Congratulations on your new car! Sorry to mess your enthusiasm, but what do you actually know about your new vehicle? Sure, now, it’s nice, shiny and it can take you places, but what happens when you find yourself in the middle of nowhere and you run out of gas or have a flat tire? “If there’s something weird and don’t look good, who you gonna call?” Putting all jokes aside, these situations are quite possible, and your phone battery will not always be on the top of its game, so you may have to take things in your own hands. In a less drastic notion, you also need to know how to properly maintain your car so that it could function properly when you need it the most. Here is everything you need to know about your new car before you drive into the sunset.
Changing a Tire
Let’s start again: You’re in the middle of nowhere and you have a flat tire. Who you gonna call? Well, no one, since you already know how to change a tire and you don’t need help with that. Most cars have a spare tire (always have it in your car), but some newer models are installing Run Flat Tires which need no spare ones, so make sure you check the owner’s manual. If you need to change the tire, just take out the spare one, jack the car up, and put the new one.
Changing a Broken Headlight/Tail Light
A broken headlight is bound to happen to you at least once, due to inappropriate parking (your or the car next to you), age of the vehicle, or some other incident. Fortunately, this is an easy repair that requires no muscles. Always be ready and have some spare light bulbs in your car. If the ones you have break down, just pull back the lining of the car to reach the headlight panel and change the old light or a new one.
Talking to a Mechanic
This might sound weird, but mechanics can sometimes “speak in tongues”, and understanding them can be difficult. If you’re an Aussie girl, especially on the Gold Coast, consulting a trusted Gold Coast mechanic can make a big difference—these local professionals often value their reputation and are more likely to offer transparent advice and fair pricing. Building a relationship with a nearby mechanic also means you’ll have someone reliable to turn to for regular servicing and emergency repairs.
Replacing Windshield Wipers
Windshield wipers get worn out really quickly (after a year or two), and if you want to be able to drive while it’s raining and see the road you should replace them just as often. When you need new wipers, you should reach out for the car’s manual, find the size of your wipers, buy them, snap off the old ones and replace them with new ones.
Changing the Oil
Car’s oil should be changed every 3000 to 5000 miles (4800 to 8000 km), depending on the way you use your vehicle. The quality of the oil will affect the performance of your vehicle, so make sure you choose the best one in consultation with your mechanic. This is something you don’t have to do on your own, since you won’t be doing it that often. Just visit your mechanic on time, and everything will work out fine.
Buying New Tires
Once the spare tire you had in your car becomes worn out or damaged, you will have to buy a new one. Also, when the winter arrives, you will probably have to buy snow tires that will provide you with safer driving experience. Choosing a new tire shouldn’t be taken lightly. A poor choice will haunt you for years to come. You will need to do a lot of research before you decide, and online guides could be really helpful in your search.
As the time goes by, all of these repairs, replacements and procedures will become a routine for you, and who knows, maybe you’ll even try your luck with the more complicated stuff, like changing the oil?
About the author:
Peter is a fashion stylist and a writer from Brisbane, Australia. After graduating from Australian Institute of Creative Design he worked as a fashion stylist for few local fashion events. Beside fashion and styling, he enjoys traveling around exotic destinations and discovering new vintage stores. His future plans are in creating his personal styling business.