Clean Vehicle Unit

INFORMATION SHEET 1.1-1
Clean Vehicle Unit

Learning Objectives:
After reading this INFORMATION SHEET, YOU MUST be able to:
1. Explain the importance and process of cleaning your vehicle unit
2. Enumerate the car cleaning tips

An important topic of discussion in the care of your vehicle is the cleaning of the
interior and exterior. A regular car wash protects the body of the car from a variety
of environmental elements and other material, such as splattering bugs, bird
droppings, and dirt. If the automobile goes without a wash for months on end,
these materials could build up on the car’s surface and damage the paint. Just as
the exterior of the vehicle needs regular care, the interior of the car requires routine
attention, as well.

Not washing the car properly can create swirl marks and scratches. In addition, not
using the proper materials can damage the vehicle’s exterior, causing you to invest
more time, energy, and money
It is recommended that you clean your wheels and tires, first. If you wash and rinse
your car first, then the water must sit on the car’s surface as you clean four tires.
While you are cleaning the tires, water spots could accumulate where you just
washed. These spots are not very appealing, so it creates more work for you.
Another reason for washing the wheels and tires before the body of the car is in
case of splashes.

Helpful Tips: Washing Wheels and Tires
 Clean each tire one at a time. Wash, rinse, dry, and move on to the next
one. This process will prevent clean tires from air-drying before you have
time to get back around to them. Designate one towel for drying your wheels
and tires and another for the body of the car.
 Use the proper cleaners for the job. Use a cleaner designed specifically for
the type of wheels that you have. There are cleaners on the market that work
for both wheels and tires to remove brake dust, dirt, and grime. If there are a
lot of impurities built up on the surface, consider using a stronger cleaner.
 Get the right scrubbing brushes. For the wheels, use a brush with
feathered bristles that will not scratch the surface. You may also want to
look for a long, slender brush for the inner areas of the wheels, such as
behind the spokes. Since the tires are made of rubber, use a stiff brush.

 Polish your wheels. Waxing your wheels helps create a barrier against dust,
dirt, grime, and other elements. Upkeep will be much easier. The next time
that your wheels need cleaning, a quick rinse may suffice.

Now that your tires and wheels are clean, let’s take a look at the proper technique
and materials needed to wash the body of your car.

Steps for Washing Your Car
1. Park the vehicle in the shade. Do not wash in direct sunlight. Heat speeds
up the drying process, which creates a risk for water spots. This will also
help keep the cleaning solution from drying on the car’s surface before you
have time to rinse it off.
2. Rinse the car to remove loose dirt. The first step in the washing of your
car is a pre-rinse to remove any dirt that may be laying on the car’s surface.
This will save you time in the long-run.
3. Use two buckets, one for the cleaning solution and the other for clean
water. The purpose of using two buckets is so that you can rinse out and
remove dirt from your washing mitt or sponge before filling it with soap
again. Do not use dish detergents or hand soap, as these are not made
specifically for use on car paint. Grit guards can be inserted into the bottom
of each bucket to help keep clean water at the top and dirt at the bottom.
4. Start at the top, and work your way down. The dirtiest parts of the car are
typically those found towards the bottom. If you work bottom to top, you
would be moving that dirt and grime onto your car’s surface. Do not move
the sponge or mitt in circles, but wash in lines, instead.
5. Rinse, and dry the car. Rinse frequently, if working in hot weather, to avoid
water spots. Use microfiber towels to dry the surface of the vehicle. Do not
forget to wipe down door jambs, as well as trunk and hood jambs. Once one
towel is saturated, grab another.
6. Feel the surface, consider using a clay bar if needed. A clay bar removes
contaminants from a car’s surface that washing cannot. Therefore, if the
surface feels rough to the touch, consider using a clay bar to extract the
embedded material.
7. Wax your car. Not only does waxing add to the shine of the car, but it
protects the paint. Wax adds a protective layer, so that you are not directly
rubbing the paint when removing dirt.

Headlights and Grills:
When you look at your car’s headlights, do they appear to be foggy, yellow, or hazy?
Overtime, environmental factors, including the sun’s harsh rays, can dull that once

shiny coat. Many individuals may assume that this is solely a cosmetic issue.
However, having foggy headlights can contribute to diminished light production.
Dim lights can present a hazard for driving in a variety of conditions, such as at
night or in stormy weather.
There are many options for fixing a headlight problem. When you search the
internet for “how to fix a foggy headlight”, you will come across many DIY remedies.
Just like many home remedies, some people found success, while others did not.
Even when individuals found success, sometimes it was short-lived, meaning the
problem came back up again in a month or so.

