CONGRATULATIONS! Now that the Tokunbo vehicle you are expecting (or that you have just bought) is in your garage, there are some essential service or must-do maintenance before you put the mechanical beast on the road to enable you to have a pleasant motoring experience.

One, if you vehicle has a timing belt engine, your mechanic must check its condition. And if he has to change the timing belt, use must emphasize that he uses the vehicle’s maintenance and repair manufacturer’s manual to guide himself through the task. This is because it can be tricky getting the settings of some timing belts right; and if it’s not properly set, the engine will be working rough with many other inherent discomfiting troubles.

Two, check the condition of the brake pads and the entire brake system. This is very important because the previous user, perhaps knowing that he will sell the vehicle anyway, might not have changed a pair of worn brake pads. And the quality of your brake defines the quality of your life behind the steering, or inside your car.

Three, make sure that he checks the coolant and fuel hoses. Long period of non-use before shipment and the corrosive effect of salty sea breeze and water on rubber and metals make this examination very compulsory.
Four, make sure that the under-body, the metal components, which are susceptible to salt/breeze-precipitated rust, is also diligently examined.

Five, let him also check for oil leaks across the engine and transmission systems.

Six, a careful examination of the wiring insulations must be done for broken or stressed condition.

Seven, the clutch system of a manual-geared vehicle must also be checked for leaks and its pressure plates’ condition.

http://automedicsafrica.com/new/?p=906

Follow on twitter @automedicsnig