Short maintenance tips
Suspension, shock absorbers, automatic transmission, bulbs: small things that extend a car's life.
- How to choose shock absorbers for a car How oil, gas-oil and gas shock absorbers differ in comfort, stiffness and price, which type suits city driving and where it is best to buy them.
- How to extend the life of an automatic transmission? How to extend the life of an automatic transmission: easy on kick-down, original ATF changed on time, a warm-up in frost, the handbrake and modern fluids.
- How to choose parts Six steps to choosing suspension parts: genuine prices as a benchmark, comparing replacements, reading car club forum reviews and making the final choice.
- How to get your car ready for vacation? A checklist before a long trip: what to carry in the boot, how to check the running gear, fluids, tyres and pressures, and why to change the oil before leaving.
- In Brief: About Bulb Wattage Why you should not fit headlight bulbs stronger than the manufacturer specifies: the housing and reflector plastic melts; and what to do if the lights are dim.
- Working shock absorbers extend the life of the suspension Faulty shock absorbers speed up wear of control arms, ball joints, bushings and tie rods, while good ones prolong suspension life and keep the car stable.
- Don't forget to get the suspension checked! Modern cars generally have good sound insulation, so if you don't hear any knocking, that doesn't necessarily mean the suspension is fine.
- How to extend the life of an automatic transmission? The handbrake rule Two rules for an automatic gearbox: after shifting to park, set the handbrake before releasing the brake, and never floor it just after starting the engine.