Annual Car Care Council Inspections show 87% Component failure
rate
During this year's National Car Care Month program, 87percent of the vehicles
inspected had at least one component that failed the inspection process.
The inspection lanes, conducted throughout the United States by sponsoring
local organizations and businesses, are part of the automotive aftermarket
industry's ongoing public awareness campaign, "Be Car Care Aware."
"The fact that 87 percent of the vehicles inspected required some maintenance
reinforces the need for the motoring public to become more aware of the maintenance
needs of their vehicles," says Rich White, executive director of the
Car Care Council.
"While the numbers dropped from 90 percent in 2003 to 87 percent this
year, these results continue to underscore the need for consumer education,"
White adds. "The potential effects on highway safety, air quality, cost
of operation, vehicle performance and vehicle dependability are self-evident
from these results."
The car components that most frequently failed the inspections were lubricants
and fluids, including engine oil (33 percent), low coolant (29 percent) and
transmission fluid (29 percent).
Among the other major components, tire pressure was also high on the list,
with 26 percent of the vehicles inspected showing incorrect tire pressure.
Also, cooling system belts and hoses at or near failure were found on 25 and
13 percent of the vehicles, respectively. Light and vision parts were at the
bottom of the list
According to Jack Ramsey, Gates Corporation Automotive Products manager, the
Car Care Council findings support what Gates has been saying for many years.
"Despite today's extended warranties, wear parts and fluids can never
be overlooked by motorists. Because the cooling system is so vital to the
operation and performance of every vehicle, it should be checked at least
once a year," Ramsey says.
"The coolant should be changed on a regular basis, and if the moving
parts such as the belts, hoses and water pump show any kind of wear, they
should be replaced immediately before an unexpected failure results in a stranded
situation for the motorist," Ramsey advises.
As part of the "Be Car Care Aware" education campaign, the Car Care
Council is offering a free service interval schedule to help take the guesswork
out of what vehicle systems need to be routinely inspected and when service
or repair should be performed. The schedule can be printed for free from the
Car Care Council's Web site at www.carcare.org.
Gates CorporationDenver, Coloradowww.gates.com
Heat-Producing Engines Still Need Cold Weather ProtectionIf it is not maintained properly, a car engine can overheat just as easily in the winter months as during the summer.To avoid problems, Gates engineers advise motorists to place additional emphasis on preventive maintenance of the cooling system this fall.Engine CoolantAsk your service technician to check the condition of the liquid coolant. The proper amount and mixture of water and antifreeze will help prevent overheating in the summer and provide freezing protection down to -34°F, which is sufficient for most geographic areas this winter.Have the coolant level checked every six months. The cooling system should be drained and back-flushed, and new coolant should be added every two years. By neglecting this replacement cycle, the coolant may not protect the engine from damaging rust and corrosion.Coolant HosesCoolant hoses are a very important part of the total cooling system. They are the fluid connectors between the engine, the radiator and heater. Most cars have a handful of hoses.Since hoses are so vital to safe engine operation, Gates engineers recommend replacing them if they are over four years old or if they feel soft at the ends.They can be conveniently replaced when it's time to flush the cooling system and install new coolant. Gates CorporationDenver, Coloradowww.gates.com
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Ask your service technician to check your cooling system hoses and coolant before winter. |
Coolant Hoses Need Attention Before Winter Driving SeasonCoolant hoses are essential parts of the total cooling system.They must work year round as the fluid connectors that carry liquid coolant between the engine, radiator and heater.The upper radiator hose delivers hot coolant from the engine to the radiator, while the lower hose returns coolant to the engine.The bypass hose circulates coolant through the engine when the thermostat is closed. Heater hoses carry coolant between the engine and the heater core.Since hoses are so vital to safe engine operation, Gates says they should be checked by your service technician before this winter's driving season.Hoses showing obvious signs of wear such as cracks, cuts, stiffness, bulges, excessive softness or abrasions should be replaced immediately.They can be conveniently replaced when it's time to flush the cooling system and install new coolant. At the very least, Gates recommends replacing coolant hoses every four years because there often is no visible, early warning sign of failure. A good-looking hose can fail due to deterioration of the reinforcement. This deterioration cracks the hose tube, allows liquid coolant to further weaken the reinforcement, and eventually results in an unexpected hose burst or pinhole leak.
