How to Maintain Your New Car

One of the reassuring qualities of contemporary cars is that they need much less-frequent service to keep them running well. Changing the spark plugs, breaker points, and condenser used to be a seasonal exercise, and body rust was accepted as a normal if unfortunate hazard of aging. Now many spark plugs can go 100,000 KMs between changes. Electronic ignition has done away with the points and condenser. Chassis, suspensions, and even some transmissions are lubed for life. And factory rust-through warranties typically run six years or longer. What’s more, reliability has improved significantly. The result is that most late-model cars should be able to go 15000 km with regular upkeep.Here are a few simple, periodic checks and procedures you can do that will help you get there.

Check Engine oil every 3 months or after every highway trip specially for diesel fuel cars which requires 15000km or higher interval for oil change or once a year service program.

Do check pollen or a/c filter in every 6 month and change it if required 

clean interior cabin of the car with suitable cleaner and always clean and condition leather once in 2 months. 

do not use detergent or hair shampoo for cleaning the car it effect adversely in long term.

do perform wheel alignment and rotation in every 7000kms and check for balancing required.

These are the few thing you should taken in account for up keeping your new car.
since its new so no major maintenance required.Also keep check you periodical maintenance chart in manual 

LEATHER CAR SEAT REPAIR: HOW TO FIX AND PREVENT TEARS AND CRACKS

Many drivers choose vehicles with leather seats for their luxurious look and feel. Taking care of the seats is important for keeping the vehicle’s interior looking nice. This is especially important for drivers who plan to trade in or sell their car later on. If the seats are cared for properly, they will not crack or tear easily.

HOW TO PREVENT TEARS AND CRACKS IN LEATHER SEATS

Can leather cracks be prevented? Can leather tears be prevented? Both types of damages are mostly preventable. It is much less expensive to maintain the seats than it is to fix the leather damage. These tips cover both cosmetic maintenance and helpful advice for what to avoid.

1. Avoid the sun. Use a sun shield on the windshield if the vehicle must sit in the sun. If the side windows and back windshield are not tinted to minimize the sun’s intensity, use window screens or shields after parking the vehicle on sunny days. If the leather car interior is exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods of time, it can crack and the color will fade.

2. Avoid bulky and sharp objects. The easiest way to prevent tears is to be mindful of what goes on the seats. Do not put tools, pet carriers or sharp objects directly on the seats. That also includes sharp or pointed objects in your pockets such as keys. Always put bulky objects in the trunk if possible. When putting any other objects on the seats, place a padded protective blanket over the seat first.

3. Condition and clean seats regularly. It is important to maintain clean seats and condition the leather regularly. Be sure to vacuum the seats first. Always clean seats with a gentle cleaner that is designed for leather interior. Finish the job with a conditioner that is made for leather. The conditioner will help the clean seats keep their pliability and will prevent cracks and signs of wear.

HOW TO FIX TEARS AND CRACKS IN LEATHER SEATS

Can leather cracks be fixed? Can leather tears be repaired? The answer is yes. Guests, pets or children may tear the seats at some point. When a tear or crack happens, it is important to repair it quickly to protect the inner part of the seat. Use these tips for proper leather car seat repair.

Car Leather Repair – What You Will Need:

• Warm water
• Mild dish soap
• Cleaning cloth
• Microfiber cloth
• Denatured alcohol
• Mild sandpaper
• Auto leather repair kit

If the leather is cracked, it can be fixed with a car leather repair or leather patch kit. This type of kit is inexpensive. Make sure it includes a leather dye that matches the color of the leather car interior. Start by cleaning the seat with warm water that is mixed with mild dish soap. Rinse out the cleaning cloth as necessary. After rinsing the rag well, use it to rub denatured alcohol on the cracked areas. Wipe the areas dry with a microfiber cloth.

When the leather is dry, gently sand the cracked areas away with the sandpaper. Use the microfiber cloth to wipe the seats dry again. Next, open the auto leather repair kit. Read the instructions carefully to understand how to use the contents of the package. Open the liquid leather sealant product. Use it to smooth out the cracks according to the instructions. Apply the leather dye carefully to the affected areas until it matches the rest of the seat. Let the seats dry completely before using them again. Unless the vehicle is in a clean and closed garage, it is best to keep the windows rolled up while the seats are drying to avoid debris entering the car.

FIXING LEATHER CAR INTERIOR TEARS

What You Will Need

• Matching leather thread
• Leather needle
• Thimble
• Sharp scissors
• A strip of matching leather
• Leather putty
• Matching leather dye

Aside from replacing the seats, there is no way to repair gashes or tears in the leather that make it look flawless. However, there are two ways to repair tears that will protect the part of the seat beneath the leather and minimize the unattractiveness of a large tear. The torn edges can be stitched together or a piece of leather can be placed over or below them and attached to the torn edges.

