You probably don’t spend much time thinking about it, but your windshield wipers are one of the most important parts of your vehicle. Understanding just a little bit about how this important component works can help you when it comes time to replace your windshield wipers.
A windshield wiper works by forcing the rubber insert from the wiper blade to sweep across your wet windshield. When this happens, water builds up in a wedge formation. This is, in many ways, the same sort of thing that happens when you use a squeegee. The wiper pushes the water off of the windshield. It leaves your windshield clear and clean, allowing you to continue driving safely.
There are a number of different components that make up a windshield wiper. The windshield wiper system includes splined shafts on which the arms of the wiper pivot. In addition, there is a component that creates the back-and-forth motion of the windshield wiper. Finally, there is an electric motor for the wiper that creates the power for the entire wiper system.
Underneath a plastic cover is a small nut that holds the arm of the wiper onto the splines. The splines function to keep the shaft from slipping. This is why windshield wipers don’t just spin around in a fully circular motion. There is a metal crank assembly attached to the arm on one end, and the motor on the other. This reciprocating mechanism is also found on rear wipers, although it is usually a lot smaller than front wipers and it is often build into the motor.
The speed of your wiper blades is dependant upon the amount of energy that the motor sends from the wiper switch. The lower the voltage, the lower the speed. Some windshield wiper systems feature intermittent action. This is created by an entirely separate electrical module. This module is wired between the motor and the wiper control switch on the dashboard or on your steering column.
Regularly checking your wiper blades for wear and replacing them when necessary is an important part of keeping your car safe and maintained. If you have more severe automotive issues, such as accident repair, stop by our Allentown auto body repair shop today.
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This is the third in a three part series about new car maintenance. You can read the first and second parts of the series here.
Keep those tires rotated.
In the last car maintenance article we talked about your tires, and making sure they were properly inflated with sufficient tread levels. The other thing you need to know about your tires is that they need to be properly rotated to ensure a long and happy life. If you have the time and equipment, you can do this yourself, or you can stop in to your and have the service department do it for you. For more serious damages, try our Allentown auto body repair shop.
Keep your belts organized.
The belts in your new car are in great shape now, but they’ll either get loose or wear out over time. You can go in yourself and check your belts yourself — you’ve probably got a serpentine belt and a timing belt in there somewhere — but when it’s time to replace them you’ll want to bring them into the service department. You know it’s time to replace your belts when you start seeing deep cracks in them. They’re not expensive to replace, and worn out belts are a fast and easy way to find yourself stranded on the side of the road with a busted engine.
Finally, keep your brakes braking.
The most important — and most frequently utilized — factor in your road safety is your brakes. Properly functioning brakes are critical to your own safety and the safety of everyone else on the road. Get your brakes changed professionally. Some things to watch for are grinding or screeching noises when you brake, or if you feel the steering wheel start to wobble when you’re braking. Brakes aren’t something to mess around with, so if you sense any sign of trouble get them checked immediately. There are lots of signs that you might need your brakes looked at, so make sure you’re aware of all of them.
So that’s it, your crash course in new car maintenance. (Pardon the pun.) If you make sure to keep an eye on your vehicle before there’s a problem, you’ll prevent a lot of problems in the future and keep your vehicle running happily and healthily for years to come without breaking the bank on service and repairs.
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This is the second in a three part series about car maintenance.
Check Fluids
Like the human body, your new vehicle needs fluids to run at optimal levels. When you’re checking your various fluid levels, make sure your car is on an even surface — if your driveway is slanted, you won’t get an accurate reading. First of all, make sure your fluid caps are clean and make sure they’re free of debris and dirt before you check your levels. (You don’t want dirty fluids!) One fluid that’s easy to replace yourself is your windshield washer fluid. Make sure you’re always carrying a spare in your trunk, and don’t fill it all the way in the winter — sometimes it freezes. When it comes to other fluids like brake fluid, engine coolant, and fluid for your power steering, you’ll want to get those replaced by a professional.
Change Oil as Scheduled
Your oil’s job is to protect and lubricate all the moving parts of your vehicle’s engine. Because of the pressure and heat involved in the process, and because oil picks up dust, dirt, and particles as time goes on — your oil will break down and become inefficient over time. You oil and filters should be changed about every 3000 to 5000 miles, depending on the conditions you’re driving in. If you do a lot of city driving — with a lot of starting and stopping — or carry heavy loads a lot, your engine oil will wear out faster than other types of driving. The same is true for driving in areas with extreme temperatures.
