The owner of a chain of auto dealerships remarked to a customer that he has always had battles with mechanics concerning preventative maintenance on vehicles. Overall prevention is preferable when it comes to automotive maintenance and upkeep. Once the damage is done, parts repair and labor are more extensive than if the work or driving wear and tear is caught in the bud. To the credit of the repair shops of this auto dealership group, “customers just love these shops” and bookings are often some time into the future. Yet if a person goes to a small shop or even prefers to do the auto maintenance and repair work themselves – either for cost savings or simple enjoyment of a hobby one factor often forgotten or certainly not emphasized is “safety on the job”.
First of all take the time to remove all jewelry such as rings, watches and bracelets before starting work. Do not wear loose fitting clothing, ties scarves or coats that might get dangled up in a pulley or drive belt.
What are some safety precautions that backyard and do-it-yourself mechanics and budding service technicians should employ as a matter of standard procedure and course?
It is a simple rule and basic safety prevention rule and standard never to smoke cigarettes or tobacco products when working on the fuel system or battery charging system. Gasoline vapors from the fuel tank, fuel lines, carburetor or fuel injections are more than extremely flammable. Hydrogen gas inside the battery, as well as lingering about the battery case, is dangerously explosive. The hydrogen sulfide gas emitted by charging (as opposed to dead) auto batteries can be set off by any or even the smallest spark. Once set ablaze the hydrogen sulfide gas can serve to explode the battery with its dangerous caustic battery acid- which can splash not only on your mechanics set of clothes but also onto their face, eyes or skin. Thus make it a solid rule to refrain from smoking any time that you are working on a car or under the hood.
Lastly in this day and age with late model and current vehicles having computerized engine components and systems overall – as opposed to older mechanical contact points and less elaborate ignition and control systems , always remember that these computerized electronics are more than sensitive to voltage overloads and fluctuations. It is little different than the sensitive nature of your home computer and how sensitive these computer systems are too simple, in a flash electrical surges. Always remember two things – one that ongoing and regular maintenance of your automobile is the best value overall and provides for the best safest and most reliable driving and motoring.