Scheduled car maintenance.
Regular scheduled maintenance of a car is one of the most important points in the operation of a car. Whether you save money on future expensive repairs will depend only on you. Even if you are not a specialist in car repair and maintenance, the condition of the car will still depend on your attitude towards it.
Despite the fact that almost everyone knows that scheduled maintenance for any car must be completed, there is a certain part of drivers who believe that there is no need to undergo periodic maintenance.
We decided to find out whether it is necessary to undergo regular maintenance and change the car’s spare parts recommended by the factory after a certain time, and to give some tips for car owners that can be applied to any type and brand of car.
Adjusting parts and mechanisms
A special place in the maintenance of the Lada Granta is a list of works on:
- checking wheel balancing;
- steering play control;
- checking the condition of wheels and tires;
- checking and adjusting the angle of the front wheels;
- checking the direction of light beams;
- brake system testing;
- checking the toxicity of exhaust gases;
- checking the operation of electronic equipment;
- checking the operation of the power steering and air conditioning (if any)
The Lada Granta manufacturer's recommendations strongly advise that all repair work be carried out only by official representatives. Only in this way can you be sure that the car is safe and in full working order.
1) User manual for the car
Read the owner's manual that came with your vehicle. Unfortunately, a large number of people neglect to read the book for their car. The manual usually indicates the scheduled maintenance periods recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
By carefully reading the car manual, you will save yourself from guessing on coffee grounds to find out the answer to the question: “When is it necessary to change the oil in a car?” Also, by reading the car book, you will save yourself from unnecessary expenses when changing the engine oil ahead of time, based on the common myth that the oil needs to be changed every 7,000-8,000 kilometers.
The manual will also help you find out when it is necessary to change your car's air and fuel filters, brake discs, pads, drive belts, timing belt (or chain) and much more. Including reading the car manual, you can find out the type of oil that needs to be poured into the engine. If you service your car yourself, this will help you find out whether you are using the correct brand of oil.
Some may say that there is no point in reading a car manual. But why don’t you, when buying any digital or household appliance for your home, turn it on until you have, at least superficially, read the instructions?
Fortunately, most drivers know how important it is to regularly maintain their car. But there are drivers who don’t even think about how the car works, believing that everything in it is eternal. Others, realizing that car maintenance is still necessary, still neglect it, trying to save money on scheduled maintenance.
But in the end, this saving in the future can lead to serious expensive repairs due to the breakdown of an expensive vehicle component due to non-regular scheduled maintenance of the vehicle.
In particular, some drivers do not follow the recommendations prescribed by the car manufacturer and specified in the car manual. For example, they fill in fuel with a lower octane number than recommended by the manufacturer or fill in engine oil that does not correspond to the brand specified in the user manual.
First steps during inspection
Often, maintenance of 3 Lada is carried out in the same service center as the previous two. Therefore, you should not spend a lot of time describing the importance of choosing the station itself and obtaining guarantees about the quality of all work performed. However, if for some reason you have to change the station for the third service, you should pay attention to the reviews.
Important! A prerequisite for starting a technical inspection is an entry in the service book.
It must contain information about the mileage, the date the car arrived at the center, the seal of the company and the signature of the responsible employee.
The maintenance procedure includes 3 main points:
- Inspect and control the correct operation of all units.
- Routine preventative work.
- Diagnostics and adjustment in special areas.
The first important stage for the maintenance of 3 Lada Granta will be a control inspection of the serviceability of all devices. This procedure is often skipped in order to save time and in the hope that the car owner himself will announce a list of wishes to eliminate the incapacity of certain functions. But the car owner may not know that the direction indicators or side lights work intermittently. And the specialist’s task is to identify all problems in advance.
2) Scheduled car maintenance
By checking your car on a regular basis and changing consumable parts of the car during the period, you are laying the foundation for its long-term, flawless operation, which will save you from costly repairs in the future.
Fortunately, you can do a lot yourself, even if you are not an expert in car design. You can check many elements of the car yourself, which will save you money that you would have paid for diagnosing your car.
If you regularly inspect your car, you will eventually realize what looks unusual during the next inspection.
— Make sure all of your vehicle's lights are in working order.
— Check the air pressure in your tires at least once a month. This will allow you to notice a puncture or other damage to the tire in time. Also, by monitoring the required tire pressure, you will save money on fuel, the consumption of which increases if the pressure does not match the pressure recommended by the manufacturer.
— Check your tires regularly for wear by checking the wear indicator or measuring the tread height using any coin. If your tires wear excessively, be sure to replace the tires with new ones, as tires with excessive wear can contribute to accidents.
Even if you don’t know how to change the oil in the engine, gearbox, how to replace antifreeze, change the oil in the power steering, replace the brake fluid and don’t even know how to fill the windshield wiper fluid, in any case you should definitely know how to check the level of all the mentioned fluids in the car.
Depending on the makes and models of cars, you can find out the level of various fluids in some by directly looking at the reservoir marks, which correspond to the minimum or maximum level value. But many cars also have various sensors and indicators (min. and max. marks) by which you can find out whether the fluid level corresponds to the optimal level or not.