Keep Tires Full and Clean
You’d think that since tires are the things that take your vehicle where it needs to go, people would pay more attention to them. You want to ensure your tires are inflated correctly. It will keep your tires alive for longer, but it also helps your gas mileage and makes for safer driving. Watch that your tread isn’t wearing too thin. The legal limit in most places is 1/16 of an inch, but replace them before they get to that point. You can buy a gauge for your tire tread at auto parts stores to get an accurate reading.
Next month we will provide one more article on maintenance for your new car. Also, if you require maintenance on your car, please stop by your Allentown area auto body shop today.This is the first in a three part series about new car maintenance.
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This is the first in a three part series about car maintenance.
The best way to keep your new car running nicely — and to keep your resale value high — is to make sure you keep an eye on a few common maintenance factors. If you’re nice to your automobile now, it will be nice to you for a long time to come. Here are some things to get you started.
Keep Air Filter Clean
Your air filter will gradually get built up with dust, dirt and grime — that’s its job. You want it to filter the junk floating around so the junk doesn’t wind up in your engine. Eventually, though, the air filter on your new vehicle is going to get blocked, and that’s going to reduce your engine’s performance. (You can often find out about a filter block by noticing the “check engine” light.) If the filter is only a little dirty — you can tell by looking at it, it will be slightly discolored — you can clean it out quickly by giving it a quick tap on a hard surface. Make sure the bottom side is down. It’s an easier way to clean your air filter.
Verify Battery Connections are in Tact
First off, periodically check to make sure the casing of your battery is clean. Check the connections on your battery to make sure they haven’t become corroded over time. If you notice bulges or cracks, you might need to replace your battery. If you do find corrosion at the point of your terminals, you can carefully try to clean it with a mixture of water and baking soda and a stiff brush. Make sure the brush doesn’t have metal bristles! Using clean water you can rinse the terminals, making sure to catch the run off water in a tray.
Clean Windshield Wipers Periodically
One of the most important parts of safe driving is effective windshield wiper blades. You want to make sure they’re all intact — you’d be surprised by how many aren’t — and that they’re clean. It’s easy to clean your wiper blades with paper towel and a mild detergent — dish detergent will do the trick. If your blades are getting worn down, they’re easy and inexpensive to replace. If it’s only the rubber part that’s looking like it’s seen better days, you can just replace that without replacing the entire arm.
Stay tuned for the next two articles about new car maintenance to keep your car, truck, or SUV top shape.
For maintenance, stop by the Lehigh Valley auto body shop today.
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Most vehicles today come with power steering. Most people would be surprised to try to drive a vehicle without power steering. If your power steering has problems, the vehicle becomes very hard to steer. This could even lead to a loss of control of the vehicle. Because of this, you want to make sure your power steering fluid is at the right level.
The power steering fluid reservoir is usually found on the passenger side of the vehicle. It typically is labeled “steering,” and may have an opaque reservoir that lets you check the level without even opening the container. If yours isn’t opaque, you should clean the cap and the area around the cap before checking, so as to avoid contaminating the system.
Usually, the cap will have a dipstick built into it. Clean off the dipstick and screw the cap back on to the reservoir. When you remove it again and look at the dipstick, you’ll be able to see the fluid level.
Most cars these days have an opaque reservoir that allows you to check the level of the fluid without opening the container. Wipe it off for a clear view of the markings, then check the level. If it’s low, it’s time to add some.
You should look at the area around the reservoir to make sure there’s not a leak. In addition, check your fluid level after a few days to see if it’s leaking.
If you have a power steering fluid leak, come see your Bethlehem area collision and repair shop today.
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The Check Engine light is sort of a catch-all light that displays any number of different problems under the hood of your vehicle. In some cases, the check engine light can mean that there’s a severe problem. In other cases, it might just be a minor issue.
One of the most common reasons that your check engine light is on is because your gas cap isn’t on tight enough. There is a sensor that will measure how much pressure there is in your gas tank, and the alarm will go off if the pressure is low. You might just be able to tighten your gas cap and get the Check Engine light to go off.
In some cases, a check engine light can indicate that your spark plug wires have gone bad. Usually replaced during a tune-up, your spark plug wires can get small cracks which will let out small bursts of electricity. Since the electricity didn’t go to the spark plug like it should have, the engine will have a slight misfire. You can check your spark plug wires to see if they have any holes or cracks. These are most likely to appear at the ends of your spark plug wires.
Ultimately, the best bet is to take the time to have a auto mechanic take a look at your car, truck, or SUV. If there is a more serious problem, early detection can mean the difference in thousands of dollars on repair costs.
