Useful Car Fix It Information

Below is some useful car fix it tips:

Car Security

Never leave your registration papers or driver's licence in your car.
Etch your car's vehicle identification number (VIN or body/chassis number) onto each window, including the sunroof. (Etching kits are available from neighborhood watch groups.) Professional thieves often change the chassis number identification plate: they feel less inclined to replace all the windows.
Don't leave valuables, handbags or wallets visible in your car. Don't hide your radio, handbag or mobile phone under the seat - it's the first place a thief will look.
If you have a removable car radio or CD player, take the time to remove the face and place it in the boot when you leave the car unattended for a long period of time. Never leave the radio and it's security key in the car at the same time.
Sharply turn the front wheels of the car in order to lock the steering wheel. Put the gear lever in park in an automatic and in gear in a manual. Also engage the handbrake.
Close all windows tightly, including the sunroof (you might have one of these if you have a hot Honda or Nissan or some JDM accessories). Lock the car and pocket the key, even if your only leaving it for a few minutes or your parked in your own driveway.
Vary your routines - don't park in the same place each day for the same length of time.
When leaving your car in a public parking lot or parking station, give the attendant only the ignition key; don't say how long you'll be gone.
Avoid parking in low traffic dimly lit area, such as the remote sections of a shopping mall, where a thief could go undetected. At night try to park under a streetlight.
Special locks, alarms and assorted disabling devices are among the many antitheft devices available for vehicles today. These include thief resistant door-lock knobs, and locks for the bonnet, wheels and steering column. Invest in one - and use it regularly (especially if you have a new or desirable car like a Skyline turbo)

Car warning lights

OIL-PRESSURE LIGHT

lf your car's oil-pressure light stays on longer than a moment as you start up or if it glows steadily as you drive stop the car promptly and turn off the engine. This light is a warning that you may not have enough oil to lubricate the engine - a condition that can cause serious damage very quickly.
Check the oil level; add oil if it's needed. lf the oil is at the correct level or the light slays on after you add oil, the problem could be the light circuit or the oil pump. To be safe. get the car towed to a service station.

ALTERNATOR LIGHT

If the alternator light goes on the battery is is expending more energy than it is receiving. don't turn off the engine - you may not be able to restart it.
Turn off any unnecessary electrical equipment and drive to a service station. Meanwhile, keep an eye on the temperature gauge - the problem could be a broken fan belt. If the car overheats, pull off the road and stop.

Car washing