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When working on a car, be prepared in advance to have grease on your
hands and you probably will break a fingernail. In addition to these
minor inconveniences, there is always a risk in working on a car. Use
common sense when making inspections and repairs. Know how to fix an
element before you begin, and then work efficiently. Below are some
common sense rules to follow while working on a car:
1. Gasoline fumes and hydrogen gas are both explosive, and both
gasoline and oil are flammable. Do not smoke while making repairs or
even when raising the hood to diagnose the problem. Keep a small fire
extinguisher nearby while working on the car, particularly if the
work is being done under the hood.
2. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide - a poisonous gas. Do not
run the engine in a closed area unless there is ample ventilation. If
you begin to feel sleepy while working on a car, move away from the
vehicle into the fresh air immediately. By the same token, if you can
smell the exhaust while driving, open the windows at once.
3. The car battery contains sulfuric acid, which can burn, and it
also emits hydrogen gas, which may explode. Wear gloves while working
around a battery and do not smoke near it.
4. Car batteries can give electrical shocks and are a fire hazard.
Disconnect the battery while working on the fuel line or electrical
system. It is only necessary to remove the ground cable, which is
easily identified by a black mark or a minus (-) sign on the battery
casing at the terminal.
5. It is easy to get a spark or electrical volt, creating a fire
hazard when jump starting a car. Be sure to connect the positive (+)
terminal of the helping car to the positive terminal of the disabled
car, and the negative (-) terminal to the engine frame before turning
on either engine. Also, do not touch the positive cable to the end of
any other cable or metal part while jump starting the car.
6. Radiator hoses, exhaust pipes, manifolds and mufflers can be very
hot to the touch. Allow time for these parts to cool off before
working on the car. If there is some reason that you can't wait, wear
heavy gloves and be very careful. DO NOT remove the radiator cap in
one turn. Turn it slowly to half off and allow the steam to escape.
Always use gloves or a rag. When the steam has escaped, turn the cap
off fully. Always keep your face turned away from the radiator cap.
7. Loose clothing can easily be pulled into moving machinery parts.
A loose shirt cuff, necktie, dangling jewelry, frilled blouses, or
long hair can all be pulled into a moving part while making repairs.
Be sure to remove such hazards. Caps without brims are considered
safer than those with brims, and it is advisable to wear a sturdy
pair of shoes or boots to protect the feet.
8. The jack may collapse while holding up the car. Do not - under any
circumstances - crawl under a car that is jacked up, unless you have
a jack stand, which is made for that purpose. Be sure the jack stand
is rated to support the weight of the car. Do not use metal drums,
buckets, bricks, concrete blocks, or wooden assemblies in the place
of the jack stand. All of these may crumble or collapse.
9. Slipping on oil, gasoline or other leaking fluids can cause
serious injuries. To prevent slipping by the person working on the
car, or by anyone else, wipe up all spills immediately. Be
particularly careful when wiping up flammable or chemical fluids.
10. The car must be stabilized before fixing a flat tire, so that it
will not jump the jack or roll. Try to stop the car on level ground
to change a tire. If the car has an automatic transmission, put the
gearshift into "park"; if the transmission is manual, shift into
reverse. Before jacking up the car, place a brick, stone, 2 x 4, or
whatever is within reach, in front of the front wheel and in back of
the rear wheel that will stay on the ground. This will stabilize the
car and prevent rolling. Be careful when jacking up a car on roads
that allow semi truck traffic. The force of the air current produced
by large vehicles speeding past, may be enough to topple a car which
is up on a jack.
11. When confronted with a serious car problem on a car which is
still under warranty, call a tow truck. Any attempts to repair a
major part could void the warranty.
12. A car problem should not be worked on unless you have specific
knowledge on what is wrong and how to fix it. Car first aid is for
emergency and basic repairs only. Major problems should be taken to a
mechanic. Otherwise, you may find that you have created even more
problems than you had to start with, besides a higher repair bill for
straightening out your mistakes.
13. Gasoline, brake fluid, and certain cleaning fluids used in
repairing an automobile need special precautions to prevent fire.
Fuel, thinner, and other combustibles should always be kept in closed
containers designed for the purpose; these should also be well marked
and stored safely.
Smoking and unshielded flames should always be avoided while working
on a car. As a further protection against fire, oil and grease rags
should also be kept in containers; use care, however, that
spontaneous combustion does not occur.
14. There are many precautions that should be observed when using
tools.
Files should never be used without a handle, because there is always
the danger of running the point into the palm of the hand. Files
should also not be used as levers or hammers. Files are made with
hard temper and are quite brittle, so if hammered, small pieces may
fly off and cause severe wounds or loss of eyesight.
Hammers or sledges should be checked to see that the head is attached
securely so that it doesn't fly off when the tool is used.
When the head of a chisel is mushroomed, it should be thrown away or
reground to prevent bits of steel from flying off and causing damage.
A shield or helmet should always be worn when grinding.
Pull on the handle of a wrench, rather than pushing on it to prevent
the danger of skinning the knuckles. When the jaws of the wrench
become worn or sprung, the tool should be disposed of.
DO NOT point an air gun in the direction of anyone, because the high
pressure can blow dirt particles at such high speed that they will
puncture the skin and/or get in the eyes.
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