Safety Checks
Posted on January 28, 2020
At North York Chrysler, we are fully aware that a properly functioning car is critical to your daily life. Whether it's getting to work, driving the kids to school, or feeding your family, a healthy vehicle can mean the difference between success and failure. Consistent maintenance has many benefits including fewer repairs, lower cost of ownership, higher resale value, and a longer life. One of the best ways to keep your high-tech machine in great shape between scheduled services is a monthly seven-step check up. You can run these tests quickly and easily, and we believe they will save you money, time, and frustration.
1. Check Your Tires and Pressure
Take a walk around your car and check each tire carefully. Look for damage or uneven wear and if you see any signs of trouble, don't take a chance and bring it into a service professional as soon as possible. Next, make sure your tire pressure is set to the manufacturers recommended level. This information is available on a sticker located either in your glove compartment, on your door jamb, or fuel filler door.
2. Check Your Coolant
Coolant, also known as antifreeze, helps absorb engine heat, so it needs to be at proper levels. Find your coolant system reservoir, which is usually located near the radiator, and make sure it is at proper levels. Add more coolant if necessary, and also check your coolant is not a "rusty" color. NEVER try to open a cooling system pressure cap when the radiator is hot.
3. Check the Brake Fluid
In most FCA vehicles, you'll find the brake master cylinder just behind the steering wheel. Find the transparent reservoir to check your brake fluid levels. Top off if required and if you notice that it is constantly running low, you might have a leak so see a professional immediately.
4. Check the Power Steering Fluid
Your power steering reservoir should have an easy-to-check dipstick inside the cap. If you have to add fluid more than once a year, you may have a leak.
5. Check the Automatic Transmission Fluid
Make sure the vehicle is running but in Park when you check the automatic transmission fluid. This pink red fluid turns darker as the fluid gets older and will turn muddy or smells burn when it is time to replace the fluid. We also want to note that you should never add fluid unless it is below the ADD mark.
6. Check the Lights and Electrical Items
Check that all of your lights are working and test electrical items such as wipers and power windows.
7. Check Exterior Radiator Tank Seals
You should check the rubber seals on the radiator to make sure that they fit properly. It is critical that you only run this test when the engine is cold because touching a hot or steaming radiator is extremely dangerous.
The North York Chrysler Service Centre hopes that these seven simple tests will keep your Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM, and Fiat vehicle running at peak performance. If you notice any problems at all, please don't hesitate to contact us to ask a question or schedule an appointment with our factory-trained service technicians. If you are in a hurry, you can also take advantage of our MOPAR Express Lane service that allows you to drive right in with no appointment and have your fluids checked and changed usually within 30 minutes.