Primary and Secondary Maintenance Activities

This chapter is intended to ensure that vehicle maintenance is carried out correctly, to help keep the vehicle in good condition and to prolong its life. If maintenance has not been carried out regularly, poor engine performance may result (incomplete power delivery, strange engine behavior, etc.). In this case, you must perform the following steps.

Primary actions:

• check all fluids associated with the engine;
• clean, inspect and check the condition of the battery;
• check the cooling system;
• check the condition and tension of the auxiliary drive belts;
• check the condition of high-voltage wires;
• replace spark plugs;
• check and, if necessary, adjust the idle speed;
• check the condition of the air filter and crankcase ventilation filter;
• check the condition of the crankcase ventilation valve.

If these steps are not effective, then the following steps should be followed.

Secondary actions:

• check the fuel system;
• replace the fuel filter;
• check and, if necessary, adjust valve clearances;
• check the exhaust gas re-burning system;
• replace high voltage wires;
• replace the air filter and crankcase ventilation filter;
• check the setting of the ignition timing;
• check the charging system.