Vehicle maintenance overview
Vehicles are complex machines, and like most components on machines they need regular maintenance or replacements to allow the overall machine to operate efficiently Maintenance allows your car to run smoothly and safely for a longer time compared to never doing maintenance. Your owner’s manual will describe all of the maintenance that needs to be done and which interval it needs to be done.
Basic services to be done
Do you need to pay a garage technician / mechanic to preform the vehicle maintenance? You can do a lot of the basic car maintenance yourself by following the vehicle instructions manual

- A: Radiator Water
- B: Oil Dip stick
- C: Window washer fluid
- D: Batery
- E: Engine oil fill cap
- F: Brake fluid oil
- G: Fuse box
- H: Below plastic is the engine fan belts connecting alternator and water pump
- I: Engine. On the top of the engine is where you can change the sparkplugs
Tyres
- Tyre pressure: Check the tyre pressure and fill in accordingly
- Tyre condition: Does the tyres look damaged. Consider replacing the tyres if they look worn out
- Inspect the top surface: Is there any forreign object pressed into the tyre. Eg: screws, nail
- Inspect thread depth: New tyres 8–9 mm, Minimum permitted on summer tyres 1.6 mm, Minimum permitted on winter tyres 3 mm (See tyre section)
- When changing tyres: Ensure all the tyre nuts are properly fastened
Battery
Some car batteries require water maintenance (Flooded batteries), others don't need any water maintenance (Sealed batteries). Your car manual will indicate which battery your car comes with.- Check the water level (Min/Max): If the water level is to low fill the battery with distilled water.
- Clean from dirt and moisture: Batteries should always be kept clean and away from water or moisture conditions. Reason is salt form around the battery positive and negative terminals. If you see white crystals forming scrape it off
- Fix the battery: The car battery is placed in a secure place and usually strapped down with either a rubber band or steel pole. Ensure the battery is safe and cant move as a battery that is not secure can fall out during a collision and acid can leak out
- Battery charging: The cars alternator charges the battery when the car engine is on. You can also charge the battery by using a special car battery charger (12 V). You can also use a jumper cable (Car charging another car, Remeber Red to Red, Black to Black )
- Batteries don't last forever: When you see the battery icon appear on your car dashboard it means that either the alternator is dead or the battery cant be charged anymore. Inspect both components
Engine oil and oil filters
Oil is required in all parts of your car. Whenever any component is moving or rotating over each other oil is required. Motor oil over time pick up small dirt particles. These small particles can damage your engine if not replaced frequently- Lubricate: Oil main purpose is to lubricate components to reduce ware
- Dipstick: The oil level is checked by using a dipstick that is located above or to the side of the engine. On the dipstick there is a Min Max level indicator. If the oil is below the Min level add more engine oil. If the oil is above the Max level you need to remove oil from the engine by loosening a screw below the oil sump to drain out excessive oil
- Oil color: Engine oil isusually bright gold yellow color. Old used oil is a darker yellow brown color.
- Engine oil lamp: The engine oil lamp will illuminate if there is to little oil in the engine
Windscreen washer fluid
Windscreen washer fluid is a special fluid (Water and soap) use to clean the windows when dirt is on the windscreen- Fluid check: Find the wind screen washer fluid container and add washer fluid to Max level
Radiator water / coolant
The radiator's main purpose is to cool down water that flows through the engine. When the engine starts the water pump, pumps water through the engine. The cold water captures the warm heat from the engine and circulates back to the radiator. The radiator is placed in front of the car to catch all the air coming into the car. This air cools down the water in the radiator and the cycle is repeated.
- Check water / coolant level:Check the Max / Min level on the radiator water tank and fill it to the max level using special coolant and water combination (Coolant prevents water from freezing which can damage your engine)
- Glycol:Coolant consists of glycol
- Engine temperature increases past half way mark: If the engine temperature level goes to max it means there is either not enough water in the radiator or the fanbelt that drives the water pump has broken and needs to be replaced
Brake Fluid
- Brake fluid color: Brake fluid is usually transparent. If the brake fluid is any other color or dirty replace the fluid
- Brakes feels springy: If the brake feels springy, It's possible that air in the braking system is causing the pedal to feel springy.
- Two years: Change brake fluid every two years as it attracts moisture/water
- The brake fluid needs to reach the MAX level in the reservoir container
- Incorrect levels indicates there is a leakage or the car has been standing outside in the sun for very long time
Engine pully belts and hoses
- Belts: Belts needs to be replaced every two - three years. This can be done by yourself if you have the correct tools. Usually the service shop will replace engine belts if required
- Timing belt: The timing belt is the belt that connects the engine with the engine valves heads. This is a very important belt and if it breaks can do lots of damage to your engine. The timing belt is usually replaces every 70,000 - 100,000 km
- Engine pypes and hoses: Engine pypes and hoses move water and air around the engine. It is important to check if these components arent damaged, broken or have leaks in them. If any of them are broken your car will preform poorly.
Fuses
Your car have lots of electrical components. To protect these components fuses are included in the wiring that prevents electrical overload. Meaning the fuse will break instead of the actual component
- Check the fuses box: Find any fuses that looks like it burned, replace the fuse with the same (AMP) fuse. Example if a 10A fuse broke, replace with a 10A fuse in the same fuse slot. Sometimes the fuse got loose in the fusebox then you just need to press the fuse back
- Ensure fuse box is closed properly: The fuse box should be sealed tightly as water can short-circuit the fusebox and burn out all your electronics