"Auto Maintenance Minder 2.0 HELP"

"To enable a maintenance item:"
"1. Click the box to the left of the item."
"2. Click on the text boxes to adjust the maintenance intervals."

"Information in these help files is the author's opinion only. Please remember"
"that your owner's manual or your qualified mechanic should have the last word."

"Setup Screen 2"

"6. Inspect/Replace all brake pads/shoes & braking components. Important, if "
"you like stopping. Most pads will start squealing before they wear out completely"
"(a small metal scraper is supposed to make a lot of noise to warn you that"
"the days of your brakes are numbered.) Still, it's important to regularly check"
"your braking system, brake pads, and fluid, in case your warning system fails."
"Hint: when your 'brake' warning light comes on, you are probably low on brake"
"fluid, possibly because the pads are nearly worn out. In this case you should "
"service your brakes IMMEDIATELY! My opinion on service: Every 12 months or 15000"
"miles."

"7. Inspect steering system and suspension components for wear. This is especially"
"important on older, high mileage vehicles. Shocks and struts can leak and fail,"
"making the vehicle difficult to control. Do the 'bounce' test on the shocks --"
"they should stop the car's bouncing after 1 or 1.5 bounce(s). To test the "
"steering/suspension, pull back and forth on the front or rear wheels and note" 
"any play -- first pull from the top of the tires, and then the sides.  "
"There should be no play. If there is, you need new tie rods and/or ball joints" 
"and/or steering knuckles or other suspension components. My opinion on service:"
"Every 24 months or 30,000 miles (more often if the car is old). "

"8. Inspect entire exhaust system and all components for leaks. VERY IMPORTANT. A"
"leaky exhaust system can allow fumes to seep through the floorboard of a vehicle,"
"causing sickness. Be sure the exhaust system is checked all the way from the"
"exhaust manifold to the tailpipe. My opinion on service: Every 12 months or 15000"
"miles (more often on older cars). "

"9. Inspect and service air conditioning system. This service is good, but not"
"always necessary. If your A/C system is putting out cool air and doesn't squeal"
"or clunk, it's probably OK. If you're a cheapskate you might decide not to bother"
"having your A/C checked out. Nonetheless, it's not a bad idea if you are in a"
"climate where the A/C is used non-stop. My opinion on service: Every 24 months"
"or 30000 miles."

"This next section of maintenance deals with routine checks of your vehicle."

"10. Check operation of lights and horn. Self explanatory. Knowledge at the"
"level of 'Duh.'"

"11. Replace windshield wiper blades. Generally the cheap rubber inserts "
"work well enough, as long as you replace them before the rubber starts" 
"deteriorating. For very rainy climates, you may consider a special triple" 
"blade... but you'll have to replace the entire blade. My opinion on service:"
"Check every 6 months."

"12. Wax/Polish exterior of vehicle; clean interior. If you have a Heap, who "
"cares about this item. For other people, though, waxing the car regularly not"
"only keeps the car looking very shiny, but also extends the life of the paint" 
"job. Vacuuming the interior will also keep deep accumulations of dirt out of" 
"the carpet, enhancing the looks (and value) of your car. My opinion on service:"
"at least once a year."

"(c) 2000 SW Software Productions LLC. Not responsible for suitability of this advice"
"for its intended application. "
