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Give your car the TLC it needs

Services and repairs are best left to qualified technicians - but here’s what you should be doing to take care
of your investment.
You bought a set of wheels, you’re relishing the new car smell, enjoying the bells and whistles, and reading messages
of congratulations from your social media post flashing your car wrapped up in a big red bow. Your pride and joy is,
however, not going to take care of itself. It requires regular monitoring and maintenance to stay in tip-top shape.
Ford Motor Company offers these practical tips to ensure your new ride not only looks great, but runs smoothly for years to come:
Paint and bodywork Lights

Wash your car with a good quality car wash soap and Ask a friend to stand in front of your car while you check
lukewarm water. Rinse the bodywork once a week if you your lights. This includes headlights, brights, daytime-run-
are unable to do a full wash. During the wash process, ning lights, brake lights, reverse lights, and indicators. All
check the paintwork for chips and scratches, and have your car’s lights should be working and any blown globes
any damage attended to immediately. Failure to do so replaced. Brake light globes blow regularly because this
could cause corrosion. is a globe that you are using constantly as it switches on
and off under braking. Note: Unless you have mechanical
Windscreen and wipers knowledge, don’t try replacing faulty bulbs on your own
Clear visibility of the road is critical, so always get any - it’s a tricky job and you don’t want to damage the light
fixture.
chips or cracks on your windscreen fixed as soon as
possible. Remember that small cracks will get bigger
over time. If your windscreen has suffered sandblasting Fluids
- what appears to be millions of tiny sparkly particles in Water and oil are the lifeblood of your engine; you should
the glass, which are especially distracting when driving check the levels of both, as well as the coolant level, every
into the glare of a low-lying sun - the reduced clarity can time you fill up at the fuel pump. If your coolant and oil
seriously compromise your vision, and the entire wind- levels are low, you may have a leak somewhere.
screen should be replaced. You should only top up your
washer fluid reservoir with windshield washer fluid as Tyres
other fluids can damage the washer/wiper system. If you
use water in the reservoir and it freezes, it can clog and Tyres are what connect your car to the road, and you re-
damage the reservoir and hoses. If your wipers leave ally want to know that they are in good shape. Check tyre
streaks on your windscreen that impair your vision, it’s pressures every two weeks, when your tyres are cold.
time to replace them. (You’ll find the recommended pressures on a sticker on
the inside edge of your driver door). Check you have
enough tread on your tyres; they should be replaced when
there is around 2mm of wear left. Don’t forget to include
the spare when you’re doing this check.

Steering and brakes
If you feel a vibration in the steering wheel, or if your steer-
ing pulls in a certain direction, veering to the left or right,
it could indicate a wheel alignment problem. If the brake
pedal feels soft or spongy when depressed, if your car
pulls to one side under braking, or if you hear a grinding
or squealing sound, have an auto technician address the
issue right away. The handbrake also shouldn’t click more
than four times before it holds your car in place.

Safety checks
Regular safety checks at an auto fitment centre are a
quick and effective way to identify potentially dangerous
issues or defects before they cause major problems.
These checks are also crucial before setting off on a
Ritchie Ford Richards Bay Service Manager Louis Fourie says that long journey. They cover not only the state of your tyre
it is important to undertake regular checks on your vehicle as an
owner. ‘Our great team of service advisers are on hand to offer any pressure and tread depth, but also your shock absorb-
advice or assistance relating to your vehicle telephonically. They will ers, brake fluid, brake pads and discs, battery, and the
let you know if the matter is something that needs dealer attention condition of your exhaust.
urgently”, he said.