How To Make Your Vehicle Last As Long As Possible

Think car maintenance and car servicing are an unnecessary expenditure? Think again! Because by keeping your car in good running condition means not needing to buy a new ride after every couple of years, not spending money on major car repairs due to malfunction, and more importantly avoiding hospital and damage expenses in case of an accident because of malfunction too.

The more you keep its maintenance up-to-date the more your car’s condition is restored therefore prolonging its lifespan. With that, you’ll be able to enjoy your car longer than it would if you just let minor damages turn into irreparable ones due to neglect.

Don’t let your car go! If you want to prolong your vehicle’s life, make sure you don’t fall behind these following car maintenance checklists.

Change Power Steering Fluid

Be sure to have the power steering fluid changed every 50,000 miles or three years. If you don’t, it will result to difficult steering which can’t be good while driving. If your fluid level is low, you may have a leakage problem which will need to be reviewed at a professional car servicing center here in Singapore.

Check Out Car Engine

To keep powerful and extend engine life, make treatment of your engine. This added lubrication can keep your engine running smoother, providing greater damage protection than oil alone and extends the life of your car’s engine.

Exact Rotation Of Your Tires

If you’re not sure about the recommended tire rotation interval, check your owner’s manual or you do it every other time you get an oil change. Doing this regularly promotes even tread wear and helps the tire perform as designed.

Keep Up Tire Pressure

This means they shouldn’t be over inflated or under inflated. Otherwise they’ll wear out faster than they typically should and will affect vehicle handling and fuel economy. To avoid this, check your owner’s manual for recommended tire pressure and always stick to that. It’s best to check your tires’ pressure at least once a month but do it more often if you always go on long trips or you carry heavy loads all the time.

Be Careful Of Brakes

A vehicle’s braking system is a very important part of a car. If they’re not in a good condition it means you car’s ability to slow down or stop when you’re driving can be compromised. Moreover, your family, other motorists and your own safety could also be at risk! Don’t wait for that to happen before you realize the importance of ensuring your brakes are always working properly. Once you notice, vibrations, strange sounds, or pulling, don’t ignore them and get it checked right away.

Regularly Change Oil

Always consult your owner’s manual to know your car’s required oil change interval. Don’t just think it’s every 3,000 miles because it’s a standard. It differs for every car. Motor Oils Have Antioxidants. These antioxidants help limit oxygen exposure for moving parts which could cause rust and corrosion. Therefore, forgoing oil change is actually putting your car at risk of damages. Aside from that, try to use only the grade, viscosity or weight of oil that is set for your particular car.

Replace Engine Coolant

In order to keep your engine running efficiently, engine coolant removes excess heat. It depends upon the type of coolant you purchase, most antifreeze or engine coolants can last from 30,000 – 50,000 miles, or about three years. You can check your engine’s level by locating the plastic coolant repository under your hood.

Replace Air Filter

Okay, here’s the thing, your air filter’s job is to make sure you are breathing clean air as you drive. When the air filter itself becomes too dirty to function it puts your health to risk because it could pump your car full of dust and allergens. This is why it’s important to change your filter every three months, as it also prevents airborne contaminants from being pulled into your car’s engine. Don’t worry, it's so simple you can easily do it yourself as long as you follow the instructions on your owner’s manual, so no need to spend on car grooming services in Singapore.

Top 5 Usual Reasons Why Your Car Won’t Start

Sure, owning a car is still very much of a status symbol these days as much as it was before. But if anything changed about how people viewed cars, aside from comparing how many cars each other has or who drives higher end ones, it is now seen as a need for a lot of people too.

It’s no longer considered as plain luxury that only well off people could afford and would senselessly spend money on. Nowadays, anyone would work hard to own one as well because of reasons like practicality, ease of commuting to and from work, convenience and safety reasons for the family, etc. this is especially true for those who live too far from work, places with no good transportation system, has a big family, even those who juggle a lot of things and needs to have a vehicle available at all times.

But no matter your reason for owning a car, most people only realize how important and useful it is to them once it stops working. And again, you realize how much of a pain it is to be at the mercy of friends or family who has a car or public transportation system. There are a lot of reasons why your car won’t start, but some are more common than others. Below are 5 common reasons why your car won’t start and some advice to ensure your car stays in its top shape!