Headlight DIYs
 Toothpaste – Use a dry cloth or a toothbrush to apply a nickel-size amount
of whitening toothpaste to the headlight. Let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse, and
wipe off.
 Homemade paste solution – Make a paste from baking soda and
water/vinegar. Apply to the headlight. Let sit for a few minutes, and wipe off.
Do not get any solution on your surrounding paint, as the baking soda could
dull the paint.
 Sanding – In some cases, the best solution to get rid of the outer layer of
haze is to sand and polish.
 Headlight restoration kits – If you would rather go to the store and
purchase a headlight restoration kit, there are plenty on the market to
choose from.

If you would prefer to leave the work to the professionals, take your car to an auto
shop. It may cost you more, but you won’t have to worry if the headlight DIY
solution will treat your problem or not.

Similar to how hazy headlights create a problem in terms of aesthetic appeal, bug-
splattered car grills are not the most attractive. The longer bugs and other material
sit on the car’s grill, the harder it will be to remove. As Summer begins to creep up
on us, nights will begin to get warmer and bugs will become more prominent.
Below, you will find a few solutions to your bug problem.

How to Get Bugs Off Your Car

 Dryer sheets – Soak the dryer sheets in warm water, and wipe the bugs off.
You can also soak the dryer sheets in water that is in a spray bottle. Then,
spray on the solution.

 WD-40 – Spray on affected area. Let sit, and wipe off. Be careful not to spray
directly on the car’s paint.

 Bug remover spray – There are numerous sprays on the market, just for
getting bugs off the front of your vehicle. Choose the right one for you. Use it
along with a bug sponge.

Interior Car Cleaning
Although a car’s interior is not exposed to the weather, the dashboard, steering
wheel, and seats are still prone to cracking, peeling, and fading from the sun’s rays.
Therefore, it is important to regularly care for your car’s interior. Different products
are required depending on whether you have leather or fabric seats, so let’s see
what it takes to clean each one.

Leather Seats Versus Fabric Seats
1. Vacuum the seats. No matter what kind of seats you have, you will want to
remove the dirt and crumbs from between the seat cracks. If you do not own
a car vacuum with attachments, go to a local car wash or gas station where
you can find a coin-operated vacuum for use. A toothbrush can also be used
to scrape out debris that is embedded in the crevices.
2. Use a cleaning solution. Apply a homemade cleaning solution or a
commercial cleaner. When using your own homemade solution for the first
time, perform a spot test on a small area. For leather seats, do not use a
cleaning solution with ammonia or bleach, as it may damage the leather.
You can use a bristle brush to agitate the dirt, and wipe clean with a
microfiber towel.
3. For leather seats, apply a conditioner. A leather conditioner will help
replenish the natural oils in the leather and prevent cracking and fading.
After applying the conditioner, park the car in the shade for twelve hours so
that the seats will not be exposed to UV light.

To prevent stains, clean up messes as soon as they occur. It is recommended that
you clean your seats once a month. A windshield sun shade can help protect not
only your seats, but also your steering wheel and dashboard. The seats are not the
only item in the car’s interior that needs routine cleaning. Below, you will find a few
additional tips for the inside of your vehicle.

Other tips on cleaning your car:

 Clean in and around all the nooks and crannies. Use a cloth to clean
around the trimlines and radio buttons. You can use a paintbrush or foam
brush to clean out the air vents.

 Get trash out from underneath the seats. Remove the floor mats, and
shake them off. Move the seats up to remove trash and debris that could be
hiding beneath them.

 Remove unnecessary items from the trunk. Take out any items that you
do not need from your trunk. Not only will this make room for space when
you need it, but it will save on gas mileage.

 Organize your belongings. There are multiple products that aid in car

organization, such as visor organizers, dash caddies, trunk organizers, and
seat organizers. By purchasing one of these products, you will keep items off
of the floor.

