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When it comes to car maintenance you can spend hours poring over manuals to assist you. However, there are plenty of places online which offer simple and easy steps to follow that allow you to be able to carry out the more basic kinds of maintenance tasks that will keep your vehicle in tip top condition.

But there is not only advice available for carrying out general maintenance of your car there are some sites which offer advice about washing, cleaning and doing detailing or pin striping on the vehicle also. However in this article we are going to be taking a look at some of the more essential car maintenance jobs that one should be learning about and trying to do for oneself. Certainly by doing these jobs yourself you could end up saving yourself money each year because no longer will you need to pay a mechanic to do them for you.

Every 5,000 miles it is a good idea to rotate the tires on your car as well, which means swapping those on the left for those on the right. Plus when taking off the tires remove any dust that has accumulated on the brakes. This is crucial because the dust contains all sorts of objects which if left on can actually prevent them from working as effectively as they should. To clean the brakes all you need is a damp sponge which has been dipped into clean cold water.

When it comes to checking the pressure in the tires this should be done once a week. Low tire pressure can have an effect on the fuel economy of your car and it will prove difficult to handle and the ride won’t be as comfortable. Checking tire pressure is very simple to do and certainly you have no excuse for not doing it. Whilst checking the tire pressure it is also a good idea to check the depth of the tread on the tire. Once it falls below a certain level then this is time to arrange to get the tires replaced.

Today actually checking the depth of the tread on a tire has become even simpler as most come with wear bars built into them. As soon as you notice the first part of the wear bar beginning to show through on the tire then you know it is time to get it replaced. It is far better if you replace all tires at the same time although it may be expensive it could end up saving you money in the long term.

Another task which you can learn how to do for yourself is to check the various belts which run around certain pulleys in the engine. Unfortunately these belts are likely to perish as they are placed under very extreme pressure and if not replaced and break can lead to serious engine problems which may cost considerable more than the few pounds the belt cost to be repaired. It is best if you can’t check the belts yourself you arrange a mechanic to do so every 25,000 miles and then get them replaced every 50,000 miles.

Another task which you yourself can carry out when it comes to car maintenance is to check the oil level. Again this should be done regularly ideally every week or month would be ideal. If there is too much or too little oil in the engine this can lead to problems later on. When you are checking the level of the oil in the engine it is best that you do so when the car is parked on a level surface. Also never do the check when the engine is hot after just being driven but do it either when the engine has cooled down or is cold.

Finding the oil dipstick shouldn’t be a problem the manual for the vehicle should show you exactly where it is located in relation to the engine. Take it out and then wipe with a dry clean cloth and then put back in making sure that it has been pushed all the way in. The reason you need to wipe the stick after pulling it out initially is because the whole stick will be covered in oil. Now pull it out and check the level of oil by looking at the marks on stick. The high and low oil level marks will either be denoted by dots or dashes on the stick or by the letters H and L.

Another thing you should be regularly checking in your car when it comes to maintenance of it is how much coolant there is. Again you will need to look in the car manual to discover where the coolant reservoir is actually situated in the engine bay of your car. Generally it is bolted on a side of the engine bay and the bottle is normally semi-transparent.

As with checking the oil level when doing this particular car maintenance task you need to allow the engine to be cooled before you check it. On the outside there will be markings showing the low and high levels and ideally there should be enough coolant in the reservoir that sits between the two of these. The reason why you don’t check the levels of coolant in your vehicle whilst the engine is still hot is the one in the radiator is going to be hot and if you take off the cap to check it then steam will be released which can end up burning you.

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edit @ 11 Sep 2008 01:03:06 by momochiji

Along with buying a house another major investment that many people face today is purchasing a vehicle. Certainly with the cost of fuel on the increase buying a car that provides everything that one needs but is also economical is crucial today. In this article we offer the top ten tips on car finance so that you get the best deal possible when purchasing a new or used vehicle.

Tip 1 – Set a Budget – Once you have decided just how much you are willing to spend on your dream vehicle then you need to make sure that you stick with it. It is important when setting your budget you make a list of the features that you want your car to have. Do you want one with a large boot? Do you want one that provides ample room for all the family to be seated in it comfortably and safely? Are you after a diesel, petrol or a hybrid car?

Tip 2 – Do Some Research – The internet is the best place to look for information on the kinds of cars you are considering buying including what sort of price you can expect to pay for them. This information can also be found in magazines but by going online you can do it for free and it can all be done in the comfort of your own home. As you do carry out your research look for information relating to any manufacturers recalls on a vehicle. Plus check out when certain tasks need to be carried out such as the changing of the cam belt as this can prove to be a very expensive repair.

Tip 3 – Speak to Friends – If your friends or someone else you know has the car that you are considering buying then ask them for their opinion on it. Ask them not just how well it does in relation to fuel consumption but how reliable the car is also.

