Chapter 17
Maintaining Your Vehicle
Owner's Manual
Provides valuable information about
your vehicle and it's systems
Fuel System
Fuel Injection System
Deliver exact amount of fuel to engine
Reduce the amount of pollution-causing gases
Fuel Efficiency
Depends upon:
Weight of car
Speed you drive - over 55
fuel efficiency decreased
Air resistance: keep
windows closed when
driving over 45 mph
Fuel Efficiency
Continued
Also depends upon:
Type of engine - 4 or 6 cylinder
Vehicle Design
Manual vs Automatic
Power equipment - air conditioning
Know how to calculate your MPG
Used 10 gallons of fuel to drive 150 miles :
150 divided by 10 = 15MPG
You have 10 gallons of fuel. Your car delivers
approximately 15 MPG in the city. How many
miles should you be able to drive? = 150 miles
Emission System
Catalytic Converter
Converts harmful gases into less harmful
gases & water
Muffler - reduces noise. Louder sounds may
indicate a hole in. Our muffler
Check emission system - CO ( may poison you),
CO2, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides
Drive Train System
Engine
Often
covered
in
warranty
Transmission (low fluid level may produce jerky
shifting)
Clutch
Drive shaft
Differential (allows 1 wheel to turn more slowly
than another)
Transaxle
Drive axles
Ignition & Electrical
System
Alternator- recharges the battery
Battery - strong acid (dangerous)- powers
vehicle's starter, lights, computer assisted
controls, electrical accessories. A dead battery
(no sound when starting the engine)can be jump
started with jumper cables - know the procedure
for "jumping" a vehicle's battery
Lights - headlights, taillights, back up lights, turn
signals. Should be replaced immediately when
defective
Lubricating & Cooling
Systems
Oil helps engine work efficiently by reducing
friction and cleaning engine parts - warning light
comes on - pull off road and shut engine
Cooling System
Cools engine - mixture of antifreeze & water
Provides heat to interior of car
Radiator - connected to the engine - holds the
coolant
Thermostat - controls the amount of coolant
needed
Maintaining Control
Systems
Power Steering - makes steering easier
Master Cylinder (Brake System) - forces fluid to
each wheel's brake cylinder and squeezes brake
pads against the turning disk which causes the
friction to slow the wheel
Parking Brake is a completely separate system it should hold your vehicle on a hill
Suspension System
Keeps tires in line according to steering
Shock absorbing
Preventative Maintenance
(Care given to prevent trouble later)
Includes:
Day-to-day care
Mileage-based-maintenance: Periodic
servicing done after a certain number of miles
- shown in manual
Warranty may be voided if maintenance
schedules are not followed
Tires
Belted tires - improved strength, performance
and mileage
Radial tires - gives best fuel mileage strengthens tire, improved tread mileage, &
traction
Air pressure in increases when warm, lowers
when cool
Tires need to be rotated regularly, balanced (for
even wear) and aligned (for longer life & more
even wear of tire)
Replace tires when the wear bar appears
smooth
Always use the same tires for all 4 tires
If you want your tires to last longer then you
need a higher tread-wear rating