Driving a automobile is a privilege and, in our home, simply since you turned 16 didn’t imply you have been prepared. We needed to verify our teenagers have been ready with not solely driving expertise however fundamental automobile proprietor expertise as nicely. Every of our children was given a used automobile (sure, they’re fortunate) to get them to and from college, work, and sports activities. However earlier than we allow them to depart the driveway, we made positive they have been ready with greater than the foundations of the street.
TIRES – PART 1
A tire gauge was one of many instruments my dad put within the toolbox the youngsters bought on their sixteenth birthday. Low tire stress can have an effect on braking and steering, so teenagers should know tips on how to test and fill their tires. The correct tire stress may be discovered inside the motive force’s door. Take your teen to the fuel station to point out them tips on how to fill their tires and use the gauge to find out the quantity of air within the tire. That is additionally an excellent time to examine the tire for any nails or harm.
TIRES – PART 2
Teenagers also needs to be taught the right technique to change a tire. This consists of taking the spare out of its compartment, putting the wheel wedges on different tires so the automobile doesn’t roll, the right placement of a jack and tips on how to loosen or tighten lug nuts. Many adults don’t know tips on how to change their tires so don’t fear if you’re not the very best trainer for that talent. Attain out to driver’s colleges for classes and make your teen conscious of any street help packages you might be enrolled in akin to AAA.
HOW TO JUMP START A CAR
Two of my children needed to have their automobiles jumped within the college parking zone resulting from leaving their headlights on earlier than heading into class. Fortunately, they’d a set of jumper cables of their automobile and we taught them tips on how to open their hood and the place the battery was positioned. There’s a correct technique to join and disconnect the cables to each the booster automobile and the automobile that wants leaping. The automobile ought to stay operating for a minimum of 20 minutes after beginning to enable the alternator to correctly recharge.
OILS AND FILTERS
My husband took our teenagers to the oil change place with their automobile the primary time it wanted to be modified. Your teen should know what to anticipate once they arrive and what questions they might want to reply. Most automobiles have six important fluids—oil, transmission, brake, coolant, energy steering and windshield wiper. Those self same automobiles have 4 filters—cabin, air, oil and gasoline. Train your teenagers to maintain observe of how typically these filters and fluids are modified. Free apps like aCar (Android) or Fuelly (iOS) are nice instruments.
WINDSHIELD WIPER AND FLUID
My daughter had a windshield wiper come off throughout a rain storm. She and her pal pulled over at a fuel station and have been capable of put it again on as a result of she had realized tips on how to do it earlier than getting her license. YouTube is a superb supply for how-tos on your specific make and mannequin. Additionally, should you stay in an space the place you might be continually utilizing your washer fluid, present your teen tips on how to fill their very own between oil change visits.
WASH AND WAX
The artwork of hand washing and waxing your automobile is a dying talent, however one all teenagers ought to must do a minimum of as soon as. It is very important preserve your automobile’s paint clear to keep away from expensive repairs and prolong the lifetime of the automobile. Hand washing is very vital after lengthy street journeys to get the bugs out of the grill or after parking underneath a tree with lots of birds. To increase the lifetime of the unique paint, wax your automobile each six months – often proper earlier than the intense warmth and chilly.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE IN AN ACCIDENT
I used to be in a fender bender with my 15-year-old son within the automobile. He noticed us transfer the automobiles to a secure space to examine the harm. It was an important educating second as he bought to look at the opposite driver and me alternate driver’s licenses and insurance coverage playing cards. Whereas we didn’t want medical care, I defined that he ought to name 911 if both driver or passengers have been injured. Once we returned dwelling, I had him dangle round whereas I made the declare on-line so he might see the opposite aspect of the method and why we feature insurance coverage.
Pam Molnar is a mom of three drivers and the daughter of a automobile geek. Automotive upkeep is a life talent they realized earlier than they bought the privilege to drive.
