THE CAR NAIRA BLOG

Does your car key share a chain with a dozen or more other keys including the gates of heaven? That’s a pretty heavy load hanging off the car key when it’s in the ignition. The weight, combined with bouncing while you drive, can wear out the tumblers inside the ignition and eventually lead to ignition switch failure. To add years of service to your ignition switch, purchase a lightweight keychain that allows you to separate your ignition key from the others. Drive with only the ignition key in your ignition. If your ignition key “sticks” when you try to turn on the car, it’s a warning that your ignition switch is about to fail. Replace it before you get stranded. Cheers! Suggestions or questions? carnaira9@gmail.com IG/facebook;  @carnaira Call/chat; 2347064978705 WhatsApp group; https://chat.whatsapp.com/DDMtvmSsfVoKfcfJ9RNuAo

Driving your car every day will reward you with fewer repairs and fewer costs.  Mornings Do not race/raise/fire or rev your car’s engine during start-up. This is a quick way to add years of wear to your engine, especially if it’s cold outside. Where you dey hurry go? Accelerate slowly when you begin your drive. The most wear to the engine and drive train occurs in the first 10 to 20 minutes of operation. No be fast and furious. Warming the engine by letting it idle in the compound is not a smart idea. The engine doesn’t operate at its peak temperature, resulting in incomplete fuel combustion, soot deposits on cylinder walls, oil contamination, and ultimately damaged components. Just drive it slowly. No more, "make I warm am first" in todays fuel injected engines. Noon Put less strain on your engine and automatic transmission by shifting to neutral and stepping on your brakes at red lights. Otherwise, the engine is still working to push the car even while it’s

Modern cars have sensors and warning systems that notify you of any problems. These notifications are mostly relayed through visible warning lights on the dashboard. It is therefore important to know these lights and their various meanings. Some of them are; Check Engine Light This indicates a problem with the motor (engine) or related components which are monitored by the CPU/ECM (brainbox) OBD-II interface. There are more than 4000 OBD-II codes with different meanings. If this light comes on, visit a technician with an OBD-II scanning machine to read the error and get possible solutions. Service Engine Light This light comes on to remind you of scheduled maintenance. Some variants may be "service", "maint reqd", "service engine".  Electrical Fault Light This stays on after the car's start-up self-test. It means the electrical charging system has issues for further assessment. The most common culprit is the

It is advisable to perform a physical inspection of your car periodically. This allows you to catch problems early, effect DIY repairs of possible or take them to the mechanic on time. Performing this assessment is quite easy with a checklist. An owner's manual/service manual may also give a clearer idea of what to look for. Check for the following items; Brakes;  - Alloy wheels allow some view of the brake pads.  - Check for brake noises if possible.  - Test the emergency (hand) brake Bumpers - Check front and rear bumpers if hanging loose - Check for scratches Interior - Seats for tears - Rear defroster - Wiper controls Lights - Headlights; parking and fog lights, high and low beams - Taillights - Brake lights - Reverse lights - Turn signals - Hazard - Rear license plate light  Tyres - Tyre condition - Tyre wear pattern - Condition of the spare tyre

Many Nigerians have never seen the owner's manual of their vehicles. Granted, some of these manuals are not shipped along with these cars or are misplaced at inspection points or stolen at the ports (used cars), many car owners do not try to access or replace them. Owner's manuals avail your vehicle information, proper use of the vehicle, periodic maintenance schedules, assessment, warning light guides, basic troubleshooting guides. Some manuals even give recommended replacement parts and specifications. Always refer to your manual for proper vehicle use. In the event, your vehicle does not have one, as is often the cased with used cars, search the internet. A great majority are available for free downloads. Get your manuals. You may discover a function you never knew your vehicle had or get tips on improving the performance. Cheers! Feel free to read our posts Suggestions or questions? carnaira9@gmail.com IG/FB; @carnaira Call/chat; 2347064978705 Wha

Cars are no longer just status symbols or pieces of luxury. For many, it is an extension of the home, as more and more time is spent in it during our commutes daily. Cars also afford greater freedom and many times is the best way to enjoy new sites and experiences. Recognising the importance of this piece of machinery in our lives, it is important to keep it in optimal working conditions at all times for the following reasons; Improves Safety Properly maintained cars operate more efficiently and within the design limits intended by the OEMs. Maintenance ensures the optimal performance of critical components, thus reducing the probability of accidents. e.g. timely replacement of brake pads will ensure adequate stopping power when a sudden stop is required. Reliability and Performance Certain components are more vulnerable to wear and tear than other components. By regular maintenance, we ensure the function of these parts when needed e.g. turning on the wipers in sud

Car maintenance is important in ensuring a proper functioning car. It is important to carry out certain routine checks to ensure optimal performance and long trouble-free life. Easy checks are; Engine Oil  Engine oil serves as a coolant and lubricant for the engine. There are three factors here; engine oil type, age/condition, and level. It is important to use the correct oil type for your engine. Most late model cars use synthetic and semi-synthetic oils. Older models use conventional (dinosaur) oil. Wrong oil type could cause problems in today's engines with tighter tolerances. Engine oil is changed periodically. Conventional oils are changed at more regular intervals compared to synthetic oils based on engine load and mileage. Oil levels should be checked once weekly and topped off when necessary. Tyre Pressures Over-inflated and under-inflated tyres are both detrimental to the ride, handling and safety of the car. Over-inflated tyres reduce the sur

We spend lots of time in our cars daily during our work commutes and running daily errands. As the traffic conditions continually worsen, it is important to make these periods comfortable. Below are some essentials for cars; Blind Spot Mirrors Most OEM mirrors have blind spots. Blindspot mirrors are very affordable ways to see view your blind spots without turning your head and taking your eyes off the road in front of you. New car models, however, offer blindspot monitoring systems for this purpose. USB Charger Smartphones have become essential to our daily lives. It is important to keep these devices juiced up. It is important to get properly shielded USB chargers that hook up to the 12v socket, supply steady fast charging current and do not cause interference with car audio systems. Oraimo makes good car chargers, though pricy. Tyre pressure gauge The best time to measure tyre pressures is in the mornings before the vehicle is driven. This gives you the &quo