Back to School Tips… for Your Car?

You have you backpack, your shoes and your notebook, but what have you forgotten? Did you check off the car? Maybe a car isn’t on the school supplies list for your student, but if your child drives a car to get to school every day or is possibly making a trek back to college, their car should definitely be on that back-to-school checklist.

We don’t mean that you should buy your child a new car every semester, but there are a few things inside your child’s car that should be inspected. So whether you plan to check your child’s car yourself or want to pass this information along to your son or daughter, here’s another back-to-school checklist from Quality Coaches, Inc., your local auto repair shop in Minneapolis, MN, to help you get started:

Tires

If you live in Minnesota, you already know how unpredictable the weather can be. Rain, sleet, snow and ice-covered roads are all good reasons to make sure that the tires on your child’s car are in good condition. Here are a few things you should be checking:

• Tire pressure: Check the owner’s manual for the ideal tire pressure.
• Tread: Use the penny test. Insert a penny in the tread of the tires. If the tread doesn’t reach up to Lincoln’s head, there’s not enough tread.
• Wear: If the wear on the tires is uneven, this could be a sign of an alignment or suspension issue.

Fluids

Fall is the perfect time to check the fluids in your child’s car. After summer road trips, fluids may be lower (or dirtier) than normal. To avoid costly repairs or dangerous accidents, here are the fluids you should be checking:

• Engine oil: Make sure there’s enough engine oil in the car and that it’s not dark or dirty.
• Transmission fluid: The transmission fluid should be nearly clear and somewhat pinkish. If it looks burnt or has particles in it, it’s time for a transmission flush.
• Brake fluid: Check the level of the brake fluid; it should reach within about half an inch of the cap. Also check to make sure the fluid doesn’t look dark or grimy.
• Windshield washer fluid: Fall is a good time to replace the window washer fluid with windshield antifreeze.

Lights

Issues with the lights in your child’s car can go unnoticed during the summer because it stays lighter longer, but with dark nights and winter storms on the way, it’s important to make sure all the lights are working properly. Be sure to test all of the following:

• Headlights
• Low beams
• High beams
• Brake lights
• Tail lights
• Emergency lights

Making sure your child’s car is ready to drive for the school year is just as important as the rest of your back-to-school checklist. If you notice any problems during your car check, let us know. We are a full-service auto repair shop in Minneapolis, MN, and we want to make sure that all our students are safe on the road this school year.

Categorised in: Car Tips

This post was written by Sharon Morgan