Checklist for Car Maintenance

• It pays to know more about the workings of your car so you can identify problems and maybe put them right, without chancing a high mechanic's bill or being ripped off by a garage who will take advantage of a young girl.
• When carrying out checks under the bonnet, keep the car keys in your pocket and not in the ignition, unless the test needs the ignition or engine on. Tuck loose clothing out of the way of moving parts.
• If the car temperature gauge stays at a high reading and the engine lacks power, or if steam rises from under the bonnet, the engine is overheating. Either engine coolant is leaking from in the cooling system or coolant isn't circulating because of a faulty alternator belt, electric fan or water pump.
• When filling your car with fuel, make sure you are using the right pump. If you do make a mistake, call for assistance and don't try to restart or drive the car as the system will need to be drained and engine damage checked for.
• If the engine will not start, the possible causes include damp or condensation in the ignition parts, especially in wet or foggy weather, engine flooded with fuel, flat battery or a faulty starter motor.
• If your car has an automatic gearbox, don't attempt a push start. Otherwise, ask one or two strong helpers to push the car. Depress the clutch pedal firmly, engage second gear and turn the ignition. When the car is moving at walking pace, release the clutch pedal sharply to turn the engine. As soon as the engine starts, depress the clutch fully.
• Repair faulty lights as soon as soon as possible. It is an offence not to have side and tail lights, headlights (main and dipped), indicators, stop lights and the rear number plate light in working order.
• Change a wheel as soon as possible after a tyre deflates. A soft or flat tyre can affect the steering and may cause the car to skid off the road when braking. Driving even a short way on a soft tyre causes damage.
• If your car has to be towed, use a thick length of rope, preferably purpose-made with looped ends that is 3-4.5 metres long. By law, the distance between a towing and a towed car should be no more that 4.5 metres. Tie a white marker, such as a piece of cloth, round the middle of the rope to make it clearly visible to other drivers.
• If you hear a sudden, unusual engine noise investigate it straightaway but first check that it is not caused by something rolling around in the boot, a loose door or bonnet or the car's underside scraping the ground under a full load.
• If there is a squeal or judder when you brake, there may be dirt in the brakes, the brake discs may be distorted or there may be a stone lodged against a disc brake. Harsh grinding when you brake indicates worn brake pads and all these noises could indicate serious brake failure or damage.