Do a "mini safety inspection" (< 5 minutes). Check all turn signals, tail lights, brake lights (you may need a helper), side marker lights, headlights (bright & dim), license plate lights; make sure the brake, charging & oil pressure warning lights come on when you turn on the ignition; check that the horn & wipers work.
Lubricate door, hood & trunk hinges (< 5 minutes). You can use a spray can of white lithium grease, available at any auto parts store. Wipe off any excess, so it doesn't get on clothing.
Check tire tread depth & wear pattern (<5 minutes). You can use the old penny trick: insert a penny, Lincoln's head down, into the tire tread at various points. If at any point the top of his head isn't buried, you're down to 2/32" of tread, which is too low. Modern tires have wear bars that will become flush with the tread surface at about this depth, too. By the way, the top of Washington's head on a quarter is about 4/32", and the roof of the Lincoln Memorial is about 6/32", so coins can be a handy depth gauge.
Rotate your tires (20 - 30 minutes). This is especially urgent if the treads are beginning to wear unevenly (see above), but you should tackle this chore on a regular schedule.
Check your wiper blades (< 5 minutes). Inspect wiper blades for frayed edges, hardened rubber, or just replace them if they're more than a year old.
(Alfa Spiders) Check convertible top drain hoses (< 5 minutes). Next time you wash your car, watch that water drains from opening in the rear of the rocker panels. See this Tech Tip for more information.
If your car has a sunroof, check their drain hoses by pouring a small amount of water into each, and ensuring that the water disappears down the hoses.
UNDERHOOD SERVICE:
Visually inspect all belts & hoses (< 5 minutes). Look for cracking and bulging of water, fuel and vacuum hoses. Our theory is: it's easier to replace them in your garage or driveway than on the side of the road. Since "our" cars are all over 10 years old, any original vacuum hose is probably getting brittle. Belts have a habit of flying off at bad times, too, so check them. If your car has a timing belt (Alfa V6 or Fiat/Lancia), you should make sure it's not oil soaked, and be sure it's changed at the correct interval.
Check brake & clutch master cylinder fluid levels (< 5 minutes). You can see the level through the translucent reservoirs. If you need to add some, use fresh brake fluid (brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air, even if the bottle is sealed).
Visually inspect your spark plug & coil wires (< 5 minutes). Any problem here can hurt power and mileage, and even damage your catalytic converter. (Hint: in total darkness, you can sometimes spot a damaged plug wire leaking sparks to ground.) If you want to investigate plug wires further, you can check the resistance with an ohm meter and compare against the specs in your workshop manual.
Check your air filter (5-15 minutes). Remove it for inspection; if it's dirty, replace it or at least blow it out from the inside with compressed air. If you have a K&N filter, clean and re-oil lightly.
Top up your windshield washer bottle (< 5 minutes). You may wish to check the "aim" of the squirters; they can typically be re-aimed using a needle or straight pin.
Change your oil and filter (20 - 30 minutes). How long has it been? Do it soon.
Clean oil/vapor separator (where applicable) (15 - 30 minutes). Consult your service manual for details.
UNDER THE CAR:
Do a visual inspection of the brake rotors, calipers & pads (15 - 30 minutes). Combine this with rotating your tires, and the incremental time is near zero. If you're like me and can't see up close as well as you once could, you may need a mirror to peer into the brake calipers to check pad thickness. I like to be sure the friction material on each pad is (at least) thicker than its backing plate. Check the rotors for scoring and minimum thickness. Look for signs of fluid leak from hoses and calipers. On Fiats, check that the angled caliper sliders are not corroded. One sign of this is the pads on that wheel are not wearing evenly. If you're in doubt about the age or condition of any brake component, it's wise to change it.
Check shock absorbers and/or struts (15 - 30 minutes). While the car is jacked up, examine all shock absorbers for signs of leaking (be sure to secure it with jack stands). While you're at it, check each wheel for leaking grease seals, and, where applicable, check CV and steering rack boots. Then, with the car back on the ground, push down on each corner with all your weight; making sure the car rises back up on its suspension and settles down without multiple iterations.
INSIDE THE CAR:
Condition leather and vinyl components (15 minutes). We recommend AutoSport products to clean and condition leather and interior vinyl. Be sure you don't use a really shiny vinyl dressing on the top of your dashboard; the sun reflections will drive you nuts.
Re-dye black trim (30 minutes). Use Forever Black on your rear spoiler (80's Alfa Spiders) or any other black plastic and vinyl. It may take 2 or 3 coats to achieve an even effect, but it makes a world of difference to your car's appearance. If you get it on paint, wipe it off immediately.
Lube seat tracks (< 5 minutes). We just use white lithium grease, available at any auto parts house. Don't get it all over the carpets, and wipe off any excess.
Clean the inside of your windows (15 minutes). What a difference it makes to get that film off the inside of all the glass. Don't forget the mirror. We recommend AutoSport Haze Free Glass Cleaner.
International Auto Parts PO Box 9036, Charlottesville, VA 22906 international-auto.com - 800-953-0813 sales@international-auto.com
All Technical Bulletins and Tech Tips contained on this website are based on our own experience, and are not necessarily "factory approved." While we make a reasonable effort to verify the information contained in them, we assume no liability for the use or misuse of the information offered.
*Overseas customers please note that our entire website is based on US-spec cars, as sold before the manufacturer left the US market: up to 1985 (Fiat/Lancia) and 1995 (Alfa Romeo). We do not carry parts for current models.
