Extreme Caution Warnings
There are many things about your vehicle that present safety issues to you and your vehicles components that you must be aware of when driving, working on, examining, even cleaning your vehicle. Here are some safety issues that you should consider.
Battery
While the battery is a central point of your vehicle, and battery technology has not changed much in the last couple of generations of vehicles, you need to know the strengths and weaknesses of batteries. There are many different kinds of batteries used in the automotive industry, however, in a broad sense, the main battery in a car or truck falls into the divisions of maintenance free and those that you must add water to regularly. Our suggestions are for those types of batteries.
Voltage and polarity - For the past 50 years or so, the vast majority of vehicle electrical systems have been designated as 12 volt, negative ground systems, meaning the that negative pole of the battery is the ground side of the system electrical circuit, and that when fully charged, the battery should show 12 volts when tested. Because a battery must remain charged in order to provide the power to start your car, a battery charging circuit runs continually. That circuit generates renewable electricity (DC) to recharge the battery. Many years ago that was done with a generator, however, the current circuit central component is the alternator. The charging circuit only works when the engine is running. A 12 volt system when running and properly charging will indicate about 13.8 volts. When the engine is not running, the electrical system will indicate a voltage of between 11.5 and 12 volts.
What it is made of - Virtually all automotive batteries are composed of l, copper, and a sulfuric acid based electrolyte, which is a highly corrosive poison and will produce gas when recharged. That gas is extremely volatile and will explode if ignited purposely or accidentally. Sulfuric acid will burn the skin and can cause blindness if splashed into the eyes. When working with batteries, you need to wear safety glasses, work in a well ventilated area, remove any metallic jewelry, and, of course use extreme caution in the process. NEVER allow battery electrolyte to mix with salt water. Even small quantities of this combination will produce chlorine gas that can KILL you! Only distilled, deionized or demineralized water should be added to batteries that are non-maintenance free. (maintenance free batteries do NOT have any caps to allow water to be added.) The water should cover the battery plates but should not go higher than the suggested fill level indicator. Please follow the manufacturer's instructions for testing, jumping, installing, discharging, charging, equalizing and maintaining batteries.
Maintenance - Other than adding water to a battery that need water, all require that periodically the terminals should be cleaned for best electrical contact. Use caution to avoid using any sort of metallic cleaner that could contact another metal part and the terminal at the same time. That could cause a spark, short or other electrical damage.
Jump start - From time to time, a battery can go down in voltage to the point it has no or only a small charge; certainly it will not start the vehicle. The typical temporary resolution is to jump start the vehicle with a connection to another good battery. How you make those connections to the other battery is critical! Polarity MUST be retained, meaning the positive terminal of one must be connected to the positive terminal of the other; the same is true for the negative terminals. In most cases, the other good battery is in another car. Be aware that the battery power, as opposed to voltage, is measured in amps, a measure of current. The current is similar to water flowing through a hose. The condition, size and length of battery cables and jumper cables determine how much current (power) can flow through them. A good solid connection on ALL cables in required! CAUTION... If polarity is reversed, even for only a split second, it can cause irreparable damage to one or both electrical systems!
External battery chargers - If you find the need to have your battery charged by an external charger, be certain that it has a slow charge cycle and has voltage and current limiting to keep from damaging the battery. CAUTION... The process of charging causes fumes and if over charged, can shorten the life of the battery.
Cooling System and Radiator
The most important system in prolonging the correctly working engine in your vehicle is what keeps it running at the most efficient operating temperature. Most people think of the radiator but here are some details about what works with the radiator to keep the engine cool. It is extremely important to regularly clean out the cooling system. As scale forms, heat convection transfer and dissipation is greatly reduced. Yes, there is a range of acceptable operating temperatures for a given engine, not too cold and not too hot, but for us in the desert, we are already starting near the top end of the near hot range. The cooling system can contain from 2 to 20 gallons of liquid, depending on the vehicle or system. The average is somewhere around 8 gallons. Due to the quantity of information on the cooling system, please see our separate Cooling Systems page.
Tires and wheels
It is popular at present to retrofit aftermarket wheels and performance tires to a vehicle, either for the performance yielded or simply for the cosmetics. These tips can retain the safety of your vehicle with standard or aftermarket equipment.
Tires - Properly inflated tires for the season, vehicle and operating conditions are critical to your vehicle's safe operation. Underinflated tires need to be properly inflated to prevent them from overheating and failing; they also tend to allow vehicles to respond to steering, turns and control with less effectiveness. Tires should be checked at least once a month by you with an inexpensive tire pressure gauge, or professionally. If there is a better side to err toward, it is higher than recommended tire pressure. Slightly exceeding recommended tire inflation pressures by three or four pounds results in cooler running tires and crisper handling, without affecting the ride much; we suggest unless there is a good reason to do otherwise, consult your owners manual for tire pressure and abide by it. If the tires are underinflated, especially in the summer, you are looking for trouble. Also, make sure tires don't contain small nails or cracks; check the spare tire. Tires after use are very hot to the touch and can cause a blister or worse on your hand or finger. Use the replacement tire size suggested or at least approved for your vehicle.
