Top Ten Spring Cleaning Tasks For Your Car

The days are growing longer, the grass is starting to think about growing and it won’t be long until the daffodils alongside the driveway burst into bloom. Yes, it’s springtime, and it’s that time of year when, traditionally, things get deep cleaned or spring cleaned.

Any time is a good time to deep clean your car, especially if you haven’t done it for a while, but here, we’ll talk about spring cleaning your car. After all, if you hope to go on a road trip this summer, then it’s probably wise to get all the deep cleaning done well beforehand, as road trips take a bit of planning and you don’t want to be caught up in cleaning as well as packing and other logistical efforts.

Exactly how intensively you spring-clean your car will be up to you and what you plan to do with your car. If, for example, you own a beloved classic that you want to take to a few shows, or a hot sports car that you hope to turn heads with, you are probably going to take more trouble than the person who has a 4×4 that gets used for serious off-roading. In this article, I’m taking the middle ground, describing the top ten things to do if you’re giving your car a good spruce-up.

#1: Wash and polish the exterior. This is a bit of a no-brainer, but it’s always the best place to start. Even if your car doesn’t go anywhere near a dirt road, it will still pick up dirt and scudge, especially over the rainy part of the year. Do this any way you like, whether it’s going to the car wash or getting out the bucket of suds and the soft brush, followed by the chamois leather and the polish you got given as a present last Christmas.

#2: Clean out the boot. If you lug around extra and unnecessary gear in your boot (and I don’t mean things like the spare tyre, a first aid kit and the jacket you keep for emergencies) then you will increase your fuel consumption, even only fractionally. Every little bit of extra weight counts. Take those old clothes to the second-hand shop, take out the picnic chairs and other oddments that you’ve got in there, and put them where they belong.

#3: Vacuum the interior. This is easiest if you have a canister type of vacuum cleaner. Get stuck in there, removing the mats and getting all the gravel and other muck that gets under there.

#4: Steam clean the upholstery. If your car has cloth upholstery, hire one of those carpet cleaning machines with an upholstery attachment and give the front and rear seats a good going-over. You will probably be surprised at how much dirt comes out. If you carry a dog in your car, then this is a must to remove the doggy smell and all that hair.

#5: Clean out all the storage compartments. Go through the glove box and other storage compartments around the interior, and sort through them. Essentials can go back in (the driver’s manual, a logbook if you keep one, tissues, hand sanitiser and a paper map if you still use one). Everything else can go to where it ought to be kept in your home or into the rubbish or recycling bin as appropriate. Vacuum out any dust bunnies and possibly wipe the interior as well, especially if you keep a stash of snacks in there.

#6: Wipe out the cupholders. Over time, sticky liquids can spill down into the interior of a cupholder, leaving a residue that shouldn’t be anywhere near something that touches your mouth. Get a rag and some warm soapy water, and give the inside of the cupholders a good clean, then dry with a fresh rag.

#7: Scrub the floor mats. Take the floor mats outside, then scrub them thoroughly with a stiff brush and some soapy water (this requires less water than using the hose and works better). It’s amazing how much muck these mats pick up, but after all, that’s their job. Make sure they’re dry before you put them back in.

#8: Change the air filter. The air filter should be changed once a year or else every 20,000 km (more or less), depending on how dusty your area is where you drive. If you don’t click up many kilometres or drive anywhere dusty, then the annual spring-cleaning session is a good chance to change the air filter.

#9: Wipe down the dashboard. Don’t use anything fancy for this in a modern vehicle, as fancy cleaning products will hurt touchscreens. Just use a bit of warm water with detergent and a soft cloth. In fact, this will clean the dashboard of an old-fashioned car as well.

#10: Clean the glass inside and outside. You probably cleaned the exterior glass and mirrors while washing the exterior of the car, but don’t forget the interior of the glass, as quite a bit of the muck that causes sunstrike is on the inside of the glass. Don’t go crazy with the window cleaning products, as these can leave streaky residues that are much worse than the original dirt; instead, use as little as you can get away with, or even just use a microfibre cloth that cleans with just water.

Essential Tools For DIY Car Repairs

Even in modern vehicles with all their electronics, there are still a number of things that you can do yourself, either in terms of maintenance or full-on repairs… not to mention the odd addition of aftermarket gadgets and tweaks!  As long as you can do it safely, it’s often a good idea to give it a go. Even if all you want to start with are a few basic maintenance tasks (e.g., changing your oil or filter), you can save yourself quite a bit of money. What’s more, if you have an older vehicle with fewer electronic doodads – and for which spare parts are often easier to find – then there are quite a lot of things that even an amateur mechanic can do successfully.

However, to do any job right, you have to have the right tools for the job.  Here, you’ll find a list of the basic tools that any DIY mechanic will need, as well as a few that you can add if you start getting enthusiastic (or if you want ideas for the perfect present for the amateur mechanic in your life).