1. Dead Battery

If you’ve ever been the victim of a dead car battery you know that they die at the most inconvenient of times. Whether it’s on your way to the airport, work or picking up your kids from school it is always a pain. If you have recently noticed your car not starting consistently, it could mean that your battery is close to dead. This could be due to human error, parasitic drain, your charging system is not working properly, defective alternator diode or your battery is just really old and needs to retire. Visit a car servicing center near to get it checked and fixed.

2. Alternator Gone Bad

A car alternator recharges the battery and powers certain electrical systems. If your alternator has a bad diode, your battery can drain. The bad diode can cause the circuit to charge even when the engine is shut off, and you end up in the morning with a car that won’t start.

3. Fuel System Issues

Do you always experience your car losing power when you try to accelerate? Or you’re having trouble starting your car altogether? Sounds like your fuel system is malfunctioning which is keeping your engine from drawing more fuel to accelerate. Fuel system may malfunction because of clogged injector, leaking fuel line, or gummed-up filter or kaput fuel pump. While you may be able to fix the problem yourself if you’re familiar with this and you have the proper tools, make sure you have the right diagnosis and skills before you proceed. Otherwise, it may be best to consult a professional especially if the problem is a bit more complex than usual.

4. Ignition Switch Problem

This switch is what sends energy from the battery to spark the starter and begin burning gas. If this switch goes bad, none of this process can start. This issue is typically characterized by flickering dash lights, and difficulty turning the key.

5. Faulty Starter

A broken starter is another common reason your car won’t start. A starter is an electrical motor that is connected to the battery. Its role is to set the engine in motion when you turn the ignition switch on. Once the engine starts and is in motion, the starter's job is complete. If the starter goes bad, the engine will not crank properly or may not crank at all when you turn the ignition key on. If you hear a clicking noise when you try to start your vehicle, a broken or weakened starter could be the reason why your car isn't starting. This is very similar to the bad ignition switch example listed before.

Possible Reasons Why Your Windshield Wipers Are Not Working Properly

Whether you’re driving during daytime or night time, it’s crucial that your windshield is spotless for optimal vision on the road. This is the reason why windshield wipers are there, so that they can immediately clear anything that may be blocking your view.

But like any other equipment, windshield wipers tend to stop working. When this happens, it’s important that you don’t take it for granted or try to drive even with your wipers not working. You never know when unexpected rain or dash of wind blowing dust or leaves on your windshield may happen, so your wipers need to be operation all the time.

Here are some reasons why your wipers aren’t working. If you know how to fix any of these issues then it’s easier to get your wipers back on track but if you don’t, you can always take your car to a car repair shops to solve the problem immediately.

Your Wiper Blades Are Torn

The rubber edges on your wipers are designed to be tightly in contact on the windshield for it to swipe dirt, water, or anything that will compromise the driver’s vision on the road. However, if those rubbers are torn or there are gaps on it, then it wouldn’t be able to work as effectively. Once you see that they’re already not in good condition, it best to replace them already than continue using when it’s not even working properly anymore.

The Windshield Wipers Have Ice Or Snow On Them

This may only be applicable to those places with winter season, but it’s worth noting. Although windshield wipers are capable of clearing snow off the windshield, they can’t when the snow is too heavy and wet. If it snows in your area it might be best to invest in winter wiper blades, but if you can’t try removing most of the snow first before you use the wipers.

The Wiper Motor Has Failed

Just like any other electric motor, wiper motors sometimes fails due to short circuit or the motor is really old and needs replacement. In these cases, your wipers won’t work. You can either try to take your car to a mechanic for car repair or it may be practical to just replace the wiper motor. That may be more cost-effective than trying to fix an already faulty motor. 

The Windshield Wiper Fuse Is Burnt Out

In any electrical device, there’s always a fuse that acts as a shock absorber or sacrificial device for the entire device. This way in case the motor overloads, the fuse will be the one to take damage not the entire motor. But even though the motor isn’t totally damage, the wiper still won’t work. So you should look for the reason why the motor overloaded, remove it and change the fuse. This should settle the problem if the only damage is on the fuse. But if your wipers are still not working, seek car servicing as this may be more complicated than just the fuse.

