Car Maintenance- What You Must Know!

[VivaciousJewelz]

First off- please feel free to move this, my fellow Mods, if this is in the wrong spot. I put this here in Finance since basic knowledge of car maintenance can help you save money in the long run by repairing an older car, or knowing what to look for if a problem arises before taking it to a shop that's going to rob you of your hard-earned $$.

I have to buy another car. And considering the bunch of crap that has happened with cars the last year or so, I obviously know nothing about cars other than get an oil change every 3,000 (which is apparently debatable).

I need to know what I need to know. My plan is to find someone knowledgeable about cars to give me a crash course (like my BIL), but I need to know what to ask that is important. I don't just want to point at the car and say "Teach me!"

Possible things I can think of now that I may need to know are: Do I need to know how to change my own oil? How to check fluids? How to add fluids? The parts of the engine so I know where each fluid is? What everything under the hood does? How to check tire tread? How to change a tire? What tools should I always carry with me in case of emergencies? What are the common car troubles I'll run into and what to do? Etc.

So, this is the thread where we discuss car maintenance and issues and hopefully help each other become a little wiser!

[foggierbard9]

Things that would be good for anyone to know...

where and how to check fluids and how to fill them if they are low
how to jump start a battery the right way
how to change a battery
how to change oil and filter (not necessary but nice to know because it is usually cheaper than paying to have a shop do it)
how to change air filter (easy to do and just nice to do yourself rather than pay)
how to change a tire and how to check the air pressure
how to plug a hole in a tire (in case you don't have a spare or it is flat)

tools I would always have in the car:
jack
tire iron
socket set
phillips screwdriver
flat head screwdriver
rag for when you are checking fluids
wire brush
the fluids that you use in your vehicle - correct types so IF you are in a situation you have on hand what you need to get you to a repair shop or gas station
water (for the radiator or carry the 50/50 mix of antifreeze/water that you will use; don't put straight antifreeze in the radiator should be mixed)

I'll add more as I think of it.

[collegekidsaves]

I know very little about cars (my uncle does the majority of my car maintenance), but I would carry jumper cables, especially if you're prone to forgetting that your lights are on!

[beth119]

I barely know how to check my oil... LOL.

My DH says that the most COMMON thing people DO NOT KNOW about there car is the following...

YEAR/MAKE/MODEL... shocking, huh?

[jenrose]

Things that would be good for anyone to know...

where and how to check fluids and how to fill them if they are low
how to jump start a battery the right way
how to change a battery
how to change oil and filter (not necessary but nice to know because it is usually cheaper than paying to have a shop do it)
how to change air filter (easy to do and just nice to do yourself rather than pay)
how to change a tire and how to check the air pressure
how to plug a hole in a tire (in case you don't have a spare or it is flat)

tools I would always have in the car:
jack
tire iron
socket set
phillips screwdriver
flat head screwdriver
rag for when you are checking fluids
wire brush
the fluids that you use in your vehicle - correct types so IF you are in a situation you have on hand what you need to get you to a repair shop or gas station
water (for the radiator or carry the 50/50 mix of antifreeze/water that you will use; don't put straight antifreeze in the radiator should be mixed)

I'll add more as I think of it.

I agree with the above. But if you are unsure of the proper way to jumpstart your car don't do it without double checking.....cause that could be bad!

I have always been a believer of if you can't change a flat tire you shouldn't be driving a car in the first place.

[VivaciousJewelz]

I know the year make and model, but I rarely know how to open my own HOOD! LOL

[crecian]

opening the hood can be tricky!
but, changing the tire is easy as long as you don't have locking lug nuts and no tool to UNlock it!!! yes, this did happen to me and had to have the car towed to the dealer to have them get the locking lug nuts off and put all regular lug nuts on my 4 tires.
(side note is that when I bought the car I found this weird item in the glove box and took it into my house...found out after the flat tire incident that it was the tool for the locking lug nuts, argh)
the MOST important thing to carry in the car is a working/charged phone! IMHO!

[jen276here]

I was thinking the # to AAA and a good book or cell phone w/ internet for the wait! lol j/k!

Big one to me is keep your manual in the car! I know so many who take it out cause it takes up too much space in the glove box!

[ILv2Shop]

You could possibly learn how to do some of this stuff on good ol' You Tube. I'm talking about "in general" type stuff. It's best to get to know your own car though.
I recently got AAA. The benefits are awesome. Not only for auto things but savings in so many other places. It was only 52 for a year.
Let us know what you get, Julie. I'm very happy for you. :-))

[shetlandponyluvr]

I barely know how to check my oil... LOL.

My DH says that the most COMMON thing people DO NOT KNOW about there car is the following...

YEAR/MAKE/MODEL... shocking, huh?

Not at all! I'm an insurance agent & there are an amazing number of people out there who have absolutely NO IDEA what kind of car they own & need insured!:shrug7: