Basic car repairs that your teen should know how to do
Every driver understands that car maintenance is essential for road safety. However, the importance of this may not be apparent to your teen driver. It is of the utmost importance to ensure that they know how to do basic car repairs for their safety. Here are a few things to teach your teen before handing them the keys.
Changing oil regularly
Auto engines use oil for several purposes, among them keeping your car well-maintained. It reduces friction and ensures that parts of your engine move cohesively. It is an essential part of your vehicle that you need to teach your teen because failure to change the oil will affect your car and end up costing quite a lot of money. Teach them about the miles that the car can run before the next oil change. Getting them into a habit of getting their oil changed regularly will benefit them all through adulthood. Also, please provide them with the manufacturer’s manual for reference.
Checking battery charge
It is a good idea to teach them how to check the battery voltage. A car battery is one of the parts that can die without showing any signs of wear and tear. Therefore, it is the driver’s responsibility to check the car battery before hitting the road. It would help if you taught them to check the voltage every time. Give them the information to the places they could take their car if they were in need of a replacement battery.
How to replace worn brake pads
Brakes are vital for car safety so you need to ensure that they are in excellent shape. Explain to your teen that driving without checking the brakes can cause a lot of damage. Show them how to check the condition of their brakes periodically. It is also a good idea to show them what worn out brake pads look like so that they can identify them quickly.
Replacing air filters
Air filters are part of the accessories that help to keep your engine in great condition. Replacing them regularly will only help your vehicle by stopping clogs and will affect how long your engine will last. The primary purpose of an air filter is ensuring that debris does not get into the car engine. Car service companies will typically let you know when these need to be replaced whenever you take your car in, but it is important to know how to do it yourself as well. A simple Youtube search can guide you a step by step explanation of how to do this for your particular vehicle.
Rotating tires
Tires are another vital component of any car. Make sure to teach your teen the risk of driving with worn-out tires. They risk blowing while in motion or even pose more risks when driving in the rain. You should ensure that they check tire conditions before they start driving and what signs to look out for. Also, they should ensure there is a proper alignment of tires and the steering wheel to prevent accidents. Let your teen know they can take their vehicle in for car repair in Boulder CO or their particular locale if they are not quite ready to tackle a task like this yet. Everyone learns at their own pace!
Replacing wiper blades
Wiper blades should be checked before getting on the road, especially if there is a high likelihood of bad weather. Sometimes wiper blades begin to wear out and lose their ability to wipe the windscreen. That will cause an accident due to poor vision along with a lot of traffic on the road. Make sure your teen understands what wiper blades are and how to check their condition. If they are not in proper shape, they must replace them before they begin to drive. Wiper blades are typically very easy to replace and can be installed within a few minutes.
Teens have the ability to be excellent drivers; however, they sometimes forget the basic maintenance requirements that come with driving. The excitement to begin driving can be a factor in forgetting to perform regular safety repair and maintenance that may pose risks if left unattended. This is why it is essential to teach them the basic tips they need to know about their vehicle. As they practice them, they will continue to learn to keep everything in check before hitting the road.