Wiper Pivot Nuts Are Loose

When these pivot nuts are loose, the motor will turn but the wiper themselves won’t move. There are also instances where they will move slightly but won’t wipe the windshield or only one wiper is working while the other one doesn't. If you notice any of these, there’s a huge possibility that the wiper pivot nuts are loose.  The first thing that you should do is try to tighten them, if they’re already tight but you still see the same ‘symptoms’ it may need more than just tightening. Better seek a professional help, drive to your trusted car repair shop tell the mechanic your observations and the steps you’ve taken to try to solve the problem and let him handle the rest.

How To Travel With Your Fur Buddy Safely And Stress Free

For dog lovers out there, there’s nothing better than seeing places and being able to share the experience with your dog. However, despite the picture perfect idea, you have to be realistic and know that there are challenges when traveling with a canine. To lessen the stress and make sure you enjoy the ride, here are some tips that may come in handy.  

Try To Find Out If Your Dog Is Up For It

To minimize stress as much as possible, it’d be best to do a dry run first. There are dogs that do fine even for their first time while others have trouble getting used to it though they've traveled with you before. So if you’re planning a long road trip, try to practice with your pet first. Short trips every day may help him ease up to it so that he’s more relaxed once you actually go on a long trip.

Prioritize Safety

Letting the dog move freely inside the car may seem better but not when you’re on a long trip and you need to focus on driving. It could easily tire you out by constantly checking on him or keeping him calm and may put the both of you at risk of getting into an accident. You have to make sure you and your dog are safe throughout the ride. So better if you can fix him in one spot buckled up using dog-specific seat belts or put him at the back in his dog carrier. This way you know he is safe and you don’t get distracted while driving as well.

Don’t Leave Your Dog Alone In The Car

It doesn’t matter if “you’ll be back in just a minute” or not. Don’t. Leave. Your. Dog. Alone. In. The. Car. This is especially when it’s really hot because a parked car outside can easily heat up in just a minute and leaving your dog in there could lead to heat stroke.

Pack A Travel Kit For Your Pet

Especially on longer road trips, bring along a bowl, leash, food, pooper scooper, disposal bags, bottled water, their medications, grooming supplies, and any vaccination records if traveling across state lines.  Having your dog’s favorite toy, blanket or pillow along will also calm them down.  

Bring A Toy To Keep Them Busy

There are dogs who have anxiety issues or bark a lot, driving with either of them can be stressful and frustrating. But you can bring treats for them to chew or toys to play so that they have something to focus their attention to aside from the fact that they’re in the car traveling with you. Distracting them from the moving car helps soothe them so that you don’t have to worried sick the whole time.

Know Which Establishments Are Dog-Friendly

It would be a lot easier for you to travel with your canine if you know which establishment in your destination and even along it are welcoming dogs. This keeps you from stopping a couple of times to look for a place that allow dogs inside when you just want to buy a snack or need to use the bathroom. 

Be Careful What You Feed Your Dog

Always bring foods you know are safe for your four-legged travel buddy. This way you know you have something to feed him without running the risk of feeding him human food that’s actually toxic for him. Aside from that, if your dog has a tendency to jump on your food, make sure you keep it out of his reach to avoid any accidents.

Put An ID Tag With Contact Information On Your Dog’s Collar

It’s a scary thought, but you have to be prepared for the worst case scenario. If you know you have to do a lot of stops, especially in a crowded place, know that it’s possible for the two of you to get separated from each other. But if you do this tip, in case your furry friend ever gets separated from you, it will be easier for anyone to return him back to you.

You see, car repairs aren't the only headache-inducing thing that can happen when you’re traveling and kind of in the middle of nowhere. A scared or non-stop barking dog can be just as challenging. But being prepared and knowing what to do, especially during tricky situations, is always how you can overcome these bumps on the road.

9 Best Gift Ideas For Your Dad Who Baby His Car For Father’s Day

Whether you’re close with your dad or not, coming up with a gift for him can still be challenging sometimes. But, one thing is for sure, if he is the car-obsessed type, getting him a car related gift isn’t only guaranteed that it would be really appreciated but it will also ensure that you won’t run out of gift ideas for the years to come!

