Back-To-School Car Maintenance Tips
Is your scholar getting ready to get back to the classroom? Keep your students safe on the road with back-to-school car maintenance to ensure they can focus on their studies, not emergency car repairs. Whether your student is headed back to high school or heading off to college, here’s how you can both rest easy when they hit the road.
5 Back To School Car Care Tips
Take care of these five things and you’ll have put your scholar – and their vehicle – in an A+ position heading back to school. It’s also a great time of year to schedule fall car maintenance at Garfield Auto for an in-depth tune-up.
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Check Your Tires
Safety starts where the rubber meets the road. Inspect your tires for wear. Use a penny to inspect the tread by simply putting the penny upside down into the tread. If you can see Lincoln’s head, it’s time for new tires.
Remember to keep your tires properly inflated. Under-inflated tires can wear out much faster, lower fuel efficiency, and affect handling and stopping power.
2. Top Off Your Fluids
In addition to regular oil changes, top off your transmission fluid, brake fluid, coolant, and windshield wiper fluid. Make a point of checking fluid levels every 2-3 months by setting a reminder on your phone.
3. Check Your Lights
Take a few moments to ensure all your lights are working properly. The long days of summer make it more difficult to detect dead headlights, taillights, or turn signals. Have your student run through their lights and visually inspect them. It only takes a few minutes but can have a big impact on safe driving as the days get shorter and we all spend more time driving in the dark.
4. Check Your Car Battery
Most car batteries last between three and five years, but it’s worth checking your battery every few months. There’s nothing worse than running late to class only to find your car battery is dead!
5. Back A Roadside Safety Kit
Be ready for anything. Prepare a roadside safety kit to keep in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The kit should include jumper cables, road flares, a safety vest, and a cellphone charger/battery in case your car battery is dead.
Get Back To Class Safely with Garfield Auto Service Center
Families in Traverse City and across Northern Michigan put in plenty of miles getting to school and school events. Get there safely and focus on education with regular automotive maintenance with Garfield Auto Service Center. Schedule your appointment today.