INFORMATION SHEET 1.1-2
Car Care Tips

Learning Objectives:
After reading this INFORMATION SHEET, YOU MUST be able to:
1. Explain the principle of Car Care Maintenance
2. Enumerate the Car Care Maintenance tips
Car Care Tips

1. Do not park your car under the sun for too long. The ultraviolet rays of the
sun are harmful to your car.
2. Wash your car everyday with clean water and soft, clean rag. Start from the
rooftop and work your way down. Wash off the dust, dirt, or grime preferably using
running water. Try not to use a “bucket-and-sponge” system since this may
actually cause some scratching.
3. Wash your car in the shade during cooler hours of the day. Dry your car
with soft, clean and dry rag to avoid watermarks or water spots.
4. Avoid using detergents or solvents. They may damage the paint finish.
5. You can apply some car wax or paint sealant product for longer or more
durable shine and protection.
6. Do not forget to clean the glass areas, vinyl or plastic parts of your car using
the appropriate glass cleaners and vinyl cleaners. Always use clean cloth.
7. Vacuum the interior of your car to avoid accumulation of dirt and dust. You
can have the carpet and upholstery shampooed on a periodic basis to maintain its
original color and appearance.
8. If you spill food, drinks or other stuff inside your car, quickly rinse off the
spill. Use mild detergents to wash it off then have it shampooed as soon as you can
before the spill sets in and becomes a stain or spot on your upholstery.
9. Use vinyl protectants to clean vinyl and plastics parts of your car. This will
help prevent vinyl and plastic parts of your car from cracking.

INFORMATION SHEET 1.2-1
Tire Safety Tips and Maintenance

Learning Objectives:
After reading this INFORMATION SHEET, YOU MUST be able to:
1. Explain the importance of Tire Safety
2. Enumerate the Tire Safety Tips and Maintenance

Tire Safety Tips
You need good tires to drive safely. They are your only contact with the road and
affect the steering, braking and acceleration of your vehicle.

What your Tires Do?
Your tires, each with a contact patch on the road of about the size of a large

footprint, have to provide the entire grip for:
 Steering
 Braking
 Acceleration
They also improve comfort while carrying the weight of the vehicle. If you look after
them, they will last longer and safer. Ignoring them may significantly affect your
pocket and possibly your life.

Tread Depth
Most car types tires have tread wear indicators, usually at least six small

ribs across the bottom of the main tread grooves, and when the tread surface
becomes level with these ribs the tire is at the legal limit and must be replaced. One
of the features of the tire pattern design is to give a good trip in wet conditions.
Generally speaking, available grip reduces as the tire wears off, as the road surface
water depth increases and you should speed in such conditions.

Retreaded Tires
The only part of a tire to wear in normal use is the tread and it makes it both

economical to give a new lease of life to an otherwise good tire by what is now
generally known as re-treading.

The tire debris, often seen at the side of motorways in particular, does not
necessarily come from retreaded tires.

Retreaded tires are used extensively on aircraft and in motoring competition.

Part-worn Tires
There are many dangers in buying part-worn tires or second hand tires.

Their story is unknown and they may have been removed from a vehicle involved in
accident or have been badly damaged by “kerbing” or similar problems. Repairs
may not have been carried out properly so be careful.

Mixing of Tires
Except in the case of temporary use as spare tires, it is certainly dangerous

to mix radial and cross ply tire on the same axle, or to have radial ply tires on the
front axle and cross ply tires on the rear axle. This applies to all two axle motor
vehicles whether front or rear wheel drive.

Tire Pressure
Correct tire pressure are vital for balanced braking, maximum grip and

maximum tire life.
Recommended pressures may vary according to load and speed. Look in the

vehicle handbook, or consult your car or tire dealer.
 Wrong Pressures-cause rapid wear and shorter tire life
 Low pressures- increases fuel consumption and air pollution.
Higher than necessary pressures may give an uncomfortable ride and reduce grip
due to the smaller area in contact with the road.
Pressures should be checked at least every two weeks and when the tires are cold.
Even a short trip to the local garage will warm up the tire and raise the pressure.
Accurate and reliable gauges are not expensive and will soon pay back their cost.

Wheel Cleaning and Protective Maintenance
Everything sparkles and shines when you step back to admire your vehicles

after its new wheels are installed; but to keep them looking new requires a little
planning and work on your part. Most importantly, do not use cleaners on your
wheels that you would not use on the rest of your vehicle.
1. Before you drive: A coat of wax will help protect them and make them easier to

clean.
2. Clean them on regular basis.
3. Watch out for automatic car washes: Some use acid cleaners in combination

with stiff brushes to remove dirt or grime.
4. Consider your wheels finish before you select a cleaner: Most alloy wheels today

feature a painted and/or a clear coated finish. The best way to take care of them
is the same as you take care of the rest of your vehicle, frequent washing with
mild soap and water solution to clean your wheels without damaging the
protective finish, a tar remover the finish from the elements. Never use abrasive
cleaner, steel wool pads or polishing compounds.
5. Do not clean hot wheels: Wait until they cool off because water dries faster at
higher temperatures. Higher temperature may cause your soap to dry quickly
and leave film spots.
6. Clean your wheels and tires one at a time. Wheels and tires are the dirtiest
parts of your vehicle. Since they have a variety of surfaces to clean, you need to
use the full strength of your hose to initially rinse away all loose dirt and finally
rinse off your soap solution.
7. Your new alloy wheels and tires are like any valuable investment. You need to
protect them. Clean them as you would the rest of your car and treat them
accordingly.