Even if your car's owner's manual doesn't have much information on how to check the levels of various fluids, you can still easily check most of them. Don't be afraid to open the hood and inspect everything carefully. If you find that the fluid level is low, do not be afraid to add it yourself to the optimal level.
Careful Approach
As part of the maintenance, the tightness of the exhaust system is checked
The correct operation of all devices associated with the electrical component is checked carefully and consistently:
- light and sound signals;
- near and far lighting;
- operation of the generator, starter;
- heating system for interior, seats, mirrors;
- operation of control sensors and devices;
- electric windows and mirror drives;
- electric locking;
- work of the wipers and washer.
All electrical wiring is thoroughly analyzed for exposed areas and possible short circuits. The mandatory maintenance of the 3 Lada Granta includes checking the operation of all locks: the doors of the hood, trunk and fuel tank hatch. Additionally, seat belt buckles and seat fastening systems are checked in different positions.
Exhaust system leaks and all fluid levels on the Lada Granta are checked. Each indicator, starting from the oil level and ending with the water level in the washer reservoir, must be at its mark. During a technical inspection, the reasons for the failure of oil seals and O-rings, which allow fluids to leak, can be identified.
No less important in terms of travel safety is the braking system. TO 3 Lada includes:
- checking the brake fluid level;
- the reaction speed of the indicator signaling a problem;
- tightness of the system in the presence of leaks;
- examination of the condition of the pipes and connections of the system.
Specialists who have been working with Lada Granta for many years are sometimes called musicians. Because they can hear problems when the engine is running, even if it is not in motion. It is not difficult for them to evaluate the operation of the generator, starter, transmission and steering mechanism.
A special advantage is the fact that the list of works includes an examination of the external condition of the body for the presence of chips, cracks, and damage that may lead to corrosion. Typically, such work carries a high price, which can be significantly higher than the price of standard maintenance.
3) Check the timing belt in your car
In case of wear, if necessary, change the belt at a specialized car service center. Do not believe the rumors of many car enthusiasts that drive belts need to be changed every 60,000 km, and the timing belt every 100,000 km. If you do not know exactly how often it is necessary to change the drive belts and timing belt, then refer to the manual of your car, in which the car manufacturer has indicated the recommended periods for the planned replacement of “consumables”. If the instructions about belts do not contain any information, then refer to specialized forums on the Internet dedicated to your car model or to a club of fans of your brand, where you will probably find information about the timing of belt replacement.
If a car mechanic tells you that the timing belt or drive belts are worn out enough, then they need to be replaced to prevent unexpected belt breakages in the future, which can make car repairs even more expensive.
4) Check the engine oil level and do not forget to change it regularly
Regardless of whether your car has a dipstick for checking the oil level or it has been replaced with an electronic sensor that displays information on the dashboard, you must know how to check the oil level in your car's engine.
You should also know what the difference looks like between clean oil and oil that is already contaminated. This will save you a lot of money, which you can spend by changing the oil ahead of time or, conversely, late. Please note that to accurately determine when to change the engine oil, you can buy a special device that can detect contaminated oils.
Remember that it is foolish to follow a certain theory, which, for example, says that the oil needs to be changed every 7,000-8,000 kilometers. Please note that on some car models, the oil is changed every 12,000 km and even every 15,000-20,000. But if you bought low-quality engine oil, the oil order may be reduced to a minimum. You can also find out about the frequency of engine oil changes from the manual for your car.
Maintenance frequency
Motorists should also be aware of the maintenance schedule for the Lada Grant, since it is during these periods of time, according to the automaker, that the service life of some consumables begins. Plus, it is necessary to adjust some systems, correct components, check the serviceability of mechanisms, etc.
For Lada Granta cars, the frequency of maintenance is determined by the mileage or age of the vehicle. This allows you to divide the procedure into several main maintenance procedures. Usually the frequency of maintenance is indicated from the zero (first) to the eighth (seventh) maintenance.
The current frequency specified in the AvtoVAZ company regulations in relation to Lada Granta models is as follows:
- 2000-3000 km;
- 14500-15000 km or 1 year of operation;
- 29500-30500 or 2 years;
- 44500-45500 or 3 years;
- 59500-60500 or 4 years;
- 74500-75500 or 5 years;
- 89500-90500 or 6 years;
- 104500-105500 or 7 years.
The frequency of maintenance for 8 procedures for visiting certified service centers is accordingly prescribed here.
5) Change windshield wiper blades on time
Believe it or not, there are people who did not change their wiper blades because they thought it was very difficult. Unfortunately, such people did not turn to a car repair shop for power, not wanting to pay extra money to replace the brushes. Remember that it is very easy to replace wipers yourself. Don't wait until your worn blades won't clean your windshield. Please note that a clean windshield is the basis for road safety.
6) Replace the cabin filter
Replacing the cabin filter is perhaps one of the easiest things you can do in your car. By replacing the cabin filter, you will get rid of polluted air inside the car, which will make your trip more comfortable.
