REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE

PRESENTATION

I. REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE

1. Definition
• Repair refers to restoration work for when an asset breaks, gets damaged, or
stops working.
• Maintenance refers to routine activities and/or corrective or preventive repair
done on assets to prevent damage and prolong the life expectancy.

2. Difference between repair and maintenance

Technically, repairs can also be considered maintenance work. However, the
difference between repair and maintenance work is that repairs aim to restore
functionality while maintenance looks to preserve functionality.
Put simply, repairs are done after downtime to minimize losses, while
maintenance is done to prevent unexpected asset downtime.
Both repair and maintenance have the same end goal: to enable you to get the
most out of your assets. It’s their approach to achieving this goal that differs.

II. CAR MAINTENANCE

1. Causes of damage to car
• Weather: Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can cause the paint job to fade
and the tires to crack. Tree sap, pollen, bird, and bug droppings can release acids
to corrode the car paint. Besides, strong winds carrying sands and debris or
falling tree branches can cause chipped paint, dents, and windshield damage.
Also, high humidity in the rainy season on the road can accelerate corrosion on
the car's exterior.
• Collision: Both major and fender bender crashes cause auto body damage to
varying extents. In major collisions, severe auto body damage is likely to result.
The damage includes a shattered windshield, broken frames, missing
components, inoperable steering, failed engine, and more. For fender bender
collisions, minor or moderate damage will result. Scrapes, dents, scratches, and
damaged headlights, are some of the damages in minor crashes.
• Other People’s Careless Acts: Though the majority of auto body damage
results from accidents and driver negligence, many instances of minor damage
are due to pure carelessness, both on the road and off it. What kind of careless
acts are we referring to?
They include:
● Runaway shopping carts in parking lots
● Drivers carelessly opening parked vehicle doors
● Drivers failing to pay attention while reversing out of parking spaces
● Kids playing ball in the street
Such damage occurs due to carelessness, and with extra care, you can avoid the
damage.
• Road debris: When driving on gravel roads, roads with potholes, or roads
under construction, serious damage can result to your vehicle's body due to hard
debris such as pebbles and rocks. The debris can damage the paint job by
denting or scratching. Also, your windshield can chip or crack if a rock or
pebble hits your car.

2. Some basic steps in the car maintenance

2.1. Refilling the car coolant and oil:
- Coolant:
A coolant helps keep a car engine cool. Being involved in such a crucial role, it
is often exposed to the environment. Over time, this fluid keeps on changing its
pH levels and gets corroded. Combat this by draining your coolant system,
flushing it with a hose, then filling it up with a new coolant and water mixture
every two to five years. Besides, if you drive your vehicle aggressively or in
harsh conditions, you should drain and flush your coolant more often; or, if your
vehicle has been running unusually hot or cold, it is likely due to coolant that
needs to be replaced.
- Oil:
This goes without saying because the engine oil keeps all moving parts well
lubricated so that wear and tear is minimal; also, it traps all the dust, dirt, and
sediments, keeping them out of places they shouldn’t be. Make sure to change
car oil levels every month even if the car is not actively used. Regularly
maintained oil ensures consistent performance and resists the car from
breakdowns. If your car uses conventional motor oil, it likely should be changed
every 3,000 miles or 3 months. If your car has synthetic oil, it likely should be
changed every 5,000-10,000 miles or 6-12 months.

(VIDEO VỀ CHECK OIL LEVEL)

