Remember your first car? Chances are that it wasn’t new, and it didn’t come with a warranty or roadside assistance.
If you were headed off to college, hopefully, someone explained some car care basics to you. Maybe you were lucky, and you were close to home, where you could call your parents or other family members when you had car trouble or questions.
With the current coronavirus pandemic, some colleges are open, some are doing online classes, and some kids still need to work to help pay the bills.
Don’t send your kids off to college or work without giving them these 5 tips for basic car care and possible problems.
Car Problems
Unless you were lucky enough that you could give your kid a new car, you can guarantee that eventually, they are going to have a few problems with the car.
The most common car problems include:
- Batteries- This is probably the number one issue when it comes to car breakdowns. Even if you purchase a new one, there is still no guarantee that it will last for 3 years or that someone won’t leave the dome light on all night long.
- Tires– If you can afford to replace the tires, that is a great way to start. Tires still get nails and screws in them, however, and curbs still get hit, which can cause a blowout or a leaking tire.
- Wiper Blades– Replacing them in the fall is a great idea, but these do wear out fairly quickly.
- Hoses and Belts– These are notorious for breaking at the worst possible time.
- Headlights and Other Light Bulbs– No one wants to be pulled over for a burned-out taillight and driving a one-eyed monster in a snowstorm is a very real hazard.
While you can’t avoid every problem, there are some things you can do to possibly prevent them, and a little car education on the part of your young adult will give you some peace of mind.
Top 5 Car Care Tips
You can buy your teen a car and a roadside assistance service, but when it comes to maintenance, they will need to know a few things themselves.
It’s also helpful to know that your teen won’t be waiting 3 hours for roadside assistance to show up just to jump-start their car.
The following 5 tips will both empower your young adult and allow you to worry less.
Car Care Tip #1- Tires
Get a small notebook for your teen (or if they prefer, they can make a list on their phone) and write the cold tire pressure that their car requires. Teach them how to use a tire pressure gauge and put one in the glove box or center console.
Put dates in the notebook for them so they know when to check the tires. Ideally, they should check tire pressure and give the tires a good once over (looking for bubbles or missing chunks from the tread) at least once a month.
Be sure that you explain about hot and cold tire pressure differences. You can also teach them to change a tire in case of an emergency (those secluded parking spots teens like sometimes have no cell signal). Be sure they have all the tools they need to change a tire. Talk them through it, but don’t do it yourself. They need the experience, you don’t.
Car Care Tip #2- Batteries
As we mentioned before, purchasing a new battery is always a good idea but even that isn’t a 100 percent guarantee that the battery won’t short out within a few months or that keys don’t get left in the ON position all night.
If the car is a stick shift, teach your teen how to “pop” the car into gear to make it start. You can also teach them how to jump-start a car if necessary.
The best solution, however, might be to put a portable jump starter in the trunk. These are inexpensive and easy to use. Be certain that they do know how to use it if necessary.
Car Care Tip #3- Turn Down the Radio Now and Then
Music, whether it’s from the radio or their phone, is always great to have in the car, but it can mask sounds that can alert you to possible problems.
Ask your teen to set a reminder on their phone once a month and have them spend just 5- or 10-minutes driving without music. If they hear anything strange, such as a grinding noise when they brake or a loud clunk from the front end when they hit a small bump, then the car needs to be inspected.
Car Care Tip #4- Fill Up Fluid Levels
Show your new driver where the basic fluid levels are, such as the engine oil, coolant, power steering fluid, and brake fluid are located. While most engines use a dipstick for the engine oil, other fluids, such as power steering fluid, vary in how you check the level. Show them where each reservoir is, which is the proper fluid (this is especially true of coolant) and how to top off the reservoir if it is low.
Gas stations no longer check fluid levels and the car might need some fluids topped off in between oil changes.
Car Care Tip #5- Pack an Emergency Bag
No matter how careful you are, if you’ve been driving for any length of time, you know that accidents happen. Cars run out of gas, water pumps stop pumping, and fuses blow.
Have your young adult help you pack an emergency bag for their car. Some items that are helpful include:
- $20 in small bills and change
- First aid kit
- Spare fuses
- Flashlight
- Hazard triangle or flares
- A blanket
- A few water bottles and energy bars
- Fire Extinguisher
- Tow rope or strap
- Multipurpose utility tool
- Duct tape
If there are other items, you might find helpful (a few pills of a prescription medication or an emergency inhaler for example) be sure to add them as well.
For True Peace of Mind
You will always worry about your child, no matter how old they get, but leaving home or driving their first car is of special concern.
You can take some of the worries off your mind by having the car inspected by the experts at My Mechanic.
We will be happy to check the car over and let you know if we find anything that needs repair or items you might not be aware of.
Nothing makes a parent feel better than knowing they did everything they could to help their child start off right.
Call us for an appointment today so you can have peace of mind tomorrow.