To repair the tear by stitching the torn edges together, start by cutting away any threads that are loose with scissors. Thread the needle and put it on the underside of one torn leather edge. Loop it over the other side and pull the needle back through the thread loop to create a strong knot. Push the needle with a thimble. Carefully stitch the leather in even and small stitches to minimize the appearance of the thread. After finishing, tie the knot off on the underside of the leather.

For the leather strip insert option, cut away any loose threads on the torn edges first. Place the leather strip under or over the tear. It is best to place it under the seat’s leather. Use the stitching method above to create and finish knots. Stitch carefully using small stitches for an even look. It is also possible to use liquid leather adhesive instead of a needle and thread. If there are gaps after finishing, fill them in with leather putty. Paint the leather with dye if necessary to make it match the seats.

To use adhesive as an alternative, place the leather pieces underneath the tears and position them properly. Brush the liquid adhesive around the edges of the tears and press them into the leather strip. Smooth out any rough surfaces with sandpaper, wipe the residue away with a wet cloth and dry the seat with a microfiber cloth. If there are gaps, fill them in with leather putty. Apply leather dye to the affected areas if necessary.

FIXING LEATHER CAR INTERIOR HOLES

Another important topic of leather car seat repair is fixing holes in the leather. These can happen from punctures or cigarette burns. This type of leather car seat repair is much simpler than fixing cracks or tears. Use either a small piece of leather as a patch for bigger holes or liquid leather for very small holes. For the patch method of leather car seat repair, find a piece of leather that matches the seat. Cut a small piece to fit over the hole. Use leather adhesive to attach it. Let it dry for several hours before sitting on it or placing any items on the seat.

For the liquid auto leather repair method, buy a liquid leather product. Look for matching leather dye to use afterward. Follow the instructions to apply the product. Wait for it to dry before applying the auto leather dye. Clean seats thoroughly and apply conditioner when finished.

Can leather damage be fixed? It absolutely is possible to fix leather but there are some limitations. When the tears and damages are too severe for DIY methods, it is time to look for professional leather car seat repair or for a replacement seat.

Automatic Transmission

Automatic Transmission Types Explained: CVT, DSG, Tiptronic, Dual-Clutch, Automated-Manual Transmission

A transmission (or gearbox) is a bridge between the engine and the drive wheels of a vehicle. It transforms torque and horsepower to various speed limits. To simply put, it sends power from the first part to the second part to help the car to move forward and backward. The automatic version of the gearbox can change gears with the movement of the vehicles, the driver does not need to do anything except for selecting the modes. Modern vehicles feature a few versions of automatic transmission types.

Automatic Transmission Types Explained

A Canadian inventor named Alfred Horner Munro first patented the concept of the auto gearbox and he utilized compressed air for the change of gears. American inventor Oscar H. Banker developed the concept and invented the first practical auto transmission. The automobile giant General Motors introduced the first modern and mass-produced self-shifting gear called Hydramatic in 1940.

The automatic transmission types is available in several versions depending on the make and model of a vehicle.

Traditional Automatic Transmission

Mostly known as torque converter automatic, this is the standard type of automatic transmission to be found in most of the cars these days. Unlike a manual gearbox, it does not use a clutch to change gears. Instead, a hydraulic fluid coupling or a torque converter does this job. It connects to the Electronic Control Unit of the engine and allows for precise control of the vehicle.

utomatic cars perform smoothly, but the shifting of the gears is not quick all the time, earning them the name ‘slushbox’. The impression has been changing though, thanks to some brilliant transmission models such as the ZF 8-speed, which you will find in many performance cars ranging from Jaguars to BMWs.

>> Some of the popular models are Porsche Panamera, BMW X1, Kia Sportage, and more.

Automated-Manual Transmission

Also known as semi-automatic transmission (SAT) and several other names, this automatic transmission type utilizes a regular clutch and gear setup but automates the action by the use of sensors, actuators, processors, and pneumatics.

The cars featuring this transmission provide better performance on highways. They are not recommended for city driving because the engines feel jerky under hard acceleration.

>> Some of the popular models are Ford Kuga, Volvo V40, Audi A5, and more.

Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)

These gearboxes use either belts of pulleys, instead of steel gears found in traditional auto transmission, for changing the gears. It allows seamless gear shifting with numerous range of ratios and facilitates the engine to spin at the maximum RPM (speed).

Two more types of CVT are there. The Hydrostatic CVT uses hydrostatic motors and variable-displacement pumps for transferring power to the engine. On the other hand, the Toroidal CVTs use discs and power rollers for this purpose.

The transmission allows the engine to operate at the maximum efficiency with seamless acceleration. It is good for fuel economy, and the repair and maintenance are not expensive. However, the engine creates much noise under acceleration and load. Plenty of models use this gearbox, and some of the crowd favorites are Chevrolet Spark, Ford C-Max, Nissan Sentra, and more.

Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT)

It is a hybrid of automatic and manual transmission. There is no torque converter in DCT. You will use two separate shafts for gear changing, one for odd-numbered and another for even-numbered gears. Both the shafts have their own clutch.

You can shift to a higher or lower gear in a fraction of second and the transformation from automatic to manual is also seamless. However, the DCT gearboxes can’t escape the complaints of noisy clutches, scratching sound, and rough shifts.

>> Examples of such cars are Ford Fiesta, Chrysler Dodge Dart, and more.

DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox)

It is almost similar to the DCT but without its annoying problems. It uses two clutches instead of a torque converter, and its mechanism works by simple disengaging of one clutch and engaging the other second one for changing the gears. This transmission offers faster gear shifting and smoother pulling away than the traditional models.

Modern DSG units provide better fuel efficiency than even the manual gearboxes. The DCT is a dry transmission that does not need the driver to change the gearbox fluid ever. It leaves the clutches dry and wears out their frictional quality eventually. The results are abrupt shifts, slow responses to gear shifting, and jerky transmission. On the other hand, DGS is a wet transmission that keeps the clutches lubricated. The result is decade-long service with lighting gear-changing performance. However, you have to change the fluid on a regular basis (every 40k miles), which could be costly.

Many automobile manufacturers such as Skoda, VW, Porsche, and Audi use this model in their cars but under different names. For example, Porsche calls it PDK gearboxes while the name changes to DSG S-Tronic units for Audi models.

Tiptronic Transmission

It is one of automatic transmission types that functions just like a manual gearbox. However, it’s different from manual operation in the sense that it uses a torque converter in the place of a clutch pedal, does have the option for auto shifting, and does not let the driver have full control over the gears.

What unique about this unit is it has the option to override the automatic mode. It means that you can drive your car as an automatic along with being able to switch into the manual mode when required such as getting up a hill or going downward in a steep road

he cars using this unit has an inbuilt safety feature so that any driver error does not result in the damage of the gearbox. A number of manufacturers use this type of automatic transmission but it was first seen in Porsche 911 (in 1990) and then adopted by BMW and Chrysler.

Conclusion

Which automatic transmission types should you choose? Well, it depends on the make, model, and the type of performance you are looking for. Besides, the budget is an issue too. Some transmissions are more expensive than the others. Hopefully, this guide will help you fix your choice.

you could be killing your car

Owning a car can be a dream or a nightmare depending on how well you take care of your vehicle


Failing to change fluids and filters.Many fluids are required for the operation and protection of vehicle systems and components. Checking fluid levels regularly, along with the filters, helps ensure that your vehicle runs dependably and extends vehicle life.


Neglecting your tires. Your vehicle’s tires should be checked frequently for inflation and tread depth. Underinflated tires can wear out more quickly, needing to be replaced sooner, and can negatively impact safety, gas mileage and performance

Not following a service schedule. Because many car parts and components wear out or become damaged over time, vehicles need to be routinely serviced in order to perform optimally. Routine inspections and timely repairs will help keep your car running efficiently and will help you avoid more expensive repairs down the road.

Keeping a dirty car. Allowing your car to go too long without a wash leads to buildup of damaging chemicals and dirt, increases the potential for rust from road salt and interferes with proper visibility needed for safe driving.

Ignoring the check engine light. Ignoring an illuminated check engine light can result in serious engine trouble and costly repairs. At the very least, this warning light could alert you to an engine problem that is negatively impacting fuel economy.

Whether it’s stop-and-go traffic, extreme weather, rough roads or heavy loads, it can sometimes be difficult to limit severe driving conditions. However, you can drive smart and improve fuel economy by observing the speed limit; avoiding aggressive driving, including quick starts and stops; not hauling unnecessary items; and keeping your vehicle properly tuned.

Brake fluid

The recommended intervals for changing brake fluid are all over the board depending on the manufacturer, from as often as every two years to neverFor example, Volkswagen says to change the brake fluid on most models every 60,000 Kms, but Honda says to do it every three years regardless of the vehicle's mileage. Three years is also the recommended interval for most Ford cars, but Mercedes vehicles typically call for fresh fluid every two years or 40,000 kms.In contrast, on the Ford Eco sports, Hyundai i20,Toyota Corolla altis  and other models from those manufacturers, there are no recommendations for replacing the brake fluid, only instructions to inspect it periodically.This leaves it up to the owner to consult what the manufacturer says in their car's maintenance schedule and rely on the advice of a trusted repair shop.
Brake fluid lives in a sealed system and can survive for years, but moisture from the surrounding air can work its way in through hoses and other parts of the brake system. Water in the brake lines lowers the boiling point of the fluid, so stopping ability can diminish in hard stops as heat in the system increases. In addition, over time the moisture can cause internal corrosion in the brake lines, calipers, the master cylinder and other components.Flushing and replacing brake fluid might cost 359+GST  or less on many vehicles, but replacing rusted brake lines and other parts can run several hundreds of rupees, so clearly there's value in keeping up with maintenance.As a rule of thumb, it's wise to have the brake fluid inspected and perhaps tested for moisture content every few years and no more than every five if you live in a high-humidity area.You might be able to tell it's time for a change by looking to see if the fluid is still fresh. Brake fluid is often light brown in color, but in some vehicles it's clear (at least when new) and will darken with age, becoming murky from water contamination. A better way is to have it tested by a professional for moisture and see what they recommend.Brake fluid is as vital to stopping a vehicle as engine oil is to keeping it going, but it doesn't get as much attention as it deserves.

