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Baselining Your Car
Original Author: Phil Barnett (prb) - 2013
Back to Maintenance
Baselining a car is the process of bringing it to a known state. If you have owned your car from the beginning or have 100% of the
service records, you can make better judgments about what your car needs now and what long term maintenance is due.
If you purchased your car used and don't know the maintenance history, you need to baseline it. There are several areas of baselining
but we're going to concentrate on the brakes, fluids, engine, drive train, chassis, electrical, NVH, Interior and Trunk.
The idea of this process is that since you don't know the state of your car, you need to assume all maintenance needs to be performed.
There is no attempt here to address cosmetics.
For our Miatas, you should spend your first time insuring that the cooling system is up to snuff, second would be to do fluid changes in
the brakes, clutch, engine, transmission and differential. After that, start through the list.
Each section is broken into three parts:
1. Round 1
2. Round 2
3. As Necessary
Brakes
1.
2.
3.
Inspect flexible brake lines
Lubricate slider pins
Inspect brake pads and rotors
Adjust hand brake cable
Replace brake pads
Replace or rebuild calipers
Replace rotors
Replace Brake and Clutch pedal rubber grips.
Fluids
1.
2.
3.
Engine Oil and Filter
Flush Hydraulic Brake Fluid
Flush Hydraulic Clutch Fluid
Check Coolant Level
Change Coolant
Transmission Oil
Differential Oil
Fuel Filter
Fuel Pump and Sock
Power Steering Fluid
Windshield Washer Fluid
Engine
1.
2.
3.
Check for Harmonic Balancer Wobble
Common Oil Leaks
Replace CAS o-ring
Replace PCV Valve and Grommet.
Replace Valve Cover Gasket
Replace the Oil Cap Gasket
Replace Spark Plugs
Replace Spark Plug Wires.
Adjust the Ignition Timing and Idle speed.
Replace Air Filter
Inspect Clean Air Crossover tube for integrity. Insure it is fastened with no leaks.
Inspect Throttle Cable and remove slack as needed. Insure it's not holding the throttle plate open.
Replace Belts
Injector Cleaning
Replace Injector Seals
Replace Coolant Hoses
Check/Recharge A/C
Compression Check
Thermostat
Radiator Cap
Inspect IACV
Check/Adjust TPS
1.6L, replace the Cursed Coolant Cap
Replace Radiator
Replace Engine Temperature Sensor
Replace Water Pump, Timing Belt, Idler Bearings, Cam Seals, Front Main Seal.
Oil, Transmission and Differential Drain Crush Washers
1.6L, replace the unused oil return cap
O2 Sensor(s)
Refurbish or Replace Injectors
Drive Train
1.
2.
3.
Inspect CV bellows for cracks
Inspect steering rack bellows for cracks. Inspect rack for leaks
Inspect Drive Shaft for play
Inspect Clutch Slave Cylinder
Replace Transmission Fluid (GL4)
Replace Differential Fluid (GL5)
Replace Clutch/Assy, engine rear main seal, transmission input shaft seal.
Replace Drive Shaft
Replace Shifter Bushings
Replace Clutch Master Cylinder
Replace Clutch Slave Cylinder
Replace Clutch Flexible Line
Chassis
1.
2.
3.
Clean Sill Drain Holes
Inspect rain rail drain funnels
Clean A/C Drain
Clean under lower part of front fenders.
Spend a day checking tightness of every bolt nut and screw you can see.
Lubricate seat tracks
Replace torn Shifter Boots
Clean under front fenders
Replace Windshield Wipers
Clean and Lube Window Tracks
Electrical
1.
2.
3.
Inspect operation of all bulbs
Clean battery terminals
Inspect battery tie down assembly. The battery should be solidly mounted.
Insure battery is maintened. Add fluid if necessary.
With the car off, measure the voltage at the battery. It should be 12v. With the car running, the voltage should be 13.8
minumum.
Clean ignition switch
Replace battery
Replace alternator
NVH (Noise Vibration Handling)
1.
2.
3.
Inspect Tires. Replace if tires are out of date, cupped or worn
Tire Pressure (Don't forget the spare)
Tire Balance
Shock Absorbers
Alignment
Inspect Exhaust System for leaks, rattles and missing hangers.
Replace Bump Stops
Replace Stabilizer Bar Bushings
Heater Hose Grommets
Alignment Bolts
Replace Shock Tower Top Hats
Wheel Bearings
Interior
1.
2.
3.
Remove seats and search under them, under carpets, dashboard and any other nooks and crannies for any illicit
substances or paraphernalia that could get you detained or even arrested at a traffic stop.
While the seats are out, thoroughly vacuum carpets, seats, under the seats and clean and lube the seat track mechanism.
Remove console and parking brake cover, vacuum under the area and inspect parking mechanism for any foreign object
that could cause impaired operation.
Make duplicates of whatever key works best in car. Keep one in a safe place at home or work and carry the other in wallet.
Replace the rubber covers on the brake and clutch pedal
Trunk
1.
2.
3.
Remove everything from the trunk and tire tool area and remove the spare tire. Then search for any illicit substances or
paraphernalia that could get you detained or even arrested at a traffic stop.
Insure spare tire is mounted solidly.
Check that jack, crank and lug wrench exist.
Lubricate the screw on the jack and check operation.
Make sure things in the trunk don't rattle.
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