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P & D Autos: Bunbury Western Australia 6230 Phone: (08) 9791 6300 Fax: (08) 9791 6455 Post: PO Box 2275 Bunbury 6231 Our business hours are: Monday to Friday 8.00am to 5.00pm Saturday, Sunday - Closed |
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Remember, these are only general observations as recommended under normal driving conditions. You may require more frequent services if your vehicle is used under abnormal conditions. Always check your handbook. Tips for Keeping Your Car Running At Its Best. Prevention is always better than cure. There are a number of simple, regular things you can look out for to keep your vehicle running smoothly between service intervals. TYRES They’re black and round until something goes wrong. Check air pressure weekly (including spare) to ensure safety, reduce fuel consumption and increase tyre life. Correct air pressures are shown on the tyre placard located in glovebox or the driver’s door. Do not attempt to drive on a flat tyre more than is necessary to safety stop. Driving even short distances may cause irreparable damage. Tyres should be replaced when: • Cord or fabric is showing or tread indicators appear. • Tread or sidewall is cut, split or cracked and exposes fabric. • Tyre has a bump or bulge in it • Tyre has a puncture which cannot be repaired because of size or location of damage. Click For More Tyre Information THE BRAKE SYSTEM Your vehicles brakes are no doubt the most important safety factor in your vehicle. Your car’s owner’s manual will provide a maintenance schedule designed to keep your brakes in good condition. Following it, is the easiest way to avoid expense repairs and the potential for catastrophic brake failure. But at the very least, you should have your brakes inspected every year. When brakes need a mechanic’s attention, they give certain warning signals. For example, a low or spongy pedal can mean that there’s air in the hydraulic system. A red brake-warning light that stays on could mean that there’s an imbalance in your hydraulic system. And while some brake noises are normal, chirps, continuous squeals and grinding sounds almost always mean that it’s time for new brake pads or shoes. But anytime you notice something irregular about your brakes, it’s a good idea to have them checked out. Click For More Brake System Information ENGINE OIL A common practice amongst motorist is to top up their engine oil as opposed to replacing it at regular intervals. Oil levels should be checked weekly. Check level when oil is warm, or when stopping for fuel. Use only specified oil, recommended grades of oil outlined in the handbook. Oil that is too thin (low viscosity) will increase consumption, so stick to specified grades. If you tow a trailer, drive in dusty conditions, or frequently drive in stop-and-go traffic, you should change your engine oil more often. Short trips without letting your engine warm up can contaminate your engine oil and require more oil changes than average too. Click For More Engine Oil Information ENGINE COOLANT Coolant levels should be checked at least weekly. If required, top up coolant, mixing a solution of coolant and clean fresh water as per the ratio specified in your handbook. Do not top up coolant level beyond the maximum mark. If you find you have to top up cooling system more than every two weeks, see Paddy and his team to rectify the problem at P & D Autos. Approximately every 40,000km's a flush-and-fill should be done, which drains dirty fluid and replaces it with clean coolant. Click For More Radiator Information. THE BATTERY Batteries store the energy that’s needed to start your car’s engine. And once the engine is running, the alternator starts re-charging the battery for the next start. Maintenance includes keeping the battery clean and secured so it doesn’t vibrate, keeping connections clean and tight at the terminals, and checking the water level (if necessary). Click For More Battery Information AIR CONDITIONING The air-con uses power from the vehicle’s engine, so you will notice a small decrease in power and a slight increase in fuel consumption when it is in use. Switch air-con on for 5-10minutes once every two weeks (even in winter) to lubricate the air-conditioner system seals. A slightly hissing sound may be heard for a short time when it is turned off – this is normal. If your air conditioning system isn’t keeping you cool, it’s usually due to a leak in the system. You should have your full climate control system inspected regularly to ensure it is working properly. Click For More Air Conditioning Information FUEL INJECTION Fuel injectors are easily clogged. They can rob your engine of fuel economy, performance and greatly increase exhaust emissions. The opening at which the fuel injector mists into the combustion chamber is approximately the same width as a human hair. Varnish is the name given to the sludge build-up which causes a restrication in fuel flow to the injectors, which ultimately reduces your cars performance. Another problem is carbon which builds up on intake valves, on top of pistons and within the combustion chamber. This can cause cold start problems, hesitations and the engine to miss. The Fuel injectors should be checked, cleaned and set on a regular basis. It is recommended that this is carried out every 40,000km but this varies to vehicle type, quality of fuel and driving patterns. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION The automatic transmission is a complicated piece of engineering for the ordinary person to understand. My best advice would be to take it to a specialist for any servicing or maintenance. Click For More Automatic Transmission Information WASHER FLUID LEVELS Check and top up washer fluid weekly. For best results, add the correct amount of washer fluid, as specified in your handbook. Following a regular maintenance schedule is an important step in keeping your car safe and running for years to come. Consult your owner's manual or our Service Department to see when your car should have its next maintenance checkup. Tips For Purchasing A New Or Pre-owned Vehicle. PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION With any new or pre-owned vehicle that you purchase, you need to know what you are paying for. If you are unsure of what to look for or how to spot potential problems, the purchase of a vehicle may end up costing you more than you expected. P&D Autos can provide an overview of the intended purchase outlining faults that are current or may occur. Note this service only provides an opinion and does not supply a recommendation of actions. P&D Autos accepts no liability and will not be held responsible for loss of money due. BUYERS CHECKLIST Buying a new or used car is a considerable investment, and one that should not be taken lightly. We have prepared a checklist to guide you through the car buying process, and help you make the right decisions. Click For Buyers Checklist Tip For New Car Servicing. NEW CAR SERVICING Cars still under new car warranty can be serviced by P & D Autos with out affecting your rights under its new vehicle warranty. It is important to keep in mind that your warranty is conditional upon you having the vehicle serviced on time! As stated in the manufacture's handbook regardless of whether it is done by P & D Autos, the vehicle dealer or another repairer, and this means by the Kilometre or the date Which Ever Comes First. As each service as well as each manufacturer has different requirements some services may be covered buy our standard services but should be quoted on in an individual basis. The statements made on this page are not in anyway a solution to any problems you may have with your car. P&D Autos does not advise or endorse any work to be carried out by unqualified persons. |
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