locking nuts from battery cables making sure to keep from touching any metal to metal because of the risk of shock to you

2. Remove cables starting with red/ power cable because you always want to make sure that the ground wire is attached so as to not drain/fry your alternator

3. Remove black/ ground wire making sure to keep the red and black terminals away from each other

4. Remove bracket that is securing the battery in place

5. Take battery out of car and be sure to dispose of it in the proper manner, usually the place you buy the new battery from will dispose of it for you

6. Insert new battery and secure with bracket that you previously removed

7. Attach ground/ black wire first so that the battery does not improperly drain while you connect the other wire

8. Attach red/ power cable and be sure to tighten securely, make sure to not over tighten as this can cause damage to the terminal

9. Start your vehicle and allow it to run for 2-3 minutes checking to see that the battery is not defective and starting to leak

10. Drive away

Jumping a car1. Have your jumper cables ready

2. Pull the hood release lever to make the battery accessible

3. Repeat process above for the other vehicle

4. Attach black jumper cable to black terminal on the vehicle that needs to be jump started first.

5. Attach red jumper cable to the red/positive terminal on the vehicle that needs to be jump started

6. Now attach the other end of the black jumper cable to the vehicle that has a good battery, although it is slightly dangerous it is best to do this with the vehicle running

7. Prevent the cables from touching each other and attach the other end of the red jumper cable to the red/positive terminal on the running vehicle

8. Allow the dead battery to charge off of the running battery for 30 seconds to a minute, just to allow the battery to get more than a minimal charge

9. Turn the key on the car with the dead battery and it should start up

10. Remove the jumper cables from the two cars always removing positive/red cables first. A slight spark is nothing to worry about

11. Allow the car who’s battery was dead to run for just a minute just to see if it will maintain its charge

Battery corrosion build-up

Chapter 4Understanding the Dash Lights

Chapter 4 15

Oil Pressure warning lightIf the light stays on after starting or illuminates during a journey stop immediately, switch off the engine and check the engine oil level. If the warning lamp illuminates, even though the oil level is correct, do not start the engine and seek assistance.

Battery charge warning light

If this light does not illuminate at all, or if it illuminates while driving, your battery is not being; meaning that there is something wrong with the charging system. Immediately move the vehicle to a safe location and switch off the engine. Do not restart the engine and seek assistance.

Brake system warning light

Illumination after releasing the handbrake may indicate low brake fluid level. Refer to the owner’s manual and add the correct brake fluid at once to bring the level up to the “MAX” mark. As the brakes wear the fluid level will slowly drop. Check your

brake fluid level frequently to ensure there is no further rapid loss of fluid. If the light remains illuminated, even though the brake fluid level is correct, this may indicate a sensor fault. Take your vehicle to a dealer or garage as soon as possible.

Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) partially blocked (diesel engines)

Diesel Particulate filters (DPF) catch bits of soot in the exhaust. As with any filter they have to be emptied regularly to maintain performance. When the soot loading in the filter reaches a set limit (about 45%) the engine management

computer (ECU) can make small adjustments to the fuel injection timing to increase the exhaust temperature and initiate regeneration. It should be possible to start a complete regeneration and clear the warning light by driving for 10 minutes or so at speeds greater than 40mph.

Engine warning light

It indicates a malfunction with the engine management system. Have this checked as soon as possible. If it flashes when driving, reduce the vehicle speed immediately until the light illuminates constantly. If it continues to flash, avoid

heavy acceleration and high engine speed, stop the vehicle and have it checked immediately. On some vehicles this light may be red – again stop the vehicle and seek assistance. If it is safe to do so, try stopping the vehicle, switching off the engine, wait two minutes, then restarting the engine to reset the engine management system. With the light illuminated, the vehicle is still safe to drive as long as no other faults are apparent with the engine. Have the vehicle

checked by a dealer or garage as soon as possible to avoid any damage being caused to the catalytic converter.

ABS warning light

This light indicates a malfunction with the anti-lock brakes (ABS). Have this checked as soon as possible. Normal braking (without ABS) will be generally be maintained and many cars will be safe to drive on, but some will not - check the handbook for

advice. Have the vehicle checked by a dealer or garage as soon as possible.

Brake system and ABS warning lights

If both warning lights illuminate at the same time when driving, stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. Reduce vehicle speed gradually and immediately move the vehicle to a safe location. Use the brakes with great

care. Do not step on the brake pedal abruptly. Seek assistance.

Fuel filter water trap (diesel engines)

This light indicates that water has been detected in the fuel filter. This light warns you that the amount of accumulated water in the fuel filter has reached the

specified level. Normally the vehicle is quite safe to drive, but have the accumulated water in the fuel filter drained off as soon as possible. If the vehicle has just been re-fuelled, immediately move the vehicle to a safe location and switch off the engine. The fuel may have been contaminated and could cause damage to the injection system.