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Coolant and cooling system hoses are
vital for maintaining proper engine efficiency and temperature.
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If You Smell Coolant This Fall, Your Car May Not Make It Through The WinterThe fall driving season can tell you a lot about how your car will perform this winter.When you first turn on the heater, if you smell the distinctive odor of engine coolant, or you notice that the level in the overflow tank is dropping rapidly, it's time for a cooling system checkup by your local service technician.If you're lucky, it may be just a leaky hose connection that can be solved by tightening the coolant hose clamps.However, if the car is four years old or older, you should consider a safer solution: replace the radiator hoses and the bypass hose.If the smell is strong in the passenger compartment and the windshield tends to steam up, you might need to replace the heater hoses or the heater core.In cases where none of the above is the culprit, have the water pump inspected for leaks.Ask your technician to check for shaft seal failure by carefully inspecting the water pump weep hole. When a pump is new, some leaking is normal in the initial hours of operation as the seal seats. Other than minor leaking, any leakage that occurs is due to seal failure and the pump should be replaced immediately.This can easily be done if you are also having the cooling system drained and flushed before the winter driving season.
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Have your service technician check
your cooling system to avoid problems this winter.
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Ask Your Service Tech To Prepare Your Car For The Rigors Of Winter DrivingA few simple precautions now can increase your motoring safety this winter season.The Gates Rubber Company offers the following checklist for you and your service technician:Battery - Icy-cold temperatures can reduce a vehicle's battery power by up to fifty percent. If the battery is barely turning the engine over now, it is likely to fail during winter. If your vehicle battery is older than three years, have it tested. Also, make sure the posts and connections are free of corrosion.Oil - Dirty oil makes it harder for the engine to turn over, especially in cold weather, resulting in premature engine wear. Check your owner's manual for the recommended oil change frequency and replace the oil with the appropriate grade for the seasonal temperatures in your area. Tires - Tires are frequently the most neglected vehicle component but are among the most important. Check tire pressure and tread depth before winter sets in. Under- inflated and worn tires will not provide sufficient traction - especially on wet or icy roads.Belts and Hoses - Modern materials have made belts and hoses very durable with relatively long lives, but they can deteriorate over time and fail without warning. Gates says that most cooling system hoses fail from the inside, so to avoid an unexpected burst or pinhole leak, Gates suggests replacing the hoses, especially the upper radiator hose, every four years. Belts showing excessive glazing on the top surface, or cracks in the V-ribs should be replaced immediately, says Gates. The four-year replacement cycle applies to belts, as well.Coolant -- Inspect the coolant annually. If it has an oily, reddish-brown foam, it may be contaminated by transmission fluid. If the coolant is rusty, the cooling system may need a chemical cleaning and flushing. It can be tested for the proper 50-50 mixture of antifreeze and water that will offer freeze protection to at least - 34ºF., and will provide adequate boilover and anticorrosion protection in most cases. Preparing your car for winter driving this autumn is a good investment in carefree driving.Preventive maintenance can save you the cost and inconvenience of a breakdown, or the torment of a no-start on a frigid winter morning.
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Prepare your car, especially the cooling
system, for winter driving to avoid an inconvenient breakdown.