Tire Maintenance
In the interest of safety, as well as prolonged life of tires, some simple

periodic checkup can help. Examples are the following:
1. Look for bugles on tire walls. Bugles indicate that tire structure is damaged.

Abnormal bulges are usually accompanied by a throbbing noise as the car
moves.
2. Look out for stones embedded on the tire tread and remove them.
3. Look our for abnormal wear recognized by:
a) Wear at the shoulder indicates under inflation.
b) Wear at the center of tread indicates over inflation.
c) Wear at either one side of the wheel tread indicates a problem with the wheel

alignment.
d) “Choppy” appearance of tread indicating that shock absorbers are worn out.

4. Look out for tire surface wear indications, which are positioned in the grooves of
tread. Appearance of this indicates that the tire needs to be replaced.
5. Car should be referred to your mechanic or workshop at the first opportunity.

INFORMATION SHEET 1.2-2
Basic Car Maintenance and Servicing

Learning Objectives:
After reading this INFORMATION SHEET, YOU MUST be able to:
1. Identify the basic car maintenance procedures
2. Explain the importance of car maintenance

BLOWBAGETS
BLOWBAGETS stands for battery, lights, oil, water, brake, air, gas, engine, tire,
and self. It’s a serious reminder about checking your car to prevent an accident or
breakdown

Whether you’re heading out on a summer road trip or just driving to work, make it
a habit to inspect your car. It’s impossible to check every nook and cranny of your
four-wheeled machine when you’re rushing to your destination. But minding your
BLOWBAGETS before driving off will keep you and your passengers safe on the
road. It is a glimpse on the pre-driving safety check which is a good idea before
starting out a trip.

Battery

Your car won’t start with a dead battery. If your battery dies in the middle of
driving, you’ll get stuck on the side of the road. You know how dangerous that is.
Before you get in your car, make sure your battery has a strong charge, clean
terminals, and proper cable-to-terminal connection. Car batteries typically last for
three to four years. Replace yours if it’s almost near the end of its service life.

BATTERY CARE
• Limit short rides
• Keep batteries tightly fastened
• Turn off all the lights before getting off
• Control the corrosion
• Do not use gadgets or accessories when engine is off

Lights
Fully functioning auto lights are a safety must-have for nighttime driving. However,
their bulbs burn out or get defective over time. This is why you have to inspect your
car’s lights regularly.
Test your headlights, turn signals, brake lights, reverse lights, and tail lights in the
garage. The light beam should reflect on the wall. To confirm if the lights are
working properly, ask someone to stand in front and then behind the car as you
operate the lights.
Check also your lights for dirt, cracks, and breakage. If you spot any, have your
lights cleaned or fixed.
CARE AND USE OF YOUR LIGHTS
• Always clean LENS
• Make sure to switch the lights ON before sunset
• Switch OFF cabin lights when engine is off
• Keep windshield and mirrors clean
• If possible, switch to low beam lights if you are within 200 meters of the car in
front of you
• Avoid too much tint
• Avoid using excessive headlights

Oil

Your car needs oil to lubricate all engine components. Too little oil is bad for your
engine—it can cause wear and tear on its moving parts. When your vehicle runs
out of oil, your engine will stop working, and you’ll be dealing with expensive repair
bills.
Check the engine oil level regularly and add if necessary. Change engine oil at
regular intervals. Look also for leaks, as they’re a sign that your car is quickly
losing oil. Avoid prolonged high RPM to prevent oil leaks. Check the ball joint
greasing, fluids and steering oil or gear oil.

Water

Overheating is every motorist’s worst nightmare. A simple check of the water in
your radiator will save you from that road disaster.
It also helps to have several one-liter bottles of water in your trunk, just in case
your car overheats while you’re driving and you need to put water in the radiator to
cool the engine down.
Check the water level regularly. Avoid overfilling the reservoir to maintain correct
back pressure.

