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THE BASICS

Car Maintenance: The Basics

Matthew Bright Daniel DeDoes Jessica Labosco Erin Raign

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Table of Contents
Table of Contents Intro!"ction $ho can benefit fro% this %an"al& $hat to E'(ect How to Change a )lat $hat *o" nee! Before *o" start Jac+ the car "( Ta+e off l"g n"ts Ta+e the tire off ,"t tire on ,"t the l"g n"ts bac+ on Lower the car $arnings How to Chec+ the Cars -il $hat /o"0ll 1ee! Before /o" Start -(en the Hoo! Locate the Di(stic+ Chec+ the -il Le2els If Le2els are 1or%al If Le2els are Low Close the Hoo! $arnings How to ,"%( 3as Before /o" Start -(en the 3as Ca( Select 3ra!e ,"%( 3as )inishing $arnings In!e' 3 # # # 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 . . . . . . . . . . 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 13

Intro!"ction

Introduction
Who can benefit from this manual?
This %an"al is beneficial to an*one who o(erates a 2ehicle $hile chec+ing *o"r oil can be !one b* so%eone else4 the other two as+s sho"l! be well "n!erstoo! as an a!"lt ,"%(ing gas is so%ething that *o" %"st +now how to !o in or!er to r"n a 2ehicle Changing a flat tire can be "sef"l to (rett* %"ch an*one It is so%ething *o" sho"l! learn how to !o (rior to the e%ergenc* arising The following section !escribes what can be e'(ecte! in this %an"al

What to Expect
This %an"al incl"!es ste(5b*5ste( instr"ctions on how to change a flat4 how to chec+ *o"r oil4 an! how to ("%( gas $hile the three tas+s are relate! beca"se the* all (ertain to car %aintenance4 each tas+ can be !one se(aratel* Each section incl"!es6 a before *o" start section4 followe! b* a se7"ence of ste(s to co%(lete the tas+4 an! a warnings section It is i%(ortant to rea! all of the ste(s an! instr"ctions of each tas+ (rior to beginning the%

Intro!"ction )l* ,age for Cha(ter 1

Cha(ter -ne

How to Change a Flat

What you need Before you start ac! the car up Ta!e off lug nuts Ta!e the tire off "ut tire on "ut the lug nuts bac! on #ower the car Warnings

Cha(ter -ne )l* ,age Cha(ter 8

Cha(ter Two

How to Chec! the Cars $il

What %ou&ll 'eed
The oil that your car takes, most cars use a 10w-30 oil, it is your choice to use a synthetic or all natural oil.

Before %ou (tart

Take the car and park it on a flat road or parking lot. This is important to ensure that you get a proper measurement.

$pen the Hood

1. Get out of the car and pop the hood, the hood latch on most all vehicles is located under the driver side dashboard (right around the left knee area).

2. Go to the front of the car and put your hands under the hood to release the latch and fully lift the hood, this you will need to move in a leftward motion while simultaneously lifting up the hood.
3. Take the hood prop that is always along the front of the vehicle and put it in the proper hole on the hood to keep the hood in the air.

#ocate the )ipstic!

4. Locate the oil dipstick, this is most always a yellow circle of plastic on the front or the side of the motor and generally speaking easy to find.

5. Pull the dipstick out of the tube it is in and wipe the end clean and re-insert the dipstick in the tube.

Chec! the $il #e*els

6. wait a full 5 seconds and then remove the dipstick again

If #e*els are 'ormal If the oil is in between the marks you are perfectly fine. If #e*els are #ow
If the oil is below or near the low side you will want to add oil to your motor.

Close the Hood

7. Re-insert the dipstick 8. Close the hood by putting down the hood prop and letting the hood down with some force.

Warnings
You want to change your oil every 5000 miles, this will ensure that your motor has fresh and clean oil to function properly. Doing this will make sure your car lasts a long time, if you skip this step the engine may seize and no longer rotate which will end in a very bad day for the car.

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Cha(ter Three

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How to "ump +as

Before %ou (tart
1. "ull the car next to the gas pump you ha*e chosen, Be sure to pull the car up so the gas tan! facing the gas pump- the cars fuel gage will indicate what side the gas tan! is on by an arrow, .a!e sure to pull far enough forward so the gas cap is close enough for the gas no//le to reach, 2. "ut the car in par!, 3. "ay for the gas, %ou can pay for gas at the pump with a card or you can go to the cashier and pay with cash or card there,

$pen the +as Cap

4. $pen the co*er of the gas cap- open by either pressing the co*er or pulling, 5. $pen the gas cap by twisting it open- there will be arrows on it indicating which way to twist,

(elect +rade
1 Choose *o"r f"el gra!e There is stan!ar! :.4 %i!5f"el :94 an! (re%i"% 93 Most stan!ar! (erfor%ing 2ehicles call for stan!ar! gas an! will not benefit %"ch fro% a higher gra!e

"ump +as
1. "ress the gas grade you ha*e chosen, 2. 0emo*e the gas no//le from its holder and place it in the gas tan! opening, Be she to place the no//le so no gas will lea! out, 3. Begin fueling, There is a le*er below the handle of the gas no//le- to begin fueling pull up on the le*er to meet the handle, There may be a latch on the handle that will !eep the le*er up while fueling,

Finishing
1. 0elease the le*er to stop fueling1 or you can let it go on until there is a clic! and the le*er releases on its own1 this means that the gas tan! is full, 2. (ha!e the no//le while still in the gas tan! open to be sure that all gas is out, 3. 0emo*e the no//le from the gas tan! opening, 4. "lace the no//le bac! in its holder, 5. Twist the gas cap bac! on, 6. Clo*e the gas cap co*er, 7. Ta!e your receipt, The receipt will print out at the gas pump or you will need to go to the cashier to get it,

Warnings
)o not spill any gasoline on the ground while wor!ing with the gas no//le,

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)o not sit in your car while fueling, )o not lea*e your !eys in your car unattended, )o not smo!e while fueling, )o not lea*e the car running while fueling,

In!e'

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Index
1o in!e' entries fo"n!