Car Maintenance: Can You Really Do It Yourself Anymore?

For most of you, when you open your hood, all you see is a big plastic cover that keeps you from seeing anything pertinent related to your engine. Remember the days when you could see the spark plug wires, there was enough space to see around under the hood, and you thought you recognized a few things whether you knew how to fix them or not?

Today, it’s not so easy. Opening the hood, you’re met with very little exposure to anything that would allow you to do maintenance yourself. I have a theory about this, and it’s the idea that the manufacturers think you shouldn’t touch anything you don’t know about. Vehicles are so technologically advanced today that you need a degree just to work on them. Gone are the days when a big wrench and a couple of screwdrivers could fix anything. Automobiles have so many computer systems now that your main tool is usually a computer or a scan tool. I know many technicians who do not even get their hands dirty because their skill is in the area of being able to diagnose problems.

Sure you still need to have brakes, alignments and tires changed, but the real skill is in diagnosing engine problems, and this can be difficult. So that brings me to the point of, what can you do yourself? If you open your hood and look closely you will see that there are a variety of things that are marked with words or symbols to tell you what they are. These are the things that you are free to do yourself. You can also look in your owner’s manual to find the items that the manufacturer feels are safe components for you to fix yourself.


The most common items under the hood are the washer fluid bottle, power steering reservoir, oil cap, oil dipstick, battery, fuse box, coolant/antifreeze reservoir, and the brake fluid reservoir. Some automatic transmissions may still have a dipstick as well, but more and more manufacturers are getting away from even providing those. Make sure you look closely at these symbols before you ever add any fluids to a reservoir. I will never forget how unhappy the person was who added antifreeze to their washer solvent!

As always, I will tell you to consult your owner’s manual before you attempt to do any maintenance yourself. Many manufacturers require that you buy your products from them. This means items like coolant/antifreeze and power steering fluid must be bought from the dealership. You may find that your vehicle will not operate properly if you choose to use something else and it may void your warranty.

Always use windshield washer solvent and not plain water. Not only will it do a better job at cleaning, but it won’t freeze in colder climates. Freezing can cause the bottle to crack and break and ruin the sprayer motor. Power steering fluid is in a closed system. This means you can add it if it is below the “full” line, but you need to get it looked at because you probably have a leak. 

Oil should be checked when the engine is not running. The engine can be hot or cold, but may need to sit a moment if it has just been driven. When you shut off the engine all of the oil drains back down to the oil pan. The dipstick is checking the level of the oil in the pan, so we want it all to be there. While the engine is running the oil is circulating through the engine and the dipstick will not give you an accurate reading. On the dipstick there will usually be 2 notches, holes or a hatched area to read the oil level. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it off. Insert the dipstick in a second time and see where the oil is on the stick. It should fall between the marks. If it is below the bottom mark, then oil should be added. Be careful when adding oil. Only put in a little at a time and continually check with the dipstick. You do not want to overfill the oil. You should see a cap with an oilcan or the word oil, on the top of the engine. This is where the oil is added. Make sure that you check in your owner’s manual as to the type of oil your vehicle requires.

Coolant/antifreeze can be added as well. Make sure that you never open the radiator cap even if the engine is cold. This system is pressurized and when you open the cap you introduce air into the system, which can cause it to overheat. You should always add coolant to the reservoir bottle. This will be a plastic bottle with a small hose connecting it to the radiator. Again, check your owner’s manual as to the specific type of coolant/antifreeze for your vehicle and always make sure it is a 50/50 mix of coolant and water. Only add to the full line and have it checked if you find yourself adding coolant often. You may be leaking or burning coolant if the reservoir is frequently empty.

Battery maintenance is important as well. The terminals should be clean at all times. If you find that there is a white powdery build up, this can be cleaned with a toothbrush and a 50/50 mix of water and baking soda. Don’t use the toothbrush to brush your teeth afterward however! If you need to remove the cables to clean them, always disconnect the negative terminal first and then the positive. This will prevent any sparks. When re-connecting, attach the positive cable first and then the negative. Otherwise these batteries are pretty much maintenance free. The days of adding water are gone. A well maintained battery may last 4 to 5 years.

Oil changes are best left to the shop. I only say this because it can be dangerous to lift the car properly. Under no circumstances should you use the jack for the vehicle as a way to hold up the vehicle while changing the oil. They are not safe enough to use while climbing underneath a vehicle. They should strictly be used for changing a tire only. You must also be careful not to spill oil and it must be taken in to be recycled. You also need the proper tools to remove the drain plug and the oil filter. I tell people that for $25-30, it is worth it to let someone else do it!

Air filters are usually easy to change yourself however. Locate is under the hood, usually under a big plastic cover with clips or screws holding it closed. Go to any automotive store and by looking your vehicle up in the product book or by asking for assistance you should be able to find it. You can always go to the dealership to purchase the filter as well. Check the filter about every 15,000 miles or so. If it looks dirty, replace it.