1. Auto Care Gift Card

Car owners understand how important being up-to-date with their car maintenance but a lot of them either don’t do it unless something is seriously broken or just couldn’t do it regularly because they’re short in cash. It doesn’t matter which side your car loving dad belongs to or if he maintains his ride religiously, receiving an auto car gift card will still be an awesome treat for him because car servicing can really be costly. Aside from that, what’s great about this is that a gift card lets him handpick the service or repair he want, right when he wanted it most.

2. An Interior Tech Gadget

I’m telling you, no car owner can get enough of interior tech gadgets! If they can, they’d buy every gadget there is. But we all know how some of these gadgets can be pricey so that’s probably unlikely for your dad unless he spends his entire pension on his car. Consider things like GPS trackers, a phone mount, a car charger, or a Bluetooth kit. One tip though, sneak a peek inside his car to make sure you don’t get him something he already has!

3. Paintless Dent Repair

Dents are bummer no matter how small they are. When this happens to your dads car or any car enthusiasts for that matter, know that it bothers him a lot whether he admit or show it or not  Repainting and replacing the entire side of the car that’s affected may be easy but can be expensive. But there’s an affordable option like paintless dent removal that will surely surprise him and be appreciated by your father without drilling a whole in your bank account.

4. Window Tinting

Adding window tint film will cool the interior of the car, change the look of the car, and add security by making it more difficult for car thieves to get into the car by breaking a window. Unlike the other repairs that will only help, this is a present that you will want to check with dad first because window tinting is a personal preference changing from driver to driver. If he’s okay with it, there’s no doubt that this gift will benefit your dad a lot!

5. Handpicked Car Care Kit

Many stores sell pre-made car care kits, but you can make this idea even more thoughtful by putting together a custom kit for your car lover. For a dad who often takes the road less traveled, things like flares, flashlights, non perishable snacks, and tire sealants might come in handy. You may also wanna consider things like leather cleaner, car wax, scratch remover, and so on.

6. Rooftop Cargo Bins

If you’re trying to buy a gift for your outdoorsy type of dad who likes to drive everywhere when he travels, this is a good one. Most often than not, he struggles with cargo space since he tends to carry a lot of stuff around, all the time. So getting this as a gift will make his life easier by having more space in his car.

7. A Dashcam

A car dashcam is a fantastic gift. On a good day, it can be used to capture and commemorate particularly beautiful and memorable drives over the hills and through the woods. On a bad day, it can be used as evidence in a car accident – the recording can prove who was (and wasn't) at-fault. Make sure that A) mounted dash cams are legal in your state and B) the camera isn’t one that will obstruct their view of the road. Then keep your fingers crossed that it only gets used for the fun stuff!

8. Portable Tire Pump

Who hasn't had a moment of frustration with a flat tire before? Basically anyone who drives a car can relate to this. This makes portable tire pump available, whenever the situation calls for it, a heaven sent. Car repair shops aren't always available, so it’d be better if a car owner can fend for his own tires.

9. Battery Jumpstart Kit

Just like getting a flat tire in the middle of the road, being stranded with a dead battery sucks. Having these bad boys in your father’s vehicle will save his day. Getting this as a gift will definitely be appreciated because it will at least let him get by and look for the nearest car repair if the case of his battery is more complex. 

4 Things That May Be Causing Your Car To Idle Too High After The Throttle Body Has Been Cleaned

There are a lot of DIY videos out there to help car owners do simple car repairs and detailing. When it comes to these DIYs, it seems like the easiest and least risky are those cleaning ones. However, what you may not realize is that even those things, when done without proper tools and training could actually lead to expensive damage. Just take your car throttle body for example. It may look simple to clean but you may end up with high engine idling when not done right. So if you just did that and now wondering why that’s happening, here are some possible reasons you’re experiencing that car problem.

1. Computer Readjusting

When you take apart the throttle and clean it, your car’s physical system resets. This means it’s taking more time to do its job which is to regulate fuel and air mixture in your engine than usual because your car’s computer is recalibrating. When this happens, extra fuel is being added to the system causing your idle rpms to rise.

To fix this and make your car’s computer re-calibrate quicker, follow these two steps:

Step 1: Put your car on drive and wait for two or three minutes for the idle to come down.