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Coolant Hoses
Look For Coolant Leaks Now, Avoid Engine Problems This SummerAn overheated engine due to cooling system failure is one of the most common causes of roadside breakdowns.Basically, the cooling system keeps your engine from burning itself up. But, when coolant is lost, or when a part malfunctions within the cooling system, the engine is certain to get too hot.Overheating results in accelerated wear from within the hose and early hose failure.They may develop micro-cracks within the hose tube that allow the coolant to attack the hose reinforcement. In time, the reinforcement will weaken.Accelerated by high under-the-hood heat and constant flexing, the hose could rupture or leak under normal pressure before it has reached its expected service life.To avoid this failure mode, Gates suggests a safe service life of four years for all coolant-carrying hoses, especially the upper radiator and bypass hoses. After four years, the incidence of hose failure increases sharply. Coolant hoses fail by developing micro-cracks caused by overheating or wear over time.
Tensioners
TensionersListen For Sources, Symptoms Of Belt Drive ProblemsSquealing, slapping and whining are a few of the noise symptoms that can indicate a problem with a vehicle's engine accessory belt drive system.Critical accessories driven by the belt system include the generator/alternator, water and power steering pumps, and the air conditioner.To isolate the cause of the noise problem, listen to the engine when accelerating, when making a hard turn or when activating the air conditioning. A squealing noise that occurs when pulling away from a stop suggests incorrect belt drive tension. A slapping sound is likely caused by a loose belt that is not tensioned properly, or a seized belt tensioner.A growl or whine can indicate that a bearing in the tensioner or idler assembly is about to fail.An important component in the system is the belt tensioner - a spring-loaded device that exerts a constant pressure on the engine's serpentine belt.If you suspect a tensioner problem, there is no need to go to a car dealer for service. Auto repair shops that carry Gates cooling system products can install a new, factory-equivalent belt tensioner. If the belt tensioner has not been serviced since you bought your vehicle, have it inspected this spring before the summer driving season. Listen for any unusual noises coming from the tensioner (arrow). Be careful around moving parts. Squeaks or rattles are signs of impending tensioner and/or belt failure.
Timing Belts
Would you rather Replace a belt today, or An engine tomorrow?When it comes to servicing your car this spring, would you rather pay out $200 today, or $2000 tomorrow?The answer is simple.If you own one of the millions of cars that has an interference engine and the timing belt breaks, you may be buying a new engine for upwards of $2000, plus a towing charge.On an interference engine, a broken timing belt can cause the pistons to slam into the valves, resulting in serious damage and possibly destroying the engine.To avoid being stranded and having the expense of a new engine, Gates stresses that it's critical to change a timing belt at its suggested replacement interval.Carmakers suggest changing the belt anywhere from 36,000 to 100,000 miles.The most published interval by manufacturers is 60,000 miles.Car owners should realize that the cost for not replacing a failed timing belt, especially on an interference engine, could add up to 10 times the cost of replacing the belt.Your owner's manual may tell you if your car has a timing belt, and when to replace it.If not, ask your local auto repair shop. On an interference engine, a failed timing belt will cause the pistons and valves to collide, and result in costly engine damage and repair.
Serpentine Belts
Failed Engine Belt Will Stop You Short This SummerUnless your car is a vintage model, the engine most likely has a serpentine belt drive.On many engines, a serpentine belt powers several accessories such as the air conditioner compressor, water and power steering pumps, fan, and even the booster for the braking system.Gates Corporation engineers say it's definitely worth having the serpentine drive belt system checked periodically. If it fails, the engine will overheat, and worse, the car won't run.The situation could leave you stranded on a highway or busy metropolitan street waiting for a costly tow to a local repair shop.Listen for signs of impending belt failure. A squealing noise when the car accelerates means the belt is slipping and is not efficiently turning the drive accessories. The belt tensioner also could be worn and in need of immediate replacement.Look for excessive cracks in the belt's V-ribs, and chucks that have broken off the ribs.Gates engineers say, however, visual appearance is not a reliable indicator of the expected service life of a belt. They recommend replacing the serpentine belt every four years.Ask your technician to check both the belt and the tensioner while the car is being serviced this spring. To inspect a serpentine belt for wear, turn off the engine and twist the belt slightly. If the V-ribs show excessive cracks or if chucks are missing, have the belt replaced immediately before it fails.
Gates CorporationDenver,
Coloradowww.gates.com