Tips to get your vehicle ready for Back to School
Back to School season is here and everyone is buying school supplies, new clothes, and making plans for a final summer vacation. It could be a big year if you’re sending your child to college for the first time. Needless to say, this is a hectic time of the year, and you don’t need anything else added to your to-do list. Even though it’s busy, you should make time to ensure their vehicle is ready. Here are a few things you can do to help prepare them.
Make Sure All the Maintenance is Up To Date
The best way to keep your vehicle reliable is to have the scheduled maintenance performed. Having your routine oil change done on time helps to keep your engine in tip-top shape and allows for a safety inspection. This inspection can alert you to any issues and potential problems down the road. Some items to be on the lookout for are the condition of your tires, wiper blades, fluids, timing belt and exterior lights.
Read the Owner’s Manual
The owner’s manual has a lot of useful information about your vehicle. It lets you know the location of your safety equipment and it has a schedule of recommended maintenance. The owner’s manual also has the information on changing the time on your clock, how to change a tire, where your jack is stored and how to check your engine oil.
What’s That Light?
Look at the dash and take notice if any lights are on. Over time you can block out a check engine light or Anti-Brake light. Take a look; make sure there isn’t a picture in front of a trouble light. If you do, have it checked out before you head out. At least know why the light is on. If you do not know what a light means, look in the owner’s manual.
Be Prepared if Something Goes Wrong
Have a plan. If your child is attending college out of town, ask your shop if they know any shops they trust close to the college. Have a list with numbers of tow companies and repair shops. Go over what they do if they run out of gas, if they lock the keys in the vehicle or need a jump start. Having a plan can save you from late night emergencies. Prepare an emergency kit if something does go wrong. Some items to consider putting in your emergency kit include gloves, boots, blankets, flares, a small shovel, sand or kitty litter, flashlight, a few bottles of water and some protein bars.
Know Your Car
Make sure they are familiar with the vehicle they are taking to college. It’s not always best to send them off in a vehicle new to them. Being familiar allows them to have a feel for their vehicle and that feeling will tell them if something is not right. Make sure they tell you if they hear a new noise or the vehicle starts to pull to one side or the other. Dealing with these signs right away can prevent an emergency later.
Dwayne Myers