Know Your Vehicle
May 08 '00
The thrum of the tires on pavement. The purr of the engine. The firmness of the brake pedal. The clunking noise from the left rear tire.
Clunking noise?!
Unless you just purchased your car, you should have a "feeling" for it. You know what your car is supposed to look, sound, smell, and feel like. (Um, I suppose you might know what your car tastes like, as well... If you really love your car...) Your car has a certain turning radius. The transmission sounds just so. The car bounces twice over that speed bump in your parking lot.
However, you need to be aware of when your car doesn't seem right. I'm talking about a strange noise, an odd smell, or a slightly soft brake pedal. Anything out of the ordinary can signal a potential maintenance problem, and maintenance problems can cause serious safety issues.
The first step to becoming friends with your vehicle is to take it in for a full check-up. Get the tire pressure checked, the transmission tested, and the oil changed. This will help make sure that your car is in tip-top shape.
Secondly, take it for a drive. Make sure that you drive it under several different road conditions: highways, twisting hilly roads, and suburban streets. Listen. Look. Smell. Feel. Notice everything that you can about how your car drives when it's feeling its best.
Now, when you car develops a strange sound, it'll be easier to notice it. You won't find yourself asking, "Was that noise always there?" But! Important! You need to notice these differences, which requires always paying attention.
Of course, you should already be paying attention to the road when you're driving. Set aside a little corner of your attention for your car, so that you can catch any changes in how your car drives. Was the transmission a little sluggish starting out from that stop-light? Can you feel a slight grinding in the brake pedal? That whee whee whee sound you hear while turning left... Is that a problem?
Another good habit to get into is visually checking your car before you drive off. Bus drivers and airplane pilots are required to extensively check their vehicles before driving/taking off. While a thorough safety check on your car isn't a bad idea once in a while, there's no need to do it every day. However, you should check a few things before driving down to the corner store:
1. Are your tires properly inflated? Are any flat?
2. Are there any leaks under the engine? Can you smell gasoline?
3. When you start the car, does it hesitate? Does it race?
4. While pulling out of your driveway or parking lot, step on the brakes and come to a full stop. Are the brakes acting like they should?
Many minor safety problems caused by maintenance issues can be caught before they become major problems. Just noticing a slight change in how your vehicle handles can save you a lot of money in costly repairs... Or it can save your life.
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