Chapter 5 Checking the Fluids

Chapter 5 19

Fluids

Checking oil:

It's often been said that oil is the lifeblood of your car. The oil in the crankcase of your engine is critical to long and healthy motor life. Without it, your engine would freeze up in a matter of minutes.

With the hood open (and securely propped, so it doesn't hit you on the head), locate the dipstick. It will be near the front of the engine, close to you, and sometimes has a brightly colored handle -- yellow, red, or some other noticeable color. Remove it and wipe it with a clean rag or towel. Reinsert it into hole, then slowly remove it again. Check the level. The oil mark should fall between the two hash marks on the dipstick. If it's below the lower level, you need to add oil -- a quart will usually do it. Before you do so, though, wipe the dipstick again and check it a second time. Still low? Add a quart and recheck it. (It's best to add the oil, then start the engine to circulate it, then let it sit for another five minutes before rechecking.) If it's still below the lower hash mark, you may need to add another quart, but be careful not to overfill it, as this can lead to other problems.

Transmission Fluid:

The automatic transmission fluid should be checked with the engine running. The transmission dipstick is typically located behind the oil dipstick, and doesn't stick up as high. If you have trouble locating it, consult your owner's manual. Oftentimes it will have the same colorful markings (yellow, red, etc.) as the oil dipstick.

With the engine running, extract the transmission dipstick. Wipe it clean and reinsert it, then extract it again. It will have similar markings to the oil dipstick, one mark for too low, another for too high.

(Note: Transmission fluid will almost never be low. The automatic transmission sealed system, requiring little maintenance. If your fluid is low, it most likely means you have a leak in the system, such as a worn seal or a crack somewhere. Have you noticed an oily patch on your driveway where you park? Is it red, or reddish-brown? If so, you may have a transmission leak and will need to see a mechanic.)

Even if the level is OK, note the color and consistency of the fluid. If it is very dark or black, check your records and owner's manual and plan on getting it changed; it's probably overdue.

Radiator/Cooling System:

This should be done when the engine is cool or lukewarm, not cold.

Please note: The contents of the radiator are pressurized and can scald you if the system is opened when it is hot. Also, never check the radiator when the engine is running.

Locate the radiator cap. It should be in the center of the engine compartment, in the very front. Use a rag to remove it. Look down into the radiator and see if you can spot fluid. If it's near the top, you're in good shape. If not, you'll need to add some.

Engine coolant is added on a 50/50 basis -- 50 percent water, 50 percent coolant. Read the instructions on the coolant container for details.

You may want to also check the fluid level in the coolant reservoir. This is a plastic container just to the side of the radiator, with a hose connecting the two. It serves as an overflow receptacle for excess radiator coolant (since the fluid expands and contracts with heat). Pop the lid open and fill it about two-thirds of the way full.

Brake Fluid:

Like the transmission, the braking system is a sealed network. If it repeatedly gets low on fluid, you need to locate the source of the problem, either by yourself or with the help of a mechanic. A leaky braking system is a very serious problem.

To check the fluid level, locate the brake fluid reservoir. It's usually in the engine compartment. If you can't find it, consult your owner's manual. Remove the lid and check the level. It should be at least two-thirds full. If not, fill to the "full" line with brake fluid.

Note: Avoid getting water in the braking system, at all costs. Therefore, do not do this procedure in the rain, unless in a garage or under an overhang.

Window Washer Fluid:

Some newer cars and trucks now have a light that comes on to indicate when this fluid needs refilling. It's typically located in the engine compartment, underneath the windshield. It looks a lot like the coolant overflow reservoir, but will be located closer to the rear of the engine compartment. Also, both of the caps will be labeled "coolant" and "windshield," or something similar, to distinguish one from the other.

Some vehicles, such as SUVs and minivans, may have a second receptacle, located in the rear of the

Chapter 5 21

vehicle, to supply the rear wipers.

If you're unable to locate these fluid reservoirs, consult your owner's manual.

Many people will augment the water in these receptacles with Windex or some other glass cleaner, to increase the cleaning power of the fluid. You can also buy window washer fluid at your local automotive store or Wal-Mart.

axel, 7battery, 11, 12, 15bracket, 11brake, 15, 16, 20coolant, 20Diesel, 15engine, 15, 16, 19, 20

fluid, 15, 19, 20Fluid, 19, 20jack, 8jumper cables, 11, 12lug nuts, 7, 8oil, 15, 19pressure gauge, 8tire, 3, 7, 8transmission, 19, 20