Motor Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Stack Exchange
Motor Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [maintenance]

Questions about general routine maintenance of a vehicle or engine.

482 questions
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Keeping an old car alive?

So I drive a '97 Subaru Legacy with about 200,000 miles on it. Still runs like a charm, never gives me any trouble. Had the brakes, rotors, and calipers all replaced recently, tightened the power steering belt, replaced a tire...that's it. But I…
temporary_user_name
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what tests should I do on a 30 year old car driven 1,000 miles per year?

Car was owned by a grandfather and never used very much. Kept in a garage and never used during cold or rain. Now I want to use the car, but hesitate due to concerns about seals and tires, etc. Can you inspect and learn very much about the…
Sterling
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Most important preventive maintenance for high-mileage car?

My 2001 Chevrolet Prizm (a NUMMI) is about to hit 125,00 miles. I bought a little over 5 years ago, at which time it had ~79,000 miles on it. I bought it from a used car dealer that seemed to have put at least some money and time into…
jeremytrimble
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4 answers

Any recommendations on vehicle maintenance software for the DIYer?

I currently use a combination of Car Minder for the iPhone - it's only $2.99 but limited functionality - and Excel spreadsheets. Ideally I'm looking for something that will track all service for up to 5 vehicles. MPG tracking and ability to export…
Tone
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1 answer

Why use distance to indicate the usage of an engine

I fear that this question might be bordering on opinion based so sorry about that if it is. When looking for cars one of the primary indicators that people seem to use when trying to determine the condition of the vehicle is the distance it has…
BadAtMaths
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3 answers

Where can I go to do basic work on my vehicle?

I live in the middle of a city. I have a tiny parking spot in an underground parking garage (have to fold the mirrors in just to get in!). Doing any maintenance is officially verboten, and it wouldn't really be feasible anyway -- there's really no…
Ken
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3 answers

Good template for keeping maintenance records?

I'm looking for ideas on templates to use to record service for multiple vehicles. Excel is preferred format, but open to all in interest of gathering ideas. Anyone have any templates?
Tone
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9
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5 answers

Prevent birds from making nests in wheel well

I've had an unusual issue a few years now, so I thought I would ask for any ideas. There is a pair of robins that seems to think that our van's tire makes a good place for a nest. They are persistent, and even if you remove the nest, they'll be at…
anonymous2
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What to do if your car breaks down a LONG way from home?

What if you're driving 200+ miles and your car breaks down? Assuming you don't know anyone in the area it happens in, is there any way out of this nightmare?
temporary_user_name
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What car wash tasks should be done after an automatic car wash?

I have access to free automatic car washes. It is a pretty basic and short cloth car wash and dry. What should I do in additional to the automatic car wash? I was thinking about drying off any spots that are not completely dry with a microfiber…
tony
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Car sitting for several months: what should I do to keep it running well?

I have a car that's been sitting for several months and I just got it working again. What should I do to ensure that it keeps running well?
divided
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What can dry or get damaged in a car after idle time?

I have a Nissan Sentra 2007, 118k. It is well maintained (consistent checks at the Nissan shop), well, as much as possible assuming integrity of the shop. I am not a mechanic myself unfortunately. I went back to school and car was sitting in the…
Serge Poele
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Tips for finding a good mechanic

As a programmer, if I had a non-programmer friend who was looking for a programmer, I could think of a few tips to help him sort out the sheep from the goats and avoid some common traps. Do you have any equivalent tips when it comes to finding…
Benjol
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What maintenance and upkeep costs must be considered for a 15-20 year old car over a newer car?

My daughter is looking to purchase her first car, and is looking at 16-18 year-old vehicles costing $2k - $3k. This does not surprise me; she's always been fiscally responsible and cautious with her money, trying to budget shop where possible. …
Nicholas
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Can I use this coolant in a Toyota Camry 2003 with water?

Can I use 'Coolelf Auto Supra' in my Toyota Camry 2003? And can I use that coolant in combination with water?
Dara
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