#1. Screwdrivers

At the very least, you’ll need a Philips (star) screwdriver and a flathead or straight screwdriver, preferably the sort with long, thin handles.  If you can add in the closely related square-headed screwdriver (called a Robertson screwdriver) and/or Allen keys (which have hexagonal heads), you’ll be doing well.  There are 14 possible types of screwdriver head, so you can start a collection if you’re really keen.  Another bonus is that you will end up using them for more than just fixing your car.

#2. A Socket Set

Socket sets are another must if you start poking about under the bonnet of your car.  You can start with a basic set that has the ratchet, at least a spark plug socket and an extension bar, and perhaps a few other sockets as well.  You can find starter kits with anything from 10 pieces to 40+ pieces. The golden rule to remember with any socket set is ALWAYS PUT IT BACK IN THE RIGHT PLACE.  This especially applies to larger kits, as it’s hard to tell minute fractions of an inch apart with the naked eye.  Sockets can be measured in Imperial (inches) or in metric units (mm), so be careful which unit yours come in.  Just to make things more confusing, the ones measured in parts of inches can use decimals or fractions (the fractions are SAE standards).  Unfortunately, the whole numbers for mm don’t exactly match the standard fractions of an inch.  This is why good socket sets have one set of sockets measured in fractions of an inch and another in metric – and it’s why you always need to put the heads back exactly where you got them from to avoid muddling them up.

You also need to watch out for the size of the “drive” of the socket set. The drive refers to the hole where the ratchet attaches.  These are nearly always measured in fractions of an inch: ¼, ⅜ and ½.

#3 Crescent Spanner AKA Adjustable Wrench AKA Adjustable Spanner

You could buy yourself a set of spanners of different sizes, but it’s much, much simpler to get an adjustable wrench or crescent spanner.  (In case you’re wondering, a spanner and a wrench are more or less the same thing, and “crescent” was originally a brand name, so these things get called a number of names).  No home should be without one, as they’re very, very useful for more than just tinkering with your car.

#4 Pliers

Pliers, both the needle-nosed and the slip-joint type, are useful things, as long as you don’t make the mistake of trying to loosen nuts and bolts with them – that’s what a spanner is for.  Pliers are good for holding little things that you can’t get a grip on properly with your fingers.  Look out for pliers with rubber-coated handles if you’re doing anything electrical.

#5 Torque Wrench

Sometimes, you need to tighten something (e.g., spark plugs) in place just enough but not too much. A torque wrench is designed so that you can apply a certain amount of torque (it’s not just engines that have torque) but no more.  Some are fancier than others, and I’d recommend getting one if you do a lot of tinkering.  Otherwise, you can get away with just a typical wrench, as long as you show some restraint and don’t try to “really do it properly” and give it just one more good hard twist just in case – that’s how things can get broken or damaged.

#6 A Magnet On A String

Everybody drops things, and it’s really annoying if you drop a nut into the depths. As most bits inside the engine are made from steel or iron, a magnet on a string can be lowered in to pick the wretched thing up. You can attach magnets to other long things for greater precision, especially if you’re as fumble-fingered as I am.

#7 A Light

Even if your garage is well lit, shadows cast by all the twists and turns of the workings of your engine may make the bit you want to look at difficult to see. A good light that allows you to keep your hands free (unless you’re a Hindu deity or an octopus with more than two hands) will be very useful.  Even a headlamp can do the trick.

#8 Lots Of Rags

You will spill oil and other bits and pieces. You will need to wipe grease and carbon off things so you can read serial numbers. You could use paper towels, but rags are a lot more robust and, if you’re keen, they can be washed and reused (just don’t wash them in with your favourite white work shirt or anything else nice).  They can also be used for polishing the car, so you may find yourself acquiring a stash of old sheets, old T-shirts and the like.  Make sure that they don’t shed lint and that all buttons and other scratchy bits have been removed first.

The Basics of Car Maintenance: What Every Car Owner Should Know

It’s no secret that, as Australians, we just LOVE our cars.

With our continent being so huge, it’s no surprise that the total number of registered vehicles is now at 20 million; and for a country of over 26 million people, it’s clear that most Aussies rely on their trusty vehicles.

However, many car owners neglect basic vehicle maintenance.

A big part of car ownership is the responsibility of routine maintenance, which helps keep your car running smoothly for years to come.

Whether you just got a car or have been driving the same one for a long time, following certain car maintenance tips can help your car be at its best. If you need some guidance or a checklist of tips to keep your car in optimal condition, this is a useful read.

Importance of regular car maintenance

When you perform car maintenance at regular intervals, it keeps your ride in proper working order and helps prevent expensive mechanical repairs down the road – literally. Even if you aren’t concerned with car performance, when it comes time to sell or trade in the vehicle, having detailed service records can help boost its car sale value.

The average age of registered Australian cars is 10.7 years old. This means maintenance skills are even more important as older cars require more regular upkeep to keep them in tip-top condition.

