Report #5


HOW YOU CAN AVOID COSTLY AUTO REPAIRS!

     When it comes to car care, you really can avoid costly repairs by the
simple expedient of performing ongoing maintenance on a routine basis. 
The money you save will be appreciable -- and you'll also avoid towing
cost, having to disturb other people for rides, and costly car-rental fees. 
In this case, an ounce of prevention is easily worth several pounds of cure.
     The following is a comprehensive list of over 40 simple things that
can be done to aid in the prevention of major car repairs.  Used properly,
this list will help to provide years of trouble-free service from your
automobile.  Some of these tips may seem to cost too much, but remember
how much it will cost to replace something major when it breaks from
inadequate care!

1.  Check your oil level weekly and top up as needed.

2.  Change the oil following manufacturer's recommendations.

3.  Change the oil filter with each oil change.

4.  Check tire pressures weekly and fill as needed.

5.  Look for fluid leaks under the car at least once weekly.

6.  Check the pedal action of your brakes monthly. (Step on the brake
    pedal and hold for 30 seconds; if the pedal moves to the floor, have
    your brakes professionally checked.)

7.  Rotate your tires every six months.

8.  Check all belts (fan, generator, etc.) monthly and replace annually.

9.  Check all vacuum hoses and your exhaust system every three months.

10. Change plugs and points every 6,000 miles.

11. Check the fuel filter annually or every 12,000 miles.

12. Check the air filter annually.

13. Inspect the brake lining and brake shoes annually or ever 12,000 miles.

14. Drain the radiator, flush and fill with water and anti-freeze annually
    or every 12,000 miles.

15. Drain and change the brake fluid annually.

16. Have the wheel bearings replaced annually (at a service station).

17. Check the spark plug wires for wear or cracks, replace as needed.

18. Check the clutch (if manual transmission) every three months and add
    fluid as needed.

19. Check the automatic transmission fluid every three months.

20. Have the automatic transmission bands tightened about every 5,000
    miles.

21. Have the suspension system checked when buying tires.

22. Never cross-rotate radial tires.

23. Replace the fuel filter about every 30,000 miles - a clogged filter is a
    usual cause of stalling after an engine is warmed.

24. Wash your car weekly - road dirt and grime act like sandpaper on a
    paint job.

25. When you wash your car, wash the underbody; that's where all the
    important stuff is located!

26. Wax your car regularly with a high-quality (Carnauba) wax.

27. Twice annually, clean the wheel wells and inside rocker panels, coat
    liberally with wax to avoid rust.

28. When starting your car, rather than warming the engine in the
    driveway, drive at about 30 mph for the first few moments and then
    not much faster for the next mile or so.  This ensures that all engine
    components and fluids will be warm before you speed up.

29. If you have a warning light (so-called "idiot light") to indicate oil
    pressure, replace it with an oil pressure gage.  By the time a warning
    light flashes, major damage may have been done to an engine.

30. If you drive a stick-shift (manual transmission) auto, be sure to
    downshift when engine revolutions decrease.  Driving too slowly in
    a given gear ("lugging") can do more damage to an engine than
    driving too fast.

31. In a manual-transmission auto, downshift when approaching a stop
    sign or if you need to slow down.  Wear and tear on the shifting
    system is minimal, and you'll save your brakes.

32. Recharge your air conditioning system annually.

33. Check all radiator hoses monthly and replace them every two years
    or 24,000 miles.

34. Replace the PCV valve every two years or 24,000 miles.

35. Replace automatic transmission fluid, manual transmission oil, and
    differential fluid every two years or 24,000 miles.

36. Every three months, repair minor scratches to your car's body.

37. Annually, have any rust spots removed and repaired by a body shop.

38. When driving, always be alert to brake, steering, and transmission
    performance, along with unusual noises and smells.

39. A quick check of engine performance:  At 60 mph your car's
    ammeter, oil pressure, and water temperature gauges should read at
    the halfway mark.  In a car with a tachometer, the angle of the
    tachometer's needle and the angle of the speedometer needle should
    be the same when the car is running in fourth gear.

40. Vacuum your car's interior at least monthly.

41. Apply a leather/vinyl cleaner to interior surfaces at least once
    monthly.

42. Buy one of the relatively inexpensive mechanic's guides (Chilton's
    publishes them for virtually every car ever made); learn how to use it
    and the proper tools to keep your car out of the expensive hands of
    your local garage.



CHEAP WAYS TO MAKE YOUR CAR ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEAL!

    Here are 14 ways - most costing no money at all, the rest just a few
dollars - you can make it difficult, if not impossible, for thieves to rip off
your automobile.  Put these ideas to work for you and you'll find your car
where you leave it!

Make sure you never leave your car running or your keys in your ignition -
even for a moment!  It's amazing how many people do not follow this very
simple rule!

Never, ever, leave your car unlocked.

Always park with your front wheels turned toward a curb.

Always park in well-lighted areas.

Have a burglar alarm installed in your car, but don't put the alarm decal
in your car window.

Have a fuel cut-off device installed.

Remove your distributor rotor (ask a garage mechanic how to do it) when
you park and take it with you.

When parking long-term, remove the wire between the distributor cap and
the coil. (Again, a mechanic can show you how.)

Install a steering wheel lock or a "collar" that runs around the steering
column to hide the ignition - and use these anti-theft devices.

If you park your car in a driveway, back it in; anybody trying to tinker
with the engine will be in plain sight.
Lock your car in your garage and then lock the garage.

Don't hide a second set of keys anywhere in, on, or under your car.

If you're selling your car, never, ever, let a prospective buy "take it for a
spin" alone.

If your car is equipped with old-style "T-type" door lock buttons, replace
them with straight buttons.