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Of all the different tips and tricks you can use to save mileage in your vehicle , there is one significant car maintenance activity that will help out immensely. Not only will it help with fuel economy, it will also help you to keep your car running smooth. What is it? Change your oil.
Of all the maintenance and service issues you can think of, getting an oil change is the most basic. The fact is that most manufacturers and mechanics will recommend that you change the oil in your car, truck, or SUV every 3,000 miles. There are some auto mechanics and automotive experts that may tell you that you can go longer, sometimes much longer, than this.
The fact is, however, that after 3,000 miles your oil starts to break down. This forces your engine to work harder and makes your car run less efficiently.
So, here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to changing the oil in your vehicle:
• Make sure your oil is clean. If your oil isn’t clean, it can indicate a problem.
• Make sure that your oil level is always between the fill lines. If the oil is below the fill line but you’re not anywhere near the 3,000 mile mark, make sure to check for leaks. If you can’t find any leaks, add a quart of oil and check it again after a few days.
• There are several types of oil to choose from for your car. Lighter oil, like 5W-40, does better in warmer or hotter weather. This type of oil is best for warmer climates, or summer in more temperate zones. Heavier oil, like 10W-40, is better for colder temps.
• If your car uses a lot of oil (which it likely won’t) you should use heavier oil and/or consider a synthetic blend motor oil. However, if your is using large amounts of oil, you should check with your vehicle service department, as this is likely a symptom of a bigger problem.
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Even if you’re driving a quality vehicle, the fact is that, at some time or another, your vehicle won’t start. When that happens, unless you happen to be parked at your local garage repair shop, chances are you’re going to need to do some troubleshooting.
Here are some things to do when your vehicle just won’t start:
Test your battery to see if it’s dead. If you have a battery tester, you can use that to see if your battery is weak. If you don’t have a tester, you can still figure it out by trying to jump-start the car. If the car starts, it may just be that you left your headlights on, for example. Still, you should consider replacing your battery soon, as running down your battery can weaken it over the long term.
Check your battery for corrosion. Your battery’s connectors, over time, can become corroded and dirty. This dirt and corrosion causes an interruption in the circuit from your battery to your starter. If the posts to your battery are corroded or dirty, clean them. That may be enough to allow your car to start.
It’s a long shot, but it doesn’t hurt to also check your fuses. Most of the time, the car’s starter doesn’t rely on a fuse. However, you should still check it out, and replace any dead fuses with the appropriate type.
These basic things may not help you to get your car stared. Typically, if these things won’t help you get your car started, it means you have a much more serious problem. For example, your starter may have gone bad, or your ignition switch may be on the fritz.
Your Bethlehem auto repair shop can help you get your car started, or help you find a brand new vehicle to replace your old one.
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The transmission is one of the most important parts of your car, truck, or SUV. When you have problems with your transmission, you can wind up paying a large sum of money to get it fixed. Knowing some basic troubleshooting techniques, however, could save you quite a bit of money when it comes time for repairs.
One of the first things you should check if your transmission won’t go or if it isn’t going smooth is the transmission fluid. A low level of transmission fluid can cause poor shifting and can eventually cause transmission damage. Check your transmission fluid level, and check underneath your vehicle to make sure that you don’t have a transmission fluid leak.
Your transmission filter could also be clogged. On average, you’re not going to be able to replace the filter on your own, but if you are fairly mechanical you might be able to do it. Here again, if the filter is having a problem it can cause poor performance or lead to long-term damage.
It’s important, when you bring your car in to your Allentown auto body shop, that you accurately describe to the mechanic what’s happening with your vehicle. Tell them what the car is doing, and tell him what you saw when you looked at the transmission. If there is a leak in your transmission, describe where its occurring and how much its leaking.
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From time to time, you may find that the insulation around your spark plug wires develops a break. This doesn’t happen very often, but it’s worth taking a look at your spark plug wires from time to time as part of your regular car maintenance.
If your wires are cracked, it can cause a spark to jump off of the wire and hit some metal under your car’s hood. This can also cause a weak spark in your engine’s cylinder, which will make the car run roughly and will negatively affect your gas mileage. In addition, it can cause damage to your catalytic converter.
To check your spark plug wires, start with your engine off. Look at the wire closely, starting at the end near the distributor. Work your way down to the end where the plug is. Bend the wire as you go to see if there are any cracks. You’ll also check the wires at the spark plug by pulling it off the plug and inspecting the end for any tears or cracks.
If your spark plug wires are damaged, it’s time to get new ones. You can install them yourself, or you can bring your car in to have them replaced. For more extensive vehicle repairs, visit your Lehigh Valley auto body shop today.
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