Students are busy preparing for college and the last thing on their list – if it makes the list at all – is checking out the condition of the car they will take to school. The expectation may be that parents handle the routine auto maintenance, but regardless of who does it, a thorough check-up on the car is recommended before it leaves to ensure safety and reliability.
The following most overlooked items should be checked: tires and tire pressure, hoses and belts, air filters, wipers, exterior and interior lighting, and fluid levels, including engine oil, power steering, brake, transmission, windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.
On today’s modern vehicles, a 21st Century tune-up should also be done, which includes inspecting the following systems: battery, charging and starting; engine mechanical; powertrain control; fuel; ignition; and emissions.
When a car is properly maintained, it is safer and more dependable. A preventative maintenance checkup before heading off to college also provides the opportunity to have repairs made at home with your own technician who knows the vehicle, and helps reduce the chances of costly and dangerous road trouble.
Douglas Automotive Repair Inc. also recommends that college-bound students have important telephone numbers in their cell phone or glove box in case of a breakdown or emergency. Vehicles should have a roadside emergency kit that includes items such as flares, a first aid kit, a tire-changing jack, a tire pressure gauge, jumper cables and a blanket.
Give us a call today to make sure your vehicle is back-to-college ready!
This entry was posted in Preventive Maintenance, Safety, Vehicle Inspection and tagged air filter, Back to School, Belts, Hoses, vehicle inspection, Wipers on .
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