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Professional Maintenance Tips To Get Your Car Ready For The Road

Anytime of year can be the right time to get your car in tip-top shape. Experts know that a top-notch pit crew can make the difference between winning or being an also-ran-even if you're just getting ready for the next family trip. That's why it's important to remember that not all auto repair technicians are created equal.

Just ask Todd Berrier, crew chief for Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 29 GM Goodwrench Chevy Monte Carlo SS.

He recommends having a trained technician "sweat the details" like he does and inspect the following before you hit the road:

Tire pressure: About 20 percent of cars inspected in check lanes during National Car Care Month have underinflated tires, which can result in blowouts and serious accidents. Underinflation is the leading cause of tire failure, according to the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA). In addition, low tire pressure can reduce gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent.

Wipers: Generally, wipers should be replaced every six months, ideally in the spring and fall, making now the perfect time to take a look at them. Also, make sure the windshield washers work properly and keep the washer fluid reservoir full.

Lubricants and Fluids: Nearly 30 percent of vehicles failed inspections as a result of too little, too much or dirty motor oil, and 26 percent had low, overfull or burnt transmission fluid. Twenty-one percent had low or dirty power steering fluid, 23 percent had low or contaminated brake fluid, and 18 percent failed the washer fluid inspection. Improper fluid levels affect your vehicle's safety and can damage vehicle components.

A serpentine belt is a single, continuous belt used to drive multiple peripheral devices in an automotive engine, such as an alternator, power steering pump, water pump, A/C compressor, air pump, etc. The belt may also be guided by an idler pulley and/or a belt tensioner. The serpentine belt was invented by Jim Vance while working for the Gates Rubber Company and first used by Ford Motor Company for the 1979 Mustang.

It is more efficient than the older multiple belt system. By using a single, wider belt instead of multiple, thinner belts, the belt may be put under increased tension without stretching. Higher tension reduces slip, which increases belt life and mechanical efficiency. Reduced slip can allow the use of lower-ratio pulleys; this reduces the load on the engine, increasing fuel economy and available power. Additionally, it is easier for the driver to know when the belt has broken, since this will generally cause the steering resistance to suddenly increase on vehicles equipped with hydraulic power steering (if the vehicle's power steering system isn't linked elsewhere).^{[citation needed]} With multiple belt systems, if a single belt breaks, such as the alternator belt, the driver may not realize that there is a problem before the engine becomes damaged.

A serpentine belt also is much easier to maintain and replace, since there is no need to remove multiple belts in order to replace one of them.

The drawback of this single belt is that if the belt breaks, the vehicle loses all of its peripheral devices. Some vehicles use two serpentine belts for their system, such as the Manual Transaxle equipped Ford Taurus SHO, 95–99 DOHC Nissan Maxima and many BMWs.

Parts: It is important to have items such as belts and hoses regularly inspected and replaced with the right parts when needed. Genuine GM replacement parts, for example, are manufactured to the same specifications of the company's vehicles. A broken belt or ruptured hose can cause costly engine damage and travel delays.

"Regular vehicle maintenance and inspections can help improve a vehicle's fuel efficiency, achieve peak performance and even help avoid major repairs down the road," said Peter Lord, executive director, GM Service Operations.

Lord also emphasizes the importance of technician training when it comes to getting superior maintenance.

For instance, according to federal statistics and Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), only about half of the 820,000 auto service technicians in the U.S. are certified by ASE, an industry-recognized leader in technician certification. Of course at Swis our guys are all certified.

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