It wasn’t that long ago that you could pop the hood on your car and climb in to work on the engine. These days, you can barely get an arm down into the engine compartment. This begs the question of whether you can still work on your own car these days given the complexities involved?
Cars from the 1970s are essentially the same as modern cars. By this, I mean they generally have the same parts. Both cars have pistons, pumps, suspensions and what have you. The primary difference is the parts in the modern vehicle have evolved, in some cases dramatically.
The biggest difference is undoubtedly the computerization of the modern car. A computer controls the climate in the car. A computer controls the power being applied to the wheels. A computer controls the rate and timing of fuel injection into the cylinders. A computer…well, you get the idea. Given this complexity, can you still hope to work on your own car without causing a host of problems?
The good news is you can still work on your car. There are a couple of reasons why you shouldn’t be scared to do so. The first is the computerization of the modern car can actually help you. How so? The computer not only contains programs for controlling various aspects of the car, but it also will give you readings regarding problem areas. You can just plug in and error codes will show up. It speeds up the diagnostic process by a factor of 10.
There is another benefit to the design of the modern car. Cars are now a collection of modular components. Let’s say you have a crack in your from right headlight. Instead of replacing the lens, you just pop out the entire headlight module and pop a new one in. It literally takes five minutes or less. Much of the modern car is this way including many of the functioning components such as pumps.
There is, of course, a downside as well. The biggest issue usually has to do with tools. You are going to need a few specialized ones to make repairs. For instance, you can’t just plug your laptop into the car computer. You need a diagnostic tool designed for it. A secondary problem can also be the cost of the parts. Modulation is great when it comes to convenience, but the parts can cost a lot more given the fact you tend to be replacing the entire component instead of just a smaller part.
New research suggests that fancy additions to today's vehicles are leaving many Britons bewildered.
Insurance services provider LV= claims that over a third (37 per cent) of people interviewed in a recent study admitted to not understanding the function of the fancy icons displayed on their dashboards. Furthermore, nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of people said that they would be unable to fix their car in the event of a breakdown. An extra 47 per cent had no idea how an engine works, with only 5 per cent claiming to have good knowledge of how a vehicle works.
Britain it seems is a nation that relies on breakdown and repair services, with as few as 4 per cent of car owners confident they could repair their car if it broke down, while a further 18 per cent claimed the could carry out basic repairs without help.
For those looking to fund expensive repairs to their vehicle, a cheap personal loan may allow car-owners to get their vehicle back on the road quickly providing the extra cash flow needed to cover maintenance costs.
Confusion about the varied functions of today's vehicles were said to be compounded by a multitude of acronyms used to describe already obscure features. More than a quarter (28 per cent), said that they were unaware that the acronym MPV stood for multi person vehicle, while 63 per cent of respondents were found to hold the false belief that FWD stands for four wheel drive. In fact, the term is used to denote front wheel drive vehicles.
The LV= report also examined male and female perceptions to their own understanding of how vehicles work, with men said to be reluctant to admit their bafflement at the complexities of modern cars, the company states. Despite not knowing how to undertake basic repairs or fix their cars in the event of a breakdown, 71 per cent of men said that their understanding of automobiles was average or above. Only one in ten men admitted to knowing nothing about modern cars, compared to 30 per cent of women.
Emma Holyer, spokesperson for breakdown service Britannia Rescue, said: "There is little doubt that innovation has made driving a far more pleasurable experience, but it has made part-time weekend mechanics a thing of the past. With many cars relying on complex electronics or technology, many problems now require specialist equipment, as well as specialist knowledge, to get the problem fixed. Which makes it even more important for motorists to take out breakdown cover, at least they can then get back on the road quickly and easily in the event of a breakdown."
The research follows reports last month by motor services group the AA suggesting that car insurance costs are becoming an increasingly prohibitive item of expenditure for many UK vehicle owners. Citing statistics from MoneyExpert, the group states that the average annual insurance policy costs 629 pounds and four pence. A personal loan quote may be advisable for those looking to fund the additional costs of keeping a car on the road.
Our vehicles can be costly, and for that reason, we all want to take good care of them and make sure we can get as much life out of them as possible. In this, most of us want to know what we should do to help our vehicles along – but we also want to know what not to do, so that we aren’t wasting our money.
So – what are some of the basic car care myths professionals have identified?
1. Myth #1 – Tune-ups – How often should you have your vehicle tuned up? Do you know? Most engines are computer monitored and controlled – the good news with this is, they don’t need tune-ups as often as a traditional engine. There was a time that with a standard tune-up, it often called for new ignition parts such as a distributor cap, spark plugs, and points and rotors. Besides spark plugs, which usually don't have to be changed until 100,000 miles, today's cars aren't built with points and rotors, and many engines don't have distributor caps that need replacement as often.
2. Myth #2 – Having Your Car Lubricated – In the old days, cars had chassis that needed lubrication. All that metal, potential rust – you name it, the car needed to be greased. But now, cars are a combination of metal and plastic and therefore need little additional lubrication.
3. Myth #3 – Flushing Your Radiator Annually - Manufacturers have made significant advancements in engine cooling systems during the past few years with closed systems that recirculate coolant. These new systems don't lose coolant as often, and coolant manufacturers have also made advancements in their products' chemical components with synthetic materials, making the seasonal radiator flush almost extinct. It is still important to check fluid levels periodically--especially before long trips--and use the manufacturer-recommended coolant. You should change your coolant about every four years. Coolant chemicals last longer than they used to, and newer engines aren't going to be damaged by leaving it in long.
When changing your coolant, try a premixed formulation rather than adding tap water, which contains minerals that can cause trouble.
Some coolants will need to be mixed with water, in this case use only distilled water which doesn’t have the hard minerals in it.
For those who live in extreme climates, hot or cold, then you should be paying much more attention to your coolant than others.
4. Myth #4 - Wheel Alignment – We all want to keep our car in balance and were taught growing up to make sure our vehicle had the tires rotated frequently so that it stayed in alignment. Although it's important to keep tires properly maintained and inflated, it's not always necessary to have them aligned every time they are rotated. A majority of manufacturers recommend a wheel alignment and wheel balance only if there is a major issue with the car pulling to one side or another.
5. Myth #5: Winterize Your Car – Many grew up with the notion that before winter came, you had to winterize your car. Your car’s maintenance doesn't have to be tied to the seasons. Today’s modern cars don’t require the same amount of attention. Professionals say, other than possibly changing to winter tires, modern cars don't require special attention at this time of year the way that your parents' car might have.