How to Navigate Under the Hood

Navigating under the hood of your car to check fluids, belts and filters is a lot easier if you have a basic understanding of what those items look like and where they are typically placed. Thes steps offer some guidance.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Open the hood of your car and secure it with the prop rod. Directly in the front you will see the radiator with the radiator cap on the top or on either side. Along side of the radiator you will see the coolant recovery jug. In front of the radiator is the air conditioning condenser. The condenser looks like the radiator but it does not have a fill cap.

2. Look over to the driver's side. The master cylinder is in front of the driver. It has a fill cap on top and marks on the side, indicating maximum and minimum levels. The air filter may be inside of a small box in front, below the master cylinder. It may have clips or screws holding the top on.

3. Observe the engine. You will see the dip stick and tube coming up from below the engine. Somewhere on your engine you will see the engine oil fill cap. It is probably marked Oil or Engine Oil. It might also be marked to tell you what grade of oil should be used when filling.

4. See the drive belt or belts on the front of the engine. Around this area you will also see the power steering reservoir. It is driven by a belt. Look alongside the engine for your transmission dip stick. It may be in the front or rear of the transmission and usually lower and smaller than the engine dip stick.

5. Check the front of the car in the fire wall areas for your windshield washer fluid. It is almost always coded blue and may have an icon of a windshield with a squirt on the cap. It also may have an indicator for low or full levels.

6. Remove the prop rod and close the hood of the car securely.

Tips & Warnings

• Never open the radiator cap on a hot engine. Allow it to cool for 15 to 20 minutes before opening.
• Your car should be running when you check the transmission fluid level. Set the emergency brake and put the car in park when checking under the hood of a car that has the engine running.