Protecting Your Investment in a First Class European Car

Checking your car's vital signs and watching for trouble can not only keep your car purring but prevent big repair bills. Here's a where to look under the hood and elsewhere for signs of trouble. Check your owner's manual for the exact location of each tank for your model car.

The Vital Fluids in Your Car

Those to check with a dipstick:
Oil - This the lifeblood of your engine. Check your oil stick regularly with a paper towel or rag. If you continually need to add oil, consult your technician immediately. Other trouble signs include a foamy appearance for the oil or a strong gasoline odor. Check your owner's manual for the location of the oil dipstick.

Transmission Fluid - Check your transmission fluid dipstick while the engine is running. The color should be pink or red. If it appears brown or has a burnt smell, have it checked immediately.

Power Steering Fluid - A small dipstick can usually be found attached to the cap of the power steering fluid reservoir. The fluid should stay level. If you need to add fluid more than twice a year, you may have a leak.

Fluids to check visually: Brake Fluid - Do you wonder where this fluid is located? In most cars you'll find it in an opaque chamber under the hood, right in front of the steering wheel. If your brake pads are starting to wear, the brake fluid level will drop. If the fluid drops below two-thirds full, have it checked.

Coolant - When you check your coolant, make sure the car has had time to cool down. Two marks ("Full Hot" and "Full Cold") can be found in the reserve tank. If you need to keep adding water, you probably have a leak. Your engine can be damaged from overheating, so keep it running cool.

Windshield Washer Fluid - You can either look at the level by looking at the marker on the opaque chamber or by looking into the reservoir.

The Power Source: Your Battery

Most cars are still equipped with a battery that allows you to check the water level, and you should do it frequently. If you have a "maintenance-free" battery that prohibits you from checking on the battery water level, you can still service your own battery by checking the top to make sure is clean. With time any battery top can become damp or corroded. Also be sure the terminal connections are clean and tight.

Running Smooth: Your Tires and Alignment

Four factors affect tire wear and durability: tire inflation, tire balance, alignment, and rotation.

Make sure your car is equipped with a handy tire gauge so you can check the tire pressure when the tires are cold. Proper inflation is important to keep the tires wearing evenly.

If your tires are out of balance, the car will vibrate at speeds between 50 and 70 mph. If one section of tire is heavier than the other, a tire becomes out of balance. Lead weights, properly placed by a technician, can compensate for it. Once the wheels are balanced, the ride will become noticeably smoother.

If you notice uneven wear or if your car vibrates at 50-60 MPH, your car may need an alignment. Take your car to a shop with special alignment equipment that's geared to European cars.

Front tires always wear faster than rear tires, so have your technician rotate them not only from front to rear and rear to front but from right to left and left to right as well. This rotation will not only make your tires last longer but will give you better road handling and braking.

Operating at Peak Efficiency: Car Filters

Driving through areas with air pollution and dust can clog air filters, so they will need to be replaced on a frequent basis. The air filter cleans the air going into the engine. Newer cars (those built after 1993-94) also come with an interior air filter that will need to be changed regularly to optimize air circulation and protect the heating and air conditioning system.

The fuel filter keeps fuel clean so your engine can operate at peak efficiency. It should be changed by a technician. The breather and PCV valve allow clean air to come into the crankcase and burn in the combustion chamber. This pushes moisture and acids away from the engine.

Clear Vision: Your Wiper Blades

You don't know you need them until your are in a downpour going 60 mph. Wiper blades streak when they are old or dirty, making it miserable for the driver and causing eye fatigue. Change your blades every 6,000 to 10,000 miles, and clean the blades each time you wash your windshield. A clean windshield also helps the blades last longer.

That Showroom Look

Your car's finish is under constant assault by fierce weather, tree sap, bird droppings, road salt and environmental pollution. Keeping your car clean with a good wash will protect it from these corrosives. Avoid laundry or dishwashing detergents that are too harsh for your car's finish. Instead use mild soap made especially for cars.

Waxing is the final touch that keeps a car looking new. In fact, a ten-year-old car that has been waxed regularly can enjoy a better shine than when it was new. That's the power of wax! For best results use a clay product to smooth the surface and prepare it, then hand wax it at least twice a year. If moisture fails to bead on your car's smooth surfaces, that's a sign it needs waxing again.