If you find that an electrical item is not working in your vehicle I would always advise people to check their fuses first. Look in your owner’s manual to find out where the fuse is for the component. Remove the fuse and check to see if the filament is broken. Replace the fuse if this is the case. Make sure to only replace it with the size fuse that is recommended. If the fuse blows again or the fuse is found to be okay, then you will need to take the vehicle in for service.

While this may not seem like as much as you would like to be able to fix yourself, it is probably all that you “should” do. Doing something today on your vehicle that you do not understand can become a costly lesson. If you can read about it in your owner’s manual, most likely it is something you can do on your own. Don’t be afraid to get dirty once in a while, but leave the technical stuff to the trained professionals.

Girl Scouts and the Car Sense Badge

Scheduling a class in November for outside can be a little risky in Pennsylvania, but I'm happy to say that November 8th was a balmy 65 degrees with full sun. Thank goodness, because I was teaching the Car Sense badge to 81 girl scouts and their 30 troop leaders.

As interesting as I think my lecture is, I knew that the girls wanted to get outside and get their hands dirty. So, we spent a half hour going over the different components the girls would be checking and then headed out into the warm weather.

While it was a little crazy with about 15 vehicles being worked on, the worksheet was pretty easy to follow and I found myself answering questions about what some of the things were under the hood and if it was a problem if there was no oil on the dipstick....Yikes!

The girls checked oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering and washer fluid levels. They learned how to check tire pressure and where to find the proper reading on the vehicle and in the owner's manual. From there they had to look up different things in their owner's manual so that I knew that they could find it.

Overall it was a great day. Of course I need to thank Theresa for coming with me and being a trooper  answering questions and helping with the groups, it made my job a lot easier with so many girls.

Everyone had a good time and learned about important things that anyone can check on their vehicles. Thanks again to the Eastern Region of Pennsylvania Girl Scouts and Linda Delenick for putting this program together and working with LSYE so that girls can see that women do these jobs too!

Lori

Reno, Emily Miller and Rod Hall Racing

October is almost over and I have been so busy I haven’t even had time to post all of the cool things that have been happening. Now that I have a minute to breathe, I wanted to catch you all up. It all started with an incredible trip to Reno, Nevada on October 5th.

I think I need to back up a little and explain that about a year ago I contacted Emily Miller, who does off-road racing with Rod Hall Racing After reading an article about her second place win in a race from Vegas to Reno I thought it would be interesting to talk with her. I believe this was the first time for a woman in this race. We stayed in touch and I had a great time following her in Morocco when she and her navigator Wendy Fisher, entered an all women off-road race as the first American team. After she returned, she told me to stay tuned for a special class she wanted to run in the fall and hoped that I could come.

Well, the class ended up being an invitation only event for 14 women in off-road driving. I was going to get there no matter what. I thought this was an incredible opportunity and should not be missed. I was right! For 3 days I had the opportunity to spend time with some amazing women and learn all about driving off-road in the Hummer H3 and the Ford Explorer. Each vehicle had a different kind of tire, from mudders to a typical street tire. I was amazed at how both vehicles responded to the different kind of driving we did. I am truly a Hummer fan now!

We drove up steep hills, through mud bogs and even had the chance to do a hot lap with Emily. I think I speak for everyone when I tell you that was the most fun I’ve had in a long time! Rod, from Rod Hall Racing, spent time with us and actually enjoyed his day with the “ladies”. Learning from a legend was a real treat.

Sue Wright, an engineer with Hummer, and Rhonda Wood from Michelin gave us some great insight on the vehicles and tires as well. We even got to go to the Automobile Museum in Reno, which happened to be right across the street from our hotel…go figure.

What an amazing experience and opportunity to spend time with Emily and the Rod Hall Racing Crew. Thanks everyone for an adventure of a lifetime!

Lori

Another Cool Tool, CarMD Code Reader

I recently had the opportunity to try the CarMD code reader. It's a great little tool that let's you retrieve a code when your check engine light comes on.

Most people don't know that you can find out these codes by simply purchasing a code reader that plugs into almost any vehicle. For less than $100 CarMD will not only tell you the codes that have been stored in your vehicle, but it also plugs into your computer and allows you to get valuable information about that code from their website.

They do a good job at explaining the possible problems and give you an idea of what it might cost to get it fixed. This arms you with information to take to your service shop and not feel like their giving you some bogus information that only they know.

It's important to note that this tool will not clear your codes or fix your vehicle. You should still have the problem properly diagnosed by a technician. Many times just replacing the component that the code tells you is the problem may not be the answer. There could be something else making the component give a bad reading.

Having this tool however allows you to do more research on the possible problem and gives you confidence to talk intelligently with your service provider on how to repair the vehicle.

Here's a quick video about your check engine light that I did for Galtime.com and I show the CarMD tool.

