Basic Automotive Preventive Maintenance
Specific Purpose: To demonstrate the time and money saving benefits of proper basic automotive preventive maintenance.
Central Idea: Proper basic automotive preventive maintenance can save any driver substantial amounts of time, money, and frustration.
Introduction I. “It's a waste of energy to be angry with a man who behaves badly, just as it is to be angry with a car that won't go” – Bertrand Russell (20th century philosopher and logician) II. You can’t control somebody’s attitude, but you can however, control whether or not your car is going to start up the next time you turn your key in the ignition. a. Many people take this simple act for granted. b. Basic preventive maintenance can almost guarantee the longevity of your automobile. III. Ever since I started driving, over 10 years ago, I wasn’t always conscientious about the state and well-being of my car. c. I’ve made quite a few costly repairs over the years and spent hundreds in avoidable repairs. d. More recently, I’ve worked as a mechanic for 4 years in Japan and have come to better understand the importance of maintaining your vehicle properly. IV. Today I’m going to touch on just a few basic topics in this expansive and growing field. I will be demonstrating how to observe and understand the dash’s instrument warning lights, check fluid levels, and check tire pressure and treads.
Body I. Every new car now comes with OBD-II - On Board Diagnostics 2. This is a fault-registering system connected to sensors all over the car, engine, fuel, and emissions system. a. Check Engine i. The most common problem when this light appears is the P0440 code. 1. Many times after refueling, the gas cap is not tightened enough. Retighten the gas cap and check for the light to disappear. 2. If the gas cap didn’t do the trick you need to schedule for maintenance where a mechanic with an OBD2 reader can diagnose your problem.
Central Idea: Proper basic automotive preventive maintenance can save any driver substantial amounts of time, money, and frustration.
Introduction I. “It's a waste of energy to be angry with a man who behaves badly, just as it is to be angry with a car that won't go” – Bertrand Russell (20th century philosopher and logician) II. You can’t control somebody’s attitude, but you can however, control whether or not your car is going to start up the next time you turn your key in the ignition. a. Many people take this simple act for granted. b. Basic preventive maintenance can almost guarantee the longevity of your automobile. III. Ever since I started driving, over 10 years ago, I wasn’t always conscientious about the state and well-being of my car. c. I’ve made quite a few costly repairs over the years and spent hundreds in avoidable repairs. d. More recently, I’ve worked as a mechanic for 4 years in Japan and have come to better understand the importance of maintaining your vehicle properly. IV. Today I’m going to touch on just a few basic topics in this expansive and growing field. I will be demonstrating how to observe and understand the dash’s instrument warning lights, check fluid levels, and check tire pressure and treads.
Body I. Every new car now comes with OBD-II - On Board Diagnostics 2. This is a fault-registering system connected to sensors all over the car, engine, fuel, and emissions system. a. Check Engine i. The most common problem when this light appears is the P0440 code. 1. Many times after refueling, the gas cap is not tightened enough. Retighten the gas cap and check for the light to disappear. 2. If the gas cap didn’t do the trick you need to schedule for maintenance where a mechanic with an OBD2 reader can diagnose your problem.