Wheels - Use the correct width and size wheel for your vehicle, or at least an approved replacement. Changes in tire and wheel size can cause significant changes in the indicated speed on the vehicle's speedometer. Such changes can also change the handling of the vehicle and in the ability to turn or the radius of a turn. In the event of a flat tire, you must remove the wheel and tire from the vehicle and replace it with another. The safest and most convenient way is to have a roadside service policy, such as AAA, and use them. Changing a wheel and tire is dangerous at best, much more so if on the side of a busy road. Follow your owner's manual for safe guidelines. Each vehicle is different as to how to loosen the bolts, jack up the vehicle and actual replacement. Unless you know what you are doing, don't undertake the task!
Balance and alignment - The wheels and steering system allow you to contact the surface and guide your vehicle in a safe manner. For comfort of ride, safety and economy of the tires, keep the wheels balanced and the front end aligned.
Exhaust system
When your engine is running, all engine byproducts are discarded by way of the exhaust system. Such components as the exhaust and tail pipes, mufflers, catalytic converters, exhaust manifolds, smog pump, or headers are almost instantly hot, much too hot to touch. This system as a whole, also carries away carbon monoxide, a lethal poison. Keep them in good operation and good repair. In California, the smog laws make it almost mandatory but it is possible to see serious degradation very quickly.
Air filter - People don't often consider the air filter as part of the exhaust system. However, the air for combustion, which eventually goes to the exhaust system start here. Keep it clean or replace it regularly.
Muffler - This component, two on many vehicles, keeps the noise level quiet. Changes in noise or visible exhaust fumes are signs of problems. These can cause severe toxic reactions if breathed into the lungs.
Catalytic converter
These devices create, in simplified terms, an internal reaction with introduced oxygen to change gases containing harmful hydrocarbons, to less environmentally damaging mutations, then sending them on ultimately into the atmosphere. While not perfect, it is better than pure exhaust emissions. Carbon monoxide, a lethal poison gas, is still present.
Fuel system
Please see our entire page on Fuel System Information, and various components of the Fuel System.
Suspension
Your vehicle's suspension system is what allows you to keep the vehicle, level, in unified contact with the road and to steer it safely. It is mandatory to keep the suspension system in top operating condition.
Shock absorbers, struts and springs - These components all work together to make the ride smooth, carry the load properly and keep the wheels and tires in contact with the surface of the road. These are all under the vehicle parts but the failure of any one of them can cause major erratic steering and control problems. Shock absorbers work on the scientific principle of fluid displacement and heat convection. By pushing a piston through oil, shocks develop the hydraulic friction necessary to oppose the unwanted bouncing action in your vehicle's suspension. The hydraulic fluid located in the damper body cylinder, is pushed through tiny openings in the piston head as it travels in a compression or rebounding motion. However, the openings let only a small amount of fluid through the piston, which in turn slows down spring bounce and vertical suspension movement. By design of the scientific law of action and reaction, every shock absorber is a velocity-sensitive damping device. That means the faster a suspension cycles (action), the more resistance the shock absorbers provide (reaction). As a result, shock absorbers not only slow the compression and rebound of your springs, but can also reduce bounce, roll or sway, brake nose dive and acceleration front lift with rear depression, to some degree. The failure of ANY of these components is dangerous to the overall operation of your vehicle, plus causes wear and tear on tires and brakes, and make gas efficiency (economy), deteriorate. Replace them with only the highest quality parts available.
Body, interior and glass
Our unique desert environment poses some different sort of safety issues with what would normally be considered as benign sections of a vehicle.
Air bags - Designed to save lives and prevent injuries, air bags are a part of the modern vehicle. However, as most things in life, they are a compromise to some degree. The triggered violent eruption of the vehicle's air bag can throw the driver's hands from the steering wheel and cause injuries, even fractures, to the hands, wrists and upper body. If the person comes into contact with the air bag during its deployment, it can cause abrasions to the face. The bags inflation process can also cause chemical irritation to the skin and eyes due to the alkaline aerosol that is used to inflate the air bag. Children are especially at risk, particularly if they are sitting close to the passenger side air bag when it deploys. The bag expands so quickly that it could cause serious harm or even death to a small person. Babies in rear-facing infant carriers should never be placed in front of an air bag, as the impact to them could be fatal.
Glass - Due to the extreme temperatures in the summer and extreme potential changes at night, vehicle glass is often subject to cracking and breaking. A minute chip cause by a pebble on the freeway when heated to summer temperatures, can become a huge crack instantly. Cold water on hot glass at a car wash can cause glass to shatter.
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