Car Maintenance 101
Feeling prepared in the case of a flat tire or a dead
battery can go a long way in easing New Driver
Nerves! Here are the basics; you can even stash
this page in your glove compartment for quick
reference! Low Tire Pressure: A tire gauge allows you to check
your tire pressure. The recommended PSI will be located inside
your door!
Check the Oil: Did your Check Engine light come on? in a secret compartment in the back or trunk of your vehicle.
DO NOT keep driving; without enough oil your engine could
blow which could cost thousands. Pull over somewhere safe and
use the dipstick to check it.
1. Pull the dipstick and clean it off with a rag.
2. Put the dipstick back and pull it again to see the oil level.
3. If it is low, just pour more oil in—but don't over-fill!!
Changing a Tire: Your jack and spare are often hidden
1. Find a safe space to pull over and turn on your hazard lights.
Avoid changing a tire on a narrow shoulder where you are in
danger of oncoming traffic!
2. Put on your parking break.
3. Use wheel wedges under the front tires if you’re changing
a back tire, and under the back tires if you’re changing the
front.
4. Got hub caps? Take it off to expose the lug nuts.
5. Loosen the lug nuts before jacking up the car.
6. C
heck your owner’s manual to find where to position the jack
How to
Jump a Car
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7. N
ow it’s time to completely unscrew the lug nuts, remove
1. RED on DEAD +
2. RED on DONOR +
3. BLACK on DONOR -
4. BLACK on bare metal
5. S tart DONOR
6. Start DEAD
7. Remove 4-3-2-1
the flat tire, and push the new tire on until the lug nuts show
through the rim.
8. Tighten the lug nuts as much as you can, lower the car on the
jack, and then tighten the lug nuts again.
Read the Manual! It is the Bible of your car (and can
help you find that hidden jack!)
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Summer 2018
underneath your car and raise the car until the tire is about
6 inches off the ground. Remember to never, EVER position
any part of your body underneath a raised car!
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