Some auto maintenance jobs are simple enough to be done by someone with relatively little technical knowledge. Auto repair services that can be performed with a minimum of tools and knowhow include changing a tire, replacing an air filter, checking and changing oil, checking and topping up transmission fluid, and checking battery, spark plugs and other electrical items.
Some of these things sound quite complicated to someone who has never worked on a car before. But, don't let the unknown scare you. Identifying the problem is often the hardest part of performing auto repair services; keeping a car maintained is often much easier.
The air filter is probably the easiest thing to change or check besides getting gas. On a car such as a Volvo 850, you will not need any tools whatsoever. K&N filters for a Volvo 850 are often rated to a million miles. Maintenance will involve cleaning out the filter and not replacing it. Air filters are mostly just dusty, so cleaning them is simple, and not too messy. Fram filters are cheaper, and are disposable.
Locate the filter case on the top of the engine. It's a box about 9 inches square with a round tube coming out of one side. The box is held shut with three or four metal clips. Unclip these, and open the case. Either clean the filter or replace with a new one. Once the filter is back in place, clip the case shut again.
Checking battery and other electrical connections is important and also quite easy. A car battery is filled with highly corrosive sulfuric acid. This acid is in liquid form and in hot weather will partially evaporate. The evaporating vapor results in adverse effects. One is that the level of liquid in the battery drops. If it gets too low, the battery will not work.
To maintain proper levels in a battery, pop the rectangular caps off the top. Protective eyewear is recommended, since spraying battery acid can cause blindness. Don't smoke or put any open flame near the battery when doing this, and never open the battery when the vehicle is running. Use a flashlight to peer into the holes. There will be three round holes under each rectangular cap. Each hole has a tab that extends downward toward the acid inside. The proper level of liquid will just barely reach the bottom of the tab. If there's a space between the tab and the top of the liquid, add distilled water to make up the difference. Don't use any water other than distilled. To ensure that the water does not become contaminated before getting into the battery, use of a large eye dropper or turkey baster might be helpful.
The other adverse effect of acid vapor is corroded terminals. Clean battery terminals with battery cleaner designated for this purpose to remove any corrosion. Apply a layer of battery terminal protectant to prevent further corrosion. Both battery terminal cleaner and protectant are available in small aerosol cans, and resemble spray paint. These two, basic auto repair services will ensure that your battery continues to operate properly and doesn't go dead prematurely.
Tanner Motors is a great source for auto repair services more complicated than the simple tasks outlined here. Located in Phoenix, AZ, they specialize in Volvos such as the Volvo 850.
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