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What should I know about the
parts to be repaired or replaced?
Parts are classified as:
-
New
- These parts generally are made to original
manufacturer's specifications, either by the vehicle
manufacturer or an independent company. Your state may
require repair shops to tell you if non-original
equipment will be used in the repair. Prices and quality
of these parts vary.
-
Remanufactured, rebuilt and reconditioned - These terms
generally mean the same thing: parts have been restored
to a sound working condition. Many manufacturers offer a
warranty covering replacement parts, but not the labor
to install them.
-
Salvage
- These are used parts taken from another vehicle
without alteration. Salvage parts may be the only source
for certain items, though their reliability is seldom
guaranteed.
What do I need after the work
is done?
-
Get a completed
repair order describing the work done. It should list
each repair, parts supplied, the cost of each part,
labor charges, and the vehicle's odometer reading when
you brought the vehicle in as well as when the repair
order was completed. Ask for all replaced parts. State
law may require this.
Preventive Maintenance
What are the consequences of postponing maintenance?
-
Many parts on your
vehicle are interrelated. Ignoring maintenance can lead
to trouble: specific parts - or an entire system - can
fail. Neglecting even simple routine maintenance, such
as changing the oil or checking the coolant, can lead to
poor fuel economy, unreliability, or costly breakdowns.
It also may invalidate your warranty.
What maintenance guidelines should I follow to avoid costly
repairs?
-
Follow the
manufacturer's maintenance schedule in your owner's
manual for your type of driving.
-
Some repair shops
create their own maintenance schedules, which call for
more frequent servicing than the manufacturer's
recommendations. Compare shop maintenance schedules with
those recommended in your owner's manual. Ask the repair
shop to explain - and make sure you understand - why it
recommends service beyond the recommended schedule.
Warranties
What warranties and service contracts apply to vehicle
repairs?
-
There is no
"standard warranty" on repairs. Make sure you understand
what is covered under your warranty and get it in
writing.
-
Be aware that
warranties may be subject to limitations, including
time, mileage, deductibles, businesses authorized to
perform warranty work or special procedures required to
obtain reimbursement.
HEADING OFF PROBLEMS
The more you know about your vehicle, the more likely you'll
be able to head off repair problems. You can detect many
common vehicle problems by using your senses: eyeballing the
area around your vehicle, listening for strange noises,
sensing a difference in the way your vehicle handles, or
even noticing unusual odors.
Looks Like Trouble
Small stains or an occasional drop of fluid under your
vehicle may not mean much. But wet spots deserve attention;
check puddles immediately.
You can identify fluids by their color and consistency:
-
Yellowish green,
pastel blue or florescent orange colors indicate an
overheated engine or an antifreeze leak caused by a bad
hose, water pump or leaking radiator.
-
A dark brown or
black oily fluid means the engine is leaking oil. A bad
seal or gasket could cause the leak.
-
A red oily spot
indicates a transmission or power-steering fluid leak.
-
A puddle of clear
water usually is no problem. It may be normal
condensation from your vehicle's air conditioner.
Smells Like Trouble
Some problems are under your nose. You can detect them by
their odor:
-
The smell of burned
toast - a light, sharp odor - often signals an
electrical short and burning insulation. To be safe, try
not to drive the vehicle until the problem is diagnosed.
-
The smell of rotten
eggs - a continuous burning-sulphur smell - usually
indicates a problem in the catalytic converter or other
emission control devices. Don't delay diagnosis and
repair.
-
A thick acrid odor
usually means burning oil. Look for sign of a leak.
-
The smell of
gasoline vapors after a failed start may mean you have
flooded the engine. Wait a few minutes before trying
again. If the odor persists, chances are there's a leak
in the fuel system - a potentially dangerous problem
that needs immediate attention.
-
Burning resin or an
acrid chemical odor may signal overheated brakes or
clutch. Check the parking brake. Stop. Allow the brakes
to cool after repeated hard braking on mountain roads.
Light smoke coming from a wheel indicates a stuck brake.
The vehicle should be towed for repair.