Step 2: Turn on your air conditioner, with the blower set on high. Do this for three minutes.

Doing this will allow your car’s computer to get a feel of the general throttle parameters of driving. If this trick didn't work, then the throttle wasn't even properly cleaned to begin with.  

2. Not Cleaned Properly

DIY videos online are good for many reasons but they also come with problems such as car owners being too self-confident that they can do car servicing themselves flawlessly. The thing is, not every tiny but critical detail about car repair and car detailing can be relayed and explained properly on those videos.

So if you did DIY your car’s throttle cleaning, it’s possible there’s still some debris left in the throttle bore. You could have missed it since you haven’t had prior experience with it before so you didn't know what a properly cleaned throttle actually looked like. This may result to your plate moving erratically instead of smoothly.

If this is what happened, you’ll have to redo the whole thing. You’ll have to remove and clean both the front and rear of the throttle bore again. When you’re done, expect it to idle since it is readjusting and re-calibrating like mentioned above. However, if you think the throttle body looks pretty clean to after removing the whole thing again, don’t try to reinstall it right away. Check the air control valve as this might be the one causing the idle.

3. Air Control Valve

With standard cleaning, the idle air control valve usually don’t get cleaned properly since it’s difficult to do so without removing it from the throttle body. So it’s possible that the debris causing high idle is stuck in there.

What you can do to make sure this component is cleaned thoroughly is to remove the air control valve and the plate to clean them individually. This should do the trick. But if it doesn’t and your car is still idling too high despite doing all these methods, you might be looking at a damaged throttle sensor.

4. Throttle Sensor Damage

The throttle sensors may have experienced damage while you or your mechanic cleaned the motor. It is possible the damage could have occurred from other causes as well, but if you noticed the change right after the cleaning, there is a good chance the sensors were damaged in this process. This can happen when the plate is opened and closed repeatedly and quickly. You need a computer scan tool to check the throttle activity and position to determine the kind of damage and what kind of replacements may be necessary to fix your high idling problem.

Pretty inconvenient right, not to mention troublesome when you’re practically just trying to avoid all those problems in the first place. So next time you want to do something to your car, that you have zero knowledge or experience about, you may wanna reconsider DIY-ing it no matter how easy it may seem and just seek a trusted car servicing shop in your region. 

3 Ways It’s Better To Park In Reverse In Perpendicular Parking Lots

Parking doesn't seem as important as driving but working on your parking skills is a crucial part of driving and maintaining a dent-free car. So even though paintless dent removal can be done in car repair shops or even on your own, it would still be better to avoid dents all together to save money and hassle. When it comes to parking there are different ways to do it, unless the establishment you’re parking to states their preference. But otherwise, here are some reasons why it may be a better option to park in reverse when you’re in perpendicular parking lots whether you’re a newbie or already a seasoned car owner. 

1. Calculating Distance From The Car Beside You Is Easier When Backing Up

Newbie drivers who are still working on their parking skills actually try to park away from other cars as much as possible. This is because of the fear of bumping and damaging other vehicle since their control on maneuvering and ability to accurately measure distance are still a bit off.

This is where parking in reverse makes your life easier. Due to how side mirrors are designed to work for cars, backing into parking spots makes it easier to see you side panels and avoid bumping into anything. Not to mention how reverse parking also works best for other car features for safety like rear view cameras and sensor.

2. Backing Up Into Your Parking Spot Requires Lesser Space To Maneuver

In a packed parking lot, the space gets tighter which means you may not have enough to maneuver your car into a spot without hitting another car. But with reverse parking you only have to worry about your front bumper possibly hitting what’s in front of it because your rear wheels will be your pivot point. Therefore, even with a lot less wriggle room, reverse parking will allow you to park damage-free.

3. Compared To An Open Traffic, Backing Into An Empty Spot Is Safer

Granted, maneuvering in reverse is difficult due to reduced visibility (and because we naturally drive forward). That’s why, backing into an empty spot is much safer, as opposed to backing into what essentially is open traffic.

Now, in the latter situation, if your car has considerable blind spots due to narrow rear windows, and isn’t equipped with rear-cross traffic alert system, you will need someone to assist you. Otherwise, it’s risky for your car, other cars, and road users like pedestrians, cyclists, stray pets, etc.

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