Vehicle maintenance does require an investment of time and money. Yet, taking care of your car can often help you avoid major repair costs associated with breakdown or malfunction, making it a worthwhile investment.

5 basic car maintenance tips you should adopt

You don’t need to be a professional mechanic to own and operate a car, but the following car maintenance basics are essential for all drivers to know:

1. How to change car headlights

   It’s unavoidable: headlights burn out eventually, and when they do, they should be replaced ASAP. Headlights are one of a car’s most important safety features — they help you see, and they help others see you.

   How many car owners does it take to change a headlight bulb?

   Well, with the proper skills, just one! Changing a car headlight is a fast and simple fix that anyone can DIY. 

2. How to check tyre pressure
   

   Most of us understand that tyres can be dangerous when they’re old and worn out, but did you know they’re also dangerous when running at the wrong car tyre pressure? The correct tyre pressure PSI allows your car to effectively accelerate, corner, brake and grip the road.

   It also enables your car to run more efficiently, so you’ll spend less on fuel. Optimum tyre pressure varies depending on the make and model of your car. You can find the specifics for your car on the manufacturer’s information plate, usually located inside the driver’s door panel. It’ll also be in your owner’s car manual.

3. How to replace your wiper blades
   

   With hours upon hours spent facing the Australian elements, windscreen wipers can take a real beating, so it’s important to stay on top of their performance. Once you notice leftover water streaking to the windshield after every swipe, it may be time to swap them out for new ones. You can always try wiping down the rubber with a washcloth to see if that improves performance.

4. How to jump-start a dead battery
   

   When attempting this, the most important thing is to make sure you do not mix up the leads. A positive terminal must connect to a positive terminal and a negative to a negative. A helpful hint to prevent this is that the colour red is associated with positive and black with negative.

5. How to change a flat tyre
   

   Every driver should be able to change a flat tyre. Unfortunately, temporary spares have become less and less common, replaced by space-and-weight-saving emergency inflation kits.

   Still, the ability to jack a vehicle up, remove a flat tyre and install a spare is an important skill to have, especially if you get a flat where mobile service is not available.

It always pays to have basic vehicle knowledge when it comes to maintaining your car

As you can see, you don’t have to be a mechanical whiz to master the basics of car maintenance. By following these simple steps, you can help yourself avoid more serious issues down the track. However, if car maintenance doesn’t fix the issue – maybe it’s time to put your old car to rest.

If you’re ready to take the next step towards a new car, it helps to have a vehicle expert who can guide you when purchasing a car. If you have questions about the latest vehicles and how you can choose the right one for you, simply reach out to us for a chat.

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Should I Service My Own Car?

One of the things that you should always factor into your budget when you buy a new car is the maintenance of that vehicle. It would be nice to think that cars never run into trouble, but this notion would be far removed from reality.

A number of people wonder if they can save a few dollars on their car maintenance by doing their own car repairs. The answer to this question is yes and no. Some things can be done by a handyperson with a good set of tools and some video tutorials on YouTube – ahh, bless the internet!

However, some other things require an expert because not only do you need specialty equipment, but if you fudge something, you run the risk of causing more damage.

So which repair jobs can you tackle yourself? Let’s take a look.

• Oil changes: Just make sure that you drain the oil out of the right compartment if you have an automatic transmission so you don’t leave the gear system without lubrication. Get this wrong and you wreck the engine. Also remember to put the plug back in the drain hole BEFORE you pour new oil in. Many a humble DIY’ers have missed that one!
• Air filter change: Another fairly simple task that every driver can learn how to do. A quick fix too!
• Replacing light bulbs: You probably shouldn’t do this with more modern LED units, but old-style lamps can be replaced with ease.
• Replacing your windscreen wipers: wax on, wax off! You don’t need a mechanic for this one, easy peasy.
• Changing the fuel filter: Another comparatively simple task.
• Changing the spark plugs: a little more complicated that some of the other tasks above, but as long as you have the tools for the job, this one can be done on a weekend arvo!
• Replacing the drive belt: This one is probably as complex a task as the novice might want to tackle, and you need to make sure you remember which way the belt is configured. Photos help, and you will likely need to remove a few bits to get access, so this isn’t one for those with limited tools in the garage.

What about the things that you shouldn’t touch? You should never attempt the following unless you REALLY know what you’re doing:

• Anything to do with the electronics or computer componentry. If it involves wires or circuit boards, leave it alone. You never know what can go wrong.
• If you don’t have the right tools for the job, don’t improvise. Borrow the tool from a mate, buy yourself one (although this could end up getting expensive) or bite the bullet and take the car down to the mechanics and grit your teeth for the repair bill.
• Anything you don’t have the right spare parts for. Even if you have some doubts around whether a replacement part is the appropriate part, err on the side of caution.
• Unless you’re very well-versed in all things cars and mechanical, don’t tinker around with the brakes, nor too much with the cooling system, or deep down in the engine bay.