-
A sweet, steamy odor
indicates a coolant leak. If the temperature gauge or
warning light does not indicate overheating, drive
carefully to the nearest service station, keeping an eye
on your gauges. If the odor is accompanied by a hot,
metallic scent and steam from under the hood, your
engine has overheated. Pull over immediately. Continued
driving could cause severe engine damage. The vehicle
should be towed for repair.
Sounds Like Trouble
Squeaks, squeals, rattles, rumbles, and other sounds provide
valuable clues about problems and maintenance needs. Here
are some common noises and what they mean:
Squeal
- A shrill, sharp noise, usually related to engine speed:
-
Loose or worn power
steering, fan or air conditioning belt.
Click
- A slight sharp noise, related to either engine speed or
vehicle speed:
-
Loose wheel cover.
-
Loose or bent fan
blade.
-
Stuck valve lifter
or low engine oil.
Screech
- A high-pitched, piercing metallic sound; usually occurs
while the vehicle is in motion:
-
Caused by brake wear
indicators to let you know it's time for maintenance.
Rumble
- a low-pitched rhythmic sound.
-
Defective
exhaust pipe, converter or muffler.
-
Worn
universal joint or other drive-line component.
Ping
- A high-pitched metallic tapping sound, related to engine
speed:
-
Usually caused by
using gas with a lower octane rating than recommended.
Check your owner's manual for the proper octane rating.
If the problem persists, engine ignition timing could be
at fault.
Heavy Knock
- A rhythmic pounding sound:
-
Worn
crankshaft or connecting rod bearings.
-
Loose
transmission torque converter.
Clunk
- A random thumping sound:
-
Loose shock
absorber or other suspension component.
-
Loose exhaust
pipe or muffler.
Feels Like Trouble
Difficult handling, a rough ride, vibration and poor
performance are symptoms you can feel. They almost always
indicate a problem.
Steering
-
Misaligned front
wheels and/or worn steering components, such as the
idler or ball joint, can cause wandering or difficulty
steering in a straight line.
-
Pulling - the
vehicle's tendency to steer to the left or right - can
be caused by something as routine as under-inflated
tires, or as serious as a damaged or misaligned front
end.
Ride and Handling
-
Worn shock absorbers
or other suspension components - or improper tire
inflation - can contribute to poor cornering.
-
While there is no
hard and fast rule about when to replace shock absorbers
or struts, try this test: bounce the vehicle up and down
hard at each wheel and then let go. See how many times
the vehicle bounces. Weak shocks will allow the vehicle
to bounce twice or more.
-
Springs do not
normally wear out and do not need replacement unless one
corner of the vehicle is lower than the others.
Overloading your vehicle can damage the springs.
-
Balance tires
properly. An unbalanced or improperly balanced tire
causes a vehicle to vibrate and may wear steering and
suspension components prematurely.
Brakes
Brake problems have several symptoms. Schedule diagnosis and
repair if:
-
The vehicle
pulls to one side when the brakes are applied.
-
The brake
pedal sinks to the floor when pressure is maintained.
-
You hear or
feel scraping or grinding during braking.
-
The "brake"
light on the instrument panel is lit.
Engine
The following symptoms indicate engine trouble. Get a
diagnosis and schedule the repair.
-
Difficulty
starting the engine.
-
The "check
engine" light on the instrument panel is lit.
-
Rough idling
or stalling.
-
Poor
acceleration.
-
Poor fuel
economy.
-
Excessive oil
use (more than one quart between changes).
-
Engine
continues running after the key is removed.
Transmission
Poor transmission performance may come from actual component
failure or a simple disconnected hose or plugged filter.
Make sure the technician checks the simple items first;
transmission repairs normally are expensive. Some of the
most common symptoms of transmission problems are:
-
Abrupt or
hard shifts between gears.
-
Delayed or no
response when shifting from neutral to drive or reverse.
-
Failure to
shift during normal acceleration.
·
Slippage during acceleration. The engine speeds up, but the
vehicle does not respond.
LINKS
Recalls:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/ |
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