Car care tips: What everyone must know

Knowing basic car care will save you the hustle of getting stranded. PHOTO BY Rachel Mabala

What you need to know:

If you are a woman, do not be overwhelmed at the thought of maintaining your car. Know these tips.

Joy Kisa was thrilled when her husband bought her a car as a birthday gift. She immediately enrolled for driving lessons. “It was such a shame that I had a car yet could barely drive,” she says. Three months down the road, she went for her driving test and a month later, Kisa was on the road. With the help of her husband, she gradually gained confidence and was soon out on her own. However, disaster loomed as she was never trained on how to take care of her car.

“One day, as I rushed for a meeting, the front of my car started smoking. I did not know how to open it, what to do or even what was causing it,” she says. Stuck in the middle of the road for what seemed like eternity, she had to call her mechanic for help.
“I missed a crucial meeting and my engine suffered severe damage,” she narrates. We caught up with the experts for a few helpful tips on how to keep your car in top condition.

Tyres
Kelvin Onyango, a mechanic with Kia Motors, says you should visually inspect your tyres to ensure that none are low on pressure or flat before you start driving. Also, open the bonnet (the knob placement is dependent on the car manufacturers, but it is usually under the steering rack).

“While there, open the radiator cap - do not open when the car has already heated up because you could end up with burns. Then check coolant, in case there is need for top up, do not put water, but radiator coolant. When buying radiator coolant, make sure that one of the ingredients is glycol which does not transfer heat as plain water would,” he advises.

Check oils
You also need to check your engine oil using a dipstick. If the stick does not have the F, L, H mark, make sure the level is at the top mark on the stick, but not above it. If the level is below, refilling is a must. Check the brake fluid reservoir as well to see if it is full. If there is no brake fluid, make sure you get a top up. Though sometimes ignored, wiper water must also be checked. Make sure the level is not above the ‘full’ mark.

Mirrors
Check if the side mirrors are well-adjusted. Check the indicator lights as well. This check is essential for both dim and the full lights. For some cars, you must turn on the ignition in order to check these lights.

Onyango also advises you to take a look at the dashboard lights to make sure there are no warning lights such as the check engine, low oil, or tyre pressure problem, illuminated. “If there is any, see to it that the issue is rectified. If you do not understand them, talking to your mechanic is advisable and the earlier you do it, the better,” he says.

Lowering maintenance costs
Joseph Kakande, the authorised service centre development coordinator at Toyota Uganda, shares some of the things that one ought to have at the back of their mind if they are to maintain their cars at a budget-friendly cost.

Service your car as recommended, otherwise, you may experience problems that regular servicing would have fixed.
Repair the vehicle in time. For example, when the clutch is worn out, it increases fuel consumption. Do not leave it too late to have it fixed.

Keep your speed limit at 100kph and not more than 120kph. That is because, at 100kph, the foot is lighter on the accelerator hence less fuel is consumed. Besides that, you will reach your destination safely as it will be easier to apply the brakes when the need arises. Speaking of the brakes, try not to be heavy-footed.

Stepping on the pads too hard wears them out.
Proper car-handling minimises costs. Potholes cannot always be avoided, but be cautious how you tackle them. Approach speed-humps with care as excessive banging can lead to damaged shock absorbers.

Quality spare parts
A number of drivers either look for cheaper or somewhat compatible spare parts. For example, the spark plug creates the flame that puts the car in motion.
Getting one other than the manufacturer’s may either lead to your car failing to move at all or a flame hotter than what is needed being produced, which could lead to some engine components burning out. This also goes for oil filters.
“Fake ones have paper within, which gets damp with time and starts disintegrating into the oil. This creates blockages which will eventually lead to an engine knock,” Kakande advises.

Tools you must have
•Battery jumpers.
•Jack spinner.
•Wheel spinner.
•Life savers - two will be ideal so that you can put one at the front and the other at the back in case of any emergency on the road.
•Spare tyre in good working condition.

Repairs you should never ignore
•Brake pads
•Oil change
•Air filter
•Transmission fuel leak
•Burned out lights