Safety and Reliability Increased Vehicle Lifespan

1. Is Your Car Need Regular
Maintenance?
Sacred Automotive

2. Why is Maintenance
Important?
 Safety and Reliability
 Increased Vehicle Lifespan
 Support of Warranty Claims
 Increased Resale or Trade-in Value

3. ‘Check Engine’ Lights
 Indicator that something is out of
range
◦ Gauges vs. Indicator Lamps
◦ Computer Codes
 Great for $ervice $tations and
Dealer$
 A good case for preventative
maintenance!!!

4. Maintaining a Service History
 Manufacturer’s Service Intervals
◦ Vehicle Specific; covered in Owner’s
Manual
◦ Necessary for Warranty Claims
◦ Online vs. Paper record keeping

5. Who Does My Service?
 Dealers, Independents, or Do-It-
Yourself
◦ Cost of time, labor, and parts
◦ Value of experience and expertise
◦ Satisfaction of ‘doing it yourself’

6. Who Does My Service?
 Develop a method and stick to it
◦ What you can safely do
◦ What you want to do
◦ What you can learn to do

7. What we will be covering:
 Its mostly about the ‘Fluids and
Filters’
 There’s also some ‘Lubrication’
needed
 Its also about the ‘Wear Surfaces’
 Don’t forget the ‘Battery and
Charging Systems’, and ‘Fuses and

8. Fluids and Filters
Engine
◦ Engine Oil and Filter
 Synthetic vs. Conventional
◦ Air Filter
 OEM Paper vs. Oiled Gauze
◦ Coolant (what...no filter?)
 Green, Pink, Extended Life, etc.
◦ Fuel Filters
 In-Tank, Frame Rail, Under hood

9. Fluids & Filters
Transmission$...
 Automatic transmissions
◦ Fluids and Filter
◦ Pan Drain vs. Complete Flush
◦ Adjustments vs. Replacements
 Manual Transmissions
◦ Fluids
◦ Clutch surfaces and adjustments

10. Fluids & Filters
Differentials and Transfer Cases
 Front Wheel Drive
 Rear Wheel Drive
 All Wheel Drive
 Four Wheel Drive

11. Lubrication
 Steering controls
◦ Pitman arms, Tie rod ends, ball joints
 CV (Constant Velocity) Joints (axles)
 U (Universal) Joints (driveshafts)
 Sealed vs. greased fittings
◦ Whatza zerk anywayz?
 Wheel bearings
◦ Most today are sealed; re-packing

12. Wear Surfaces
Tires
 Maintaining Proper Air Pressure
 Rotation and Monitoring Wear
 Why Wheel Diameters are
Important
◦ Oversized Wheels and Tires

13. Wear Surfaces
Brakes & Clutch Surfaces
 Brakes
◦ Disc vs. drum brakes
◦ Pad wear and replacement
 Organic, ceramic, metallic, etc.
◦ Rotors, drums, and resurfacing
 Clutch surfaces – manual
transmissions

14. Wear Surfaces
Belt(s)
 Serpentine Belt
◦ When to replace – ‘CPI’ count
◦ Tensioner replacement
 Squealing or belt vibration
◦ Other V-belt driven accessories
 A/C, fluid pumps, etc.

15. Battery and Charging
Systems
 Maintenance free?
◦ Lead/acid, gel, sealed
 Battery life factors & warranties
 Cold weather starts and jumping
◦ Polarity matters!!!
 Charging
◦ Ampere/hours matters!!!

16. Battery and Charging
Systems
 Alternators
◦ Effect of high draw accessories
 Surging accessories, dimming lights
◦ Battery and alternator? Testing
 No crank vs. no start
◦ Starter, battery, alternator? Testing

17. Fuses and Lights
 Fuses
◦ Amperage ratings
◦ Blown? What is the reason?
 Signal Lights
◦ Its not the policeman’s job!
◦ Brakes, running lights, turn signals
 Head Lights
◦ The #1 ticket getter...
◦ Halogen bulb vs. sealed beam
◦ Proper handling

18. Severe Duty Operations
 Extremes
◦ Heat and Cold (...Minnesota!)
◦ Long Distance traveling
◦ Dusty conditions
◦ Heavy cargo loads, boat towing, etc.
 All require acceleration of certain
service intervals

19. Where from here?
 Start with the basics
 Research and read...
◦ Various Auto Service Websites
◦ Car and Parts Magazines
◦ Manufacturer websites and blogs
 Questions?