Brake

Faulty brakes are a disaster waiting to happen. Lower your chance of meeting a
road accident—ensure that your brake system is working properly before you take
your car out of the garage. Push the brake pedal all the way to the floor. It
shouldn’t feel spongy and have little to no resistance. Otherwise, it isn’t safe to
drive when the brakes are weak.
How to check if your brakes are in proper working condition

 Check for oil leak in the brake master cylinder
 Check for oil leak on the caliper or piston
 Check for allowable thickness of rotors and pads to remove residuals or

dusts

 After repair – drive the vehicle and apply brake within a block then wash the
brake parts with clean water.

 Always check for leak on pipes.
 Check fluid reservoir (color and odor)

Gas

Especially during long drives, a full gas tank is important. Imagine how
troublesome it would be if you run out of fuel while you’re stuck in traffic or driving
along the road where a gas station is nowhere in sight.
So don’t forget to check your fuel level through the fuel gauge before you take your
car out for a drive

Accessories
1. Horn - The driver uses the horn to warn others of the vehicle's approach or
presence, or to call attention to some hazard. Check if the car horn is
working properly by simply pressing the horn button and hearing if the horn
volume is enough to signal a warning.

2. Wipers - is a device used to remove rain, snow, ice, washer fluid, water,
and/or debris from a vehicle's front window so the vehicle's operator can
better see what's ahead of them. Wiper blades should be replaced every six
months to a year or as soon as you notice a difference in driving visibility.
When wiper blades no longer make proper contact with the windshield
surface, they can begin to squeak, chatter, skip, smear, or streak reducing
driving visibility.

3. Windshields - is the front window, which provides visibility while protecting
occupants from the elements. If you have 3 or more cracks anywhere on
your windshield, you'll probably need to replace it. After they take a certain
amount of damage, they begin to lose their ability to withstand further
impacts. It may also be necessary to replace your windshield if a particular
crack is around or over 14 inches.

4. Parking Brake - is a mechanism used to keep the vehicle securely motionless
when parked. There is no rule of thumb about how often you should test
your parking brakes; but because it only takes a few minutes, conducting
the test on a monthly basis will give you peace of mind, knowing that you
are operating a road-worthy vehicle.

Quick Test:

a) Hill. Find a hill. It does not have to be particularly large, just one with a
pronounced slope.

b) Roll. Stop the car at the top of the slope and place your car into neutral. If
your car does not immediately start to roll, you might have to put it into gear
just enough to get it to move.

c) Brake. Once you have the car rolling, engage the emergency brake. You
should stop (often rather abruptly). If the emergency brake does not stop the
car, use the regular foot brake.

5. Switches and Controls – check if the various switches and toggles are functional.

a) headlight control
b) signal light toggle
c) wiper control

6. Early Warning Device - New drivers should know that the early warning device
(EWD) is a safety tool used when you make an emergency car stop. According
to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) of the Philippines, it can be seen as the
safety net with neon-light visibility that can signal other drivers joining
transportation/ the EWD should be positioned at least 3m from the vehicle.

7. Seatbelts - A seat belt is a vehicle safety device designed to secure the driver or a
passenger of a vehicle against harmful movement that may result during a collision
or a sudden stop. Check for tears Seat belts are pretty durable, but even minor
tears or frays in a strap could turn into a major problem. This fabric may wear
down due to prolonged sun exposure or other types of inclement weather, battles
with a car door or simply general use. Examine buckles regularly. The buckles
themselves should be checked at regular intervals. Your driver's seat, and possibly
even the front passenger's seat, gets enough use where you'll know immediately if
there is an issue.

Engine

It’s better to detect an engine problem before you drive off rather than deal with it
in the middle of the road. Check for leaks that indicate an engine problem. Also,
start the engine and listen to its sound. If you hear pinging, tapping, knocking, or
any weird noise, better have a mechanic check your engine. Check also if the

Tire

Driving with worn-out tires can lead to a fatal accident. So, before you leave for a
road trip, spend a few minutes to check your tires for bulges, bumps, tears, and
other signs of damage.
To check your tire tread depth, insert a coin into the tire’s grooves. If you can see
much of the coin’s outer band, that means the grooves are already shallow, and
you need new tires soon

Self
Human error is the leading cause of road accidents in Metro Manila. A report from
the Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis System cites fatigue, sleepiness,
drunkenness, and medical problems like asthma and dizziness as examples. Are
you physically and emotionally fit to drive today? Check yourself! If you’re sick,

dizzy, tired, sleepy, or drunk, you better let somebody else take over the steering
wheel.

Driving under extreme emotional stress is also dangerous because you’ll lose
concentration on the road. So, avoid driving when you’re emotional. Also, check
your documents before you hit the road. Your driver’s license, LTO registration
papers, and proof of comprehensive insurance should be within reach when you get
pulled over on your road trip.