Cars have been with us for a while now and they have gradually become a vital part of our lives.
In fact, many people would not imagine how life would be without them. However, cars are machines and any car driver can tell you that proper maintenance is essential if you want to get the most out of your car.
Despite the convenience that cars bring to our lives, they can also be a source of frustration when things don’t run as they should. For this reason, you need to ensure that your car is in the best running condition.
However, should the unexpected happen, here are some skills that can help get you out of trouble when your car breaks down.
Knowing how to change a flat tire is one important skill that can really help you get out of a tight spot. Tires are very important parts of your car as they help give grip while ensuring that the car driver and passengers are comfortable even on bumpy roads.
However, they will go flat every now and then, and it will be up to you, as the car driver, to fix them before you can proceed with the journey.
Fortunately, most cars have a spare wheel on board, so all you will need to know how to do is to replace the flat tire with the spare.
Basically, you will need to loosen the lug nuts, jack the car off the ground and remove the lug nuts and the flat tire. Then, you have to place the spare tire on the wheel hub, screw the lug nuts back, lower the car and tighten the lug nuts with the car on the ground.
Most people think that tire pressure is not a big deal as long as the tire is not flat. This could not be further from the truth. Tire pressure is a very important component of a cars stability on the road. In fact, if one wheel has a slightly low tire pressure, it could cause the car to steer abnormally and this could easily cause an accident.
In addition to the effect on stability, tire pressure also affects the ride quality. Too much air leads to a bumpy ride that is not comfortable for everyone. It also causes less traction, hence the car will take longer to stop when you slam on the brakes.
As a car driver, you should know that cars use a number of fluids for a number of reasons. Some of these fluids are so important to the functionality that you would destroy a vital part of the car should you try driving it without them.
To ensure that this won’t happen to your car, you need to know the fluids that need a regular-basis check. The most important fluids in your car are:
Lights on your car help improve your vision at night while ensuring that other road users can see the car. In addition to this, lights also help the car driver communicate with other drivers.
For instance, before changing lanes, the direction indicator light will tell any car driver on the lane you are joining to slow down and allow you to join.
Every once in a while bulbs will get burnt, causing the lights not to function properly. Replacing a burnt bulb is a process that will take less than 5 minutes on most cars so you don’t need to spend money on a mechanic when this happens.
Just get the right bulb, look on the back side of the light and you will find simple screws and connectors that you can remove to access the burnt bulb. Always check on the owner’s manual before unscrewing any part of your car.
Windshield wipers are important parts of your car’s safety system. They enhance your vision when you are driving in rain or snow. Despite this fact, they are also among the least appreciated parts by most people. As a car driver, don’t let your safety and that of your passengers be affected by something as simple as a pair of windshield wipers.
Replacing them is a very quick and easy fix. All you need to do is lift the wiper arm, press a small tab that has a hook that holds the wiper blade, then pulling off the wiper blade. After that you can fit the new wiper blade and you will be good to go.
Car roadside assistance is expensive, and, most likely, will cause you some delay. You will not have to face this if you know how to jump-start a car. If you forget to turn off your parking lights and your battery runs low, you will find yourself stranded in a parking lot with a car that won’t start.
Jump starting is a simple solution to this and can save the day; all you need is a pair of jumper cables and another driver willing to help you out with the battery on their car. This is the process:
