Even though it seems like eons ago, in the not so distant past a female driver could pull in to a service station and have her car serviced; an attendant would actually come out and do any work for her that needed to be done. They filled your tank, and checked the air in your tires as well as your oil level. You paid for the gas and the oil - and didn't pay for anything else.
Those were wonderful times! Most women today don't even remember a time when such was the case. Short of having a guardian angel that doubles as an on-demand auto mechanic, every woman should at least have a basic understanding of how to care for her car.
When I first started dating my husband, I had been driving a pretty blue sports car for about a year. Being a gentleman, he offered to check whether my car needed service. He came to me at once and asked me when I had last changed the oil. "Do I need to change the oil?" I asked him. I just topped off on the oil whenever needed, but never changed the oil. When he drained the oil, it was like sludge, probably because I had driven 25,000 miles without changing it. Now I've learned that I need to change the oil regularly. A good way to remember to do it is to change the oil around holidays. Since I drive 15,000 miles per year, oil changes every 5,000 miles coincide with Easter, Labor Day, and Christmas.
Located inside your glove compartment, you will find the owner's manual; this is perhaps one of the most important things that comes with your car. It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with it; if you do, you will be well-versed in the things needed to keep your car running at maximum potential, and it will also tell you what the different lights and gauges are for. Another section that usually falls under the heading of "Maintenance Intervals" will indicate the suggested things that you should have done to your car at certain mileage milestones. Most of these small jobs are not difficult tasks to perform, and things like changing the air filter can be done at your local service station. The manual will tell you what type of oil and antifreeze to use and how much air to put in the tires. Keep a maintenance log inside the owner's manual so you will know when your oil was last changed.
Learn to check the pressure in your tires and to add air if needed. Learn how to change a tire if it becomes flat, and know where the spare tire and jack are. You can only depend on your roadside assistance provider for so much; if your tire goes flat in an area with no cell phone service, you may be on your own. You never know who the guy who stops to help you may be - he could be a Good Samaritan who just wants to help, or he could be a serial killer or sex offender. It is important that you at least know how to change a flat tire.
In the event your battery goes dead, it would be helpful to have a portable battery charger on hand. It's not necessary to have another car to jumpstart your battery, and the chargers are safer.
There is a built in device in brakes that will let you know that it's time to check them. A squeaking noise, caused by a small pin, will occur when the pads are reaching the point of being worn out. If you don't pay attention to this early on, you will find that your pads get completely worn out and you will end up spending twice as much money to fix them.
It is important to locate a quality auto mechanic before the need arises. Do it now - find a reliable and reputable auto repair shop before your car needs a repair that isn't covered under the warranty. Confer with people that you trust the most, such as family members and friends, to restore your peace of mind about needed repairs. However, if you put forth the effort to maintain your automobile, your driving should be relatively carefree.
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