Tip 4 – Compare The Prices – Along with looking through local newspapers search online so that you can compare the prices of the cars you are interested in. If you are going to be purchasing a used car then avoid those which have high mileage on the clock as they tend to need a lot more time being spent on maintaining them. Plus if the vehicle is no longer in production then it may well prove difficult to get replacement parts for it. Another way of comparing prices if you have time is to spend time going around a few local car dealers close to where you live.

Tip 5 – Getting Your Car Finance Arranged – It is important that you spend time checking out several different sources for obtaining the finance you need to purchase your car. If you are purchasing a brand new vehicle it is not always ideal to go with the financing that the dealer can offer, sometimes through arranging your own you can actually haggle with them to get the price you actually pay for the vehicle brought down.

Although you may look at several different places to obtain your financing for the car from it is important that you don’t apply to them all as this will end up damaging your credit rating. A poor credit rating and you may well find that you cannot get the sum of money you want in order to purchase the car of your dreams.

Tip 6 – Take The Car for a Test Drive – Although you may think you don’t need to, it is sensible to take the car you are considering purchasing whether brand new or used for at least a 20 minute test drive. This way you can not only be sure that you will feel comfortable when driving it but will also be able to handle it as well. Plus it gives you a chance to see if there are any problems (especially with used cars) that may well end up costing you more to get repaired in the future.

However, before you take it for a test drive then get the bonnet up and check the engine when cold. It is also crucial that you test drive the car from cold as this will help you to clearly identify any future mechanical issues. Plus after testing it and you have returned to the starting point make sure that you test that all components within the car such as electric windows, heated seats, radio etc. are working.

Tip 7 – Buying a Car Online – If you intend to purchase a car through an online auction site then make sure that you ask the seller for as much information on the vehicle as you possibly. If they state they have a complete service history then ask them to provide you with proof of such. Most will be able to e-mail or fax the information that you want to you. Also carry out some research into the seller also. Look closely at the feedback they have received previously.

Tip 8 – Warranties – If you are purchasing a new or used vehicle from a dealer then see what warranties it comes with. It is crucial that you actually look at the documentation relating to the warranty so you know exactly what and what isn’t covered under it.

If you are buying a used car and the dealer offers just a basic warranty package for the vehicle, see if for paying a little more that they can upgrade it to something a little more substantial. Although you may have to pay an extra few dollars for such it may well save you money in the future.

Tip 9 – Getting Everything Documented – It is crucial when buying any car that you get everything put in writing in relation to the warranty agreement and any work that needs to be carried out prior to you getting the keys. Otherwise if you don’t you won’t have any recourse should you find that what was meant to be done hasn’t been.

Tip 10 – Getting The Keys – The majority of modern cars today will come with central locking that is operated by an electronic remote control or key. When you finally do take possession of your vehicle then make sure that you get both sets of keys for it. Remember to keep the second set safe and secure at home.

India ranks the highest in vehicle theft rates with one car being stolen every minute. These stolen vehicles are usually sold out to stolen car dealers who further change the identifications and resell the car in low price. It has become a lucrative business opportunity in the country.

In India, the stolen vehicle market is estimated to be 1,000 crore in India with Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore reporting the highest incidences of theft. According to National Crime Records Bureau, Maharashtra topped the theft rate. The number of car theft incidences in Delhi was reported to be 4337 in 1999, 4225 in 2000 and almost over 5789 in 2007. Total numbers of more than 40,000 cars, costing about 160 crore, are stolen every year in the country. Some of the lost cars have also been traced by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

The proportion of stolen cars is more in case of old cars as compared to brand new cars. This is because it’s easy to mold the basic features and accessories of the old cars. New cars have smooth finish and excellent appeal. With such a good finish, it becomes difficult to sell the car in the stolen car market. Selling a brand new car at a comparatively low price creates uneasiness among the car consumers. For them it’s really hard to believe the low-cost availability of new cars.

Even the insurance companies are taking benefits of the increasing numbers of car theft. These companies have raised their insurance premiums in answer to car theft cases. Here too car buyers are facing a tough time.

As the number keeps on growing, in 2007, the government made it compulsory for al car owners to equip anti-theft devices in their cars. Still, various measures and steps have to be taken by the car owners to reduce such incidences. Till the car owners themselves don’t participate in the war against car theft, the government, transport authorities and crime branch can do nothing.

Every car owner is not lucky to have his or her car traced. So, it is important to take some preventive measures and give a blow to car thieves. Outfitting the car with anti-theft devices is one of the best ways to reduce the theft cases. Today a wide range of such devices are available including the steering lock, tyre lock, car alarms, gearshift locks, electronic key and many more. These anti theft devices are not foolproof but they definitely help to deter car thieves and slow down their stealing process. Many anti-theft devices are also help to protect car burglaries and vandalism.

So, try to install at least some of the most effective anti-theft devices, this will help the crime branch functional to catch hold of car thieves. Eventually, the associative work will slow down the number of car theft cases.