2.2. Replace your air filter every 45,000 miles and Install a new fuel filter
every 60,000 miles.
Your engine requires a good source of air as much as it needs gasoline to
function, and over time your air filter can become clogged with dust, dirt and
oil. Think of the engine air filter as your car’s lungs. Your car "breathes" better
with clean filters. Moreover, a dirty air filter can also severely damage the AC
of the car. Replacing your air filter every 45,000 miles can ensure your engine
continues to run properly. Some aftermarket air filters can be cleaned every
45,000 miles instead of being replaced.
Speaking of the fuel filter, gasoline is often quite dirty, and the sediment would
clog up your fuel system and prevent the car from running without a fuel filter.
The filter is often located just past the fuel pump on the underside of the
vehicle. When functioning properly, it prevents dirt and grime from reaching the
fuel system in your engine. Of course, over time this filter will get clogged too,
preventing fuel from reaching your engine at all. Change a new one every
60,000 miles to prevent this from occurring.
2.3. Replace your brake pads about every 20,000 miles or as needed.
Aggressive driving, softer compound brake pads, or frequently driving in traffic
can all reduce the lifespan of your pads. Most brake pads come equipped with a
small piece of metal that will rub on the rotor when the pads are too low. This
causes your brakes to squeak and squeal. If you notice your brakes making a
high pitched noise, they likely need to be replaced. Always replace the pads on
both sides of the car at once. Never replace just one brake pad. Your front
brakes will need to be replaced more often than your rears, as they do the
majority of the work to stop the vehicle.

2.4. Keep the car battery clean and secure.

A car battery usually lasts anywhere from 3 to 5 years, depending on how a car
is used and where it is kept. The best way to determine the health of a car
battery is to check the battery contact points from time to time. Contact points
that are free of rust and leaks offer the best performance under optimal weather
conditions. A brush can help to clean up the contact terminals.
Besides, make sure the terminals of the battery are clean and free from
corrosion to ensure a proper connection and check to ensure the strap securing
the battery is tight. Some batteries may require that you check the fluid levels in
the battery and add to it if need be. The vibrations caused by an unsecured
battery can reduce the lifespan of the battery.

*VIDEO VỀ TYRE PRESSURE

2.5. Install new windshield wipers as needed.
Prolonged exposure to extreme weather can cause windshield wipers to wear
out sooner, and as your windshield wipers wear out, they will fail to displace the
water on the windshield. Although you may think that windshield wipers may
not seem like an important part of car maintenance, worn out wipers, in fact, can
put you in danger especially if you find yourself in a heavy rain storm. So, once
you notice leftover water streaking to the windshield after every swipe, it may
be time to swap them out for new ones. Windshield wipers are made up of two
parts—the metal arm and the blade with the rubber attached—so when you want
to replace windshield wipers, you may only need to replace the rubber and not
the metal arm to improve the performance of windshield wipers. Or, you can try
wiping down the rubber with a washcloth.

2.6. Put in new spark plugs about every 30,000 miles.

The role of spark plugs is to ignite the mixture of air and fuel inside the car
engine to produce power, but over time they can become corroded. Corroded
spark plugs have a limited ability to ignite the air/fuel mixture and can cause the
car engine to misfire or run poorly. A failed spark plug may result in that the
cylinder of your car ceasing to fire at all. Additionally, your spark plugs may
need to be replaced sooner if:
- Your car struggles to accelerate.
- You have trouble starting the engine or hear weird “popping” misfire
sounds.
*VIDEO VỀ POPPING SOUND
- You notice a worsening fuel economy.
What’s more, copper spark plugs have a longer center electrode than iridium
ones do. Iridium plugs are more expensive but last longer and offer a better
spark. When you check your spark plugs the electrode and tip shouldn’t be
black from engine crud. If it is, you need to either clean it or replace a new one.
2.7. Test your headlights, tail lights and turn signals.
Your headlights are essential for you to see at night while driving and your tail
lights and turn signals help ensure other drivers see you and understand your
intentions. It’s important that all of these lights are functioning properly at all
times. Once a month, turn on these lights when you’re parking in front of a flat
surface and check whether all of them are working properly and
well-positioned. You can also have a friend stand outside of your car as you test
each light to ensure they are working. And, you should replace any lights that
blew out as soon as possible. Besides, if one of your turn signals begins to flash
faster than normal, it is likely because the coinciding turn signal on the other
end of the car has blown out. So, at that time, you need to replace it with a new
one.

III. CONCLUSION
Sticking to a car maintenance procedure, and keeping good records of what
you’ve done, can help extend the life of your car and protect you against
breakdowns, expensive repairs, and other unwelcome surprises like road
accidents.