In most modern vehicles, the cabin filter is easily accessible for replacement. It's easier than opening any box. To find out where the cabin air filter is located in your car, refer to your car's manual.
For a scheduled filter replacement, contact any auto parts store, providing the VIN of your car, which will be used to sell you the required filter. Of course, if you replace the filter at the wrong time, this will not lead to critical breakdowns in the car, but if you replace the cabin filter on time, then your car trips will become much more enjoyable, and if you replace it yourself, you will save money from your budget.
7) Replace the air filter
Depending on the make and model of the car, replacing the engine air filter varies in complexity. In some cars, you can replace the filter very quickly. In others, on the contrary, it may take some time.
So, for some drivers, replacing the air filter yourself can be problematic. However, regularly replacing the air filter is very important for your car. The instructions for your car will give you information about the timing of scheduled filter replacement. If you know how to check the air filter, then check the condition of the filter regularly.
If the filter is heavily contaminated, it must be replaced. Remember that, despite the manufacturer’s recommended schedule for replacing the air filter, filter replacement should be carried out as necessary.
So it makes a difference in what mode you operate your car. If you go to work every day and sit in city traffic jams for a long time, then your filter may become very dirty much earlier than the period specified in the car manual. And, conversely, if you use the car only on weekends for trips out of town, then your air filter will last much longer than indicated in the instructions.
List of works during the second maintenance (14500-15000 km or year of operation)
- Work and checks during all maintenance.
- Replace the cabin filter. Number 11180-8122010-03, price from $3.88 to $4.43.
- For eight-valve engines, adjust the valve clearances and check the timing belt tension.
Additional checks of the second maintenance
- coolant level and cooling system condition;
- all electrical equipment;
- gearbox oil level and absence of leaks;
- condition of suspensions, steering mechanisms and covers on elements;
- level and quality of electrolyte in the battery;
- condition of brake pads, boots, brake wheel cylinders;
- adjust the steering rack play, check the steering play;
- check the serviceability of the air conditioner and refill based on the results;
The cost of work for an 87 hp engine is $84.04.
The cost of work for engines 98 hp and 106 hp is $45.84.
Change spark plugs regularly
If the spark plugs in your car are worn out or covered with various deposits, then the engine of your car does not work efficiently. This can lead to unnecessary expenses due to increased fuel consumption.
Checking and replacing spark plugs may seem like a complicated task at first glance. But it's actually not that difficult. If you do not know how to change spark plugs yourself, then read the manual for your car. There you will also find out how often the car manufacturer recommends changing spark plugs. But from practice, in most cars, standard spark plugs usually last from 45,000-50,000 km. But some modifications of spark plugs can last 150,000 km.
This is just some of the automotive consumable parts that you can check yourself and, if necessary, easily change. But remember that more important information about the frequency of certain “consumables” of the car is in your car manual.
So for some types of vehicles, there may be some other recommendations from the automaker that we have not listed here. If you do not have a manual for your car, you can easily find it on the Internet or order it at any auto parts store.
Instructions for changing the pump on Grant
Even before starting work, the car owner is recommended to read the machine’s operating manual; this will help you study the structure and location of the water pump in more detail. Remember - incorrect reassembly will lead to damage to the antifreeze in the system.
Then you need to prepare a place to work; normally this should be a dry box with a flat floor. Take care of good lighting, this will not only make the process easier, but will also insure you against the loss of small fasteners and small parts.
At the very beginning of work, the car is de-energized by removing the terminals from the battery. In addition, the car is securely secured using parking shoes or a hand brake. All these manipulations are carried out to ensure maximum safety and convenience of the work process.
When replacing, it is extremely important not to deviate from the sequence of actions given below, since violation of the described order of work can cause a breakdown of the cooling system and lead to a fire in the car. Replacing the pump itself will require you to do the following:
Replacing the pump itself will require you to do the following:
- First you need to completely drain the coolant;
- Next, unscrew the fastening elements and dismantle the front cover of the timing case;
- Then fix the piston of the first cylinder at top dead center;
- The car is put into gear;
- A jack is used to lift the front wheel of a car;
- The wheel rotates until the mark on the pulley coincides with the mark located on the rear timing housing cover;
- Work is being done to dismantle the timing belt, the tensioner pulley is dismantled;
- The rear cover of the timing case is removed;
- The fastening elements securing the water pump are unscrewed;
- The element is carefully pryed off with a screwdriver, after which it is removed;
- In the future, you should install a new pump and previously dismantled elements and assemblies, performing actions similar to dismantling, but in the opposite order.
- Before installing a new pump, the mating surface of the cylinder block is cleaned of the remnants of the previous gasket and a new one is installed in its place, having first applied a thin layer of waterproof sealant to it. The drainage hole on the water pump body should be directed downwards after installation;
- The last stage of the work process involves pouring coolant into the cooling system.
- The liquid is filled to a level 25-30 mm below the maximum mark on the tank, this is approximately 8 liters of antifreeze. The work is done.