Car Care Tips for Teens From Your Local Cleveland Ford Dealer |
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Rob Gillignham
July 19, 2010
Driving safely isn't the only thing teenagers need to learn when you are first being trained to drive. Knowing how to take care of your car is equally important. Not only will it extend the life of the car and avoid trips to your Cleveland Ford dealer for servicing, but it teaches responsibility and will give you a sense of independence, knowing you don't have to rely on someone else to take care of your car. Learned early, these are skills that will last you a lifetime.
Checking your oil - One of the first things to learn is how to check your oil. Checking your oil is one of the most important things you can do to keep your engine running smoothly. When you run low on oil, your engine is put under stress and can become damaged. First, make sure your car is parked on a level surface, and that the engine is cold. Release the hood. Near the center of the engine, you'll find the dipstick. This is a long piece of metal with a loop on the end. Pull on the loop to draw out the dipstick. Using a paper towel or rag, wipe off the oil. Replace the dipstick, pushing it all the way in, and then pull it back out again. On the dipstick you should see two cross hatch lines toward the pointy end of the stick. If the oil comes up between those two lines, you have enough oil. If the oil does not reach the bottom line, add a small amount of oil and check your oil again, until the oil level is between the two lines.
Checking tire pressure - This is something that is often overlooked. However, having proper tire pressure will help your tires last longer, and will help you get better gas mileage. Before checking your tire pressure, make sure your tires are cool, because temperature will affect pressure. Find the valve on the tire, and remove the cap. Press a tire gauge onto the valve, and make sure to press down hard. If you hear air escaping, it means the gauge is not on properly. Once you get a proper reading, take note of the reading on the gauge. Not sure what the recommended pressure is for your vehicle? Check your car's manual, or look at the doorjamb on the driver's side - there should be a sticker with the recommended pressure listed there.
Jumpstarting your battery - There may come a time when your battery dies, and knowing how to jumpstart it is important. You'll want to keep a set of jumper cables in your car in case this happens. First, you'll need to find someone who'll let you connect your car battery to theirs. Each battery has two terminals, one marked positive, and one negative. Attach the cables in this order:
1. Attach one end of one cable to the dead battery's positive terminal. 2. Attach the other end of that cable to the live battery's positive terminal. 3. Attach one end of the other cable to the live battery's negative terminal. 4. Attach the other end of that cable to engine block of the car with the dead battery.
Once the cables are attached, move away from the engine, and start the car that is giving the jump start. After about five minutes, attempt to start the other car. If it won't start, wait a few more minutes, and then try again. If it won't start after a few tries, your battery is completely dead and will need to be replaced.
Changing a tire - This is a little more difficult and requires some equipment. First, you'll want to park the car on level ground, and apply the parking break. If you're on the side of the road, make sure you're pulled over far enough and put your hazard lights on. Turn off the engine. Place a wheel chock or a large rock behind (if facing uphill) or in front (if facing downhill) the diagonally opposing wheel to prevent the car from rolling if you're on an incline. You'll need to get out the spare tire, a tire iron and a car jack. Remove the hub cap, and loosen the lug nuts. Then you can jack up the car. Once the car is jacked up, remove the lug nuts and set them aside. Remove the flat tire. Lift the new tire onto the wheel studs. The air valve should be facing outward (otherwise you'll be putting the tire on backwards. Put the lug nuts back on and tighten them. Once the wheel is on securely, lower the car and remove the jack. Then put the hubcap back on. Put your flat tire in your trunk and be on your way. There is a lot more involved in taking care of a car, but knowing how to do these four basic things is a great start.
About the Author: Rob Gillingham is the President and owner of Bob Gillingham Ford, located in Parma, Ohio, which sells a variety of new Ford cars and trucks, preowned and Ford classic vehicles.
Source: Amazines.com