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here are some non-earth-shattering general (sorry not technical) tips that will hopefully be of some use for some with their general car ownership and use, these apply not just for the DS but other cars you own or drive
Keys and electronic fobs tips -
a) whenever possible when buying a used car insist that you get two sets of keys/remotes and that they are pre-coded to the car
b) keep a note of the key code for your car in several safe places as it costs you to regain this information
c) if you have a spare set of keys and a spare electronic key fob then alternate their use with the set you normally use that way everything gets more even wear, keys, locks, fob batteries plus you always know where the spare set are and that the electronic fob works
d) change the batteries in the remotes before they get too low and try not to use the remote from too far away too often and pressing the buttons too quickly too often
Owner's Handbook
read this as it could help you prevent and resolve problems with the car and save you taking it to a garage and costing you unnecessarily
Important checks on your car
the most important check to make on your car is not the engine oil as many think but the brakes – makes easy sense doesn’t it -yes you should check your engine oil but think about it, you can usually drive a car safely even if the engine is running poorly but you can’t drive a car safely with poorly brakes
every time you lift your bonnet your first thought should always be the brakes, check the reservoir, the level of the brake fluid and if it is clear and clean (a half a second’s glance if the reservoir is the clear plastic type)
Important checks on your car
i) most important – yes, brakes
ii) next – tyres, wheels, steering, suspension, lights, windows and mirrors
Driving tips –
a) every time you start a journey – check it’s safe to do so then test the braking of the vehicle at your low starting speed, before you really need the brakes, this is even more relevant if the vehicle has been standing for a while and/or there’s recently been rain, snow or frost, or the car has just been washed
b) when driving and stationary at any time without a stationary vehicle directly behind you then keep pressing your brake pedal on and off to ‘flash’ your brake lights to make your stationary vehicle stand out and hopefully draw it to the attention of vehicles approaching from behind so they stop safely behind you
c) a good habit to get into is to switch off all electrical items before the engine and to start the engine before turning on any electrical items
d) (and following on from point c) when you start the engine don't immediately pull off, first check all the warning lights and before you turn on any music or phones listen to the car as it goes along for a short while for any unusual sounds and before you switch the engine off listen for anything unusual
e) always keep your all windows, all the lights and your reflective number plates clear and clean – to see and be seen (even with lights off parked up - by the reflected light off number plates and lights and rear reflectors)
Clearing the windscreen tips –
a) to help clear the windscreen quicker angle the sun visors to deflect the fan assisted air back onto the windscreen and to prevent it blowing passed them to the roof
b) not hot but very warm water can be used to clear the external glass of frost, it wont damage the rubber seals but if too hot it could possibly crack something and it’ll also lift off the glass and freeze quicker
c) clean the wiper blades rubbers with glass polish after washing the car and between if washes are not that frequent
Maintenance/sales folder
keep a folder with a list and records of all the service, repair, maintenance, upgrades and replacements items and work you and past owners have done on the car as this will help remind you when items need replacing and how long some items last plus it looks impressive when you come to sell the car (don’t bother with things like till receipts for touch-up paint and the like as that will just be off putting and diminish the serious stuff you’ve recorded) – have a summary showing main details with dates and mileage
Keys and electronic fobs tips -
a) whenever possible when buying a used car insist that you get two sets of keys/remotes and that they are pre-coded to the car
b) keep a note of the key code for your car in several safe places as it costs you to regain this information
c) if you have a spare set of keys and a spare electronic key fob then alternate their use with the set you normally use that way everything gets more even wear, keys, locks, fob batteries plus you always know where the spare set are and that the electronic fob works
d) change the batteries in the remotes before they get too low and try not to use the remote from too far away too often and pressing the buttons too quickly too often
Owner's Handbook
read this as it could help you prevent and resolve problems with the car and save you taking it to a garage and costing you unnecessarily
Important checks on your car
the most important check to make on your car is not the engine oil as many think but the brakes – makes easy sense doesn’t it -yes you should check your engine oil but think about it, you can usually drive a car safely even if the engine is running poorly but you can’t drive a car safely with poorly brakes
every time you lift your bonnet your first thought should always be the brakes, check the reservoir, the level of the brake fluid and if it is clear and clean (a half a second’s glance if the reservoir is the clear plastic type)
Important checks on your car
i) most important – yes, brakes
ii) next – tyres, wheels, steering, suspension, lights, windows and mirrors
Driving tips –
a) every time you start a journey – check it’s safe to do so then test the braking of the vehicle at your low starting speed, before you really need the brakes, this is even more relevant if the vehicle has been standing for a while and/or there’s recently been rain, snow or frost, or the car has just been washed
b) when driving and stationary at any time without a stationary vehicle directly behind you then keep pressing your brake pedal on and off to ‘flash’ your brake lights to make your stationary vehicle stand out and hopefully draw it to the attention of vehicles approaching from behind so they stop safely behind you
c) a good habit to get into is to switch off all electrical items before the engine and to start the engine before turning on any electrical items
d) (and following on from point c) when you start the engine don't immediately pull off, first check all the warning lights and before you turn on any music or phones listen to the car as it goes along for a short while for any unusual sounds and before you switch the engine off listen for anything unusual
e) always keep your all windows, all the lights and your reflective number plates clear and clean – to see and be seen (even with lights off parked up - by the reflected light off number plates and lights and rear reflectors)
Clearing the windscreen tips –
a) to help clear the windscreen quicker angle the sun visors to deflect the fan assisted air back onto the windscreen and to prevent it blowing passed them to the roof
b) not hot but very warm water can be used to clear the external glass of frost, it wont damage the rubber seals but if too hot it could possibly crack something and it’ll also lift off the glass and freeze quicker
c) clean the wiper blades rubbers with glass polish after washing the car and between if washes are not that frequent
Maintenance/sales folder
keep a folder with a list and records of all the service, repair, maintenance, upgrades and replacements items and work you and past owners have done on the car as this will help remind you when items need replacing and how long some items last plus it looks impressive when you come to sell the car (don’t bother with things like till receipts for touch-up paint and the like as that will just be off putting and diminish the serious stuff you’ve recorded) – have a summary showing main details with dates and mileage
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