Check Engine Light: What You Need to Know

What does it mean when my check engine light comes on?

The check engine light warns drivers that something is wrong and occurs when the computer issues an error message.

A glowing check engine light means that the onboard diagnostic system has detected a problem affecting the emission controls. There are dozens of possibilities as to why it has illuminated. It could be something as simple as a loose gas cap, bad airflow, a bad oxygen sensor or a faulty catalytic converter. When this warning light comes on, it generates a trouble code that can be read by connecting a diagnostic scanner to the vehicle's onboard diagnostic system; that will steer your mechanic to specific areas and help find the cause. A flashing check engine light means the problem is serious enough that it warrants immediate attention to prevent expensive repairs. Stop as soon as it is safe to do so.


How soon do I have to get my check engine light checked once it illuminates?
Though a check engine light doesn't always signal that something needs immediate attention, it shouldn't be ignored. While it might be minor, it could be something bad, something that will grow worse quickly if left unchecked. For example, a faulty oxygen sensor can reduce fuel economy, raise emissions and cause the catalytic converter to overheat. Replacing a catalytic converter will be much more expensive than an oxygen sensor. If the check engine light is flashing that means the situation is dire and needs to be addressed pronto.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Why is it important to diagnose an                                                                                                          illuminated check engine light?

The only way to find out what caused the check engine light to illuminate is to have a mechanic connect a diagnostic scanner to the onboard diagnostics system to extract trouble codes that will help locate the source. The sooner that's done the better.

Transmission Fluids

Transmission Fluid: When you should change your cars` gear oil ?

The manufacturer's maintenance schedule for many automatic transmissions doesn't call for fresh fluid until 60000-100000 kms or, with some German car   transmissions, even 150,000 kms. A lot of mechanics say that is too long and it should be done at least every 50,000 kms. Manual transmissions may be on a different schedule, so it's best to consult the maintenance schedule in the owner's manual.

Like other vital automotive fluids, transmission fluid deteriorates over time. Hard use — such as frequent stop-and-go city driving, hauling heavy loads, trailer towing — will accelerate the deterioration. That kind of driving raises the operating temperature of the transmission, and heat puts more strain on the transmission and the fluid, which helps facilitate gear shifts, cools the transmission and lubricates moving parts.

If you do a lot of driving under high-stress conditions, you should check the transmission level more often and have a repair shop check the condition of the fluid. Transmission fluid often is red but can come in other colors, and as it deteriorates it tends to turn darker. It may also acquire a burned odor that could indicate it needs to be changed or that the transmission is developing mechanical problems. Another indication it needs changing is dirt or other debris in the fluid. When you take your vehicle in for an oil change or other routine service, the repair facility may urge you to pay for a transmission-fluid change or flush. Even if they can show you that the fluid is darker than original, that might not mean you need fresh fluid right now. Step back, check the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual and see what the manufacturer recommends before you decide. This also will give you time to price shop.

Many repair shops use flush systems that force out the old fluid and pump in new fluid. Though that sounds good, some manufacturers say you shouldn't do that (Honda is one; there are others), so you need to know this before you agree to a flush. Look in your owner's manual. Some manufacturers, such as Honda, also call for their own type of transmission fluid and warn that using other types could cause damage. Moreover, some automatic transmissions have filters that should be cleaned or replaced when the fluid is changed. Make sure the repair facility is using the correct fluid and procedures for your vehicle.

If you have never changed the transmission fluid in your vehicle and have more than 100000 kms on the odometer, should you change it now? We have seen mixed opinions on this, with some mechanics suggesting you should just leave well alone if you aren't having shifting problems. Adding fuel to this theory are stories about older transmissions failing shortly after they finally received fresh fluid. We have a hard time accepting that fresh fluid causes transmission failure, so our inclination would be to have it done if you're planning on keeping the vehicle a few years or longer. However, fresh fluid is not a cure for gears slipping, rough shifting or other mechanical problems, so don't expect a fluid change to be a magic elixir.