Check Engine Light Video


You can also go to my site for a discount when you purchase the CarMD code reader.

Ladies, Start Your Engines Website


This is a great little tool that could save you money and also help you learn more about your vehicle.

Lori

Women and Parking Lots

I was recently at the grocery store when I noticed a woman standing near her vehicle with the hood opened. She was alone and attempting to contact someone on the phone. Whenever I see women alone with a broken down vehicle I try to stop and at least offer some assistance.

Women can feel vulnerable when their vehicle breaks down for a couple reasons. 1. They may not know what's wrong and how to fix it. 2. Men who are strangers may stop to help and this may not be safe.

I have actually felt like the women I've helped were relieved that a woman stopped to help them. I don't treat them like they don't know what they're doing and I try to help them understand what went wrong if I can.

The woman in the grocery store lot seemed to have everything under control. She had contacted the lot security who was on the way with a jump. I stayed to help out. The young man had a jump box with a broken clamp and I wondered how he intended to get it to work.

I stood back for a moment and let him do his job. When the vehicle wouldn't start I had to step in :) I was able to get a good contact and get the vehicle started. I also talked to the woman about what her options were for her battery problem. She was very grateful for the help and thanked me for the information.

I couldn't help but wonder what the security guard would have done if he couldn't get the vehicle started...he probably would have told her to get a tow. I think it's important for women to look out for each other. If you see a woman broken down and you can stop, even if you only have moral support to offer, it could still mean a great deal. Staying with her until the vehicle is taken care of and you know she's safe is just as important as offering car advice.

I enjoy helping people in general, but am especially happy to be able to help women with a broken down vehicle feel a little safer.

Lori

Radical Wrencher, GM and the Twin Cities

Just back from a whirlwind tour of Minneapolis/St. Paul teaching classes for GM, I'm hunkering in for a lazy Sunday afternoon. I like the traveling thing...don't get me wrong, but it's good to be home.

I hit the ground running in Minneapolis. I had about an hour once I reached the hotel before Jennie and Kelly from GM showed up in the new 2010 Equinox to take me to a TV interview with KARE channel 11. The host's of the show, Diana and Pat were fun and I think I even taught them something they didn't know in my 2 minutes of fame. :)

From there we headed over to Merit Chevrolet to a full class of women, a quick bite to eat and back to the hotel by 9:30 pm. I was in bed by 10 pm so that I could get up early, picked up at 5:30 am, to get to Rosedale Chevrolet and do the FOX channel 9 morning show with M.A. Rosko. We did four 2-3 minute segments for live TV...I had a blast and M.A. now knows how to change a tire!

Our class that night was full again and we even had a couple bloggers to help showcase what LSYE and GM are trying to do...which is to empower women and let them know that GM is interested in their female customer's safety and making them feel comfortable with coming into their dealerships.

So this trip was great fun and another opportunity to work with GM. Thanks again to Jennie and Kelly...and to Amanda, their PR person, for making everything happen and making it look so smooth!

Cheers,
Lori

Introducing the Cheater Bar

So last time Lori introduced one of her favorite tools, the Jump Box. This time I thought I'd introduce one of mine...

<Drum roll please>

...the Cheater Bar!

"What on earth is that?" I can hear you asking yourself, I can almost see the furrowed brows and cocked heads through the computer as I write this. "It looks just like a pipe. What am I supossed to do with it?"

There are probably many things we could come up with to do with it if we got creative... not all of which am I here to endorse (at least not officially!) However, more than a nifty way to protect yourself against unwanted attention, or a handy tool for releasing your aggressions from a bad day on some poor inanimate (please) object... This simple piece of metal pipe is how little people like me get to act like we're VERY VERY strong!

Because as women our stregnth tends to be in our legs not our arms, and using our legs isn't always an option, the Cheater Bar levels the playing field. Simply slip it over the wrench your using and it instantly and dramatically multiplies your stregnth by increasing your leverage. The longer the pipe, the more everage, the stronger you 'become!'

It's simple, it's inexpesive, and it's totally underappreciated.

I have one in my tool box, one in my car and of course one at my house. The Cheater Bar is particularly handy for us ladies when changing a tire on the side of the road. Most places that put on tires use air tools, which means the bolts are *super* tight and often very difficult to get loose with just the tools that your car came with, especially if you live in a wet or snowy climate where rust makes the lugs even more difficult to get loose. One little piece of pipe could mean the difference between sitting and waiting perhaps hours for help, or getting on back on the road to safety.

There are a few companies selling fancy cheater bars online. For example check out these neat extendable lug wrenches at www.thefind.com/hardware/info-telescoping-lug-wrench Or you can always go to your local hardware store and buy a piece of pipe like I do - sometimes you can get remenant pieces for free or at least very cheap. And don't worry, no one is gonna blame you if you find another use for it as well. In fact if you do - please share!

Happy wrenching...

The Wrench Wench