Parents are tasked to teach fundamental skills, such as riding a bike, preparing their own meals, or tying their shoelaces. Over time, more advanced skills must be taught to children, including car basics. While it may not be too soon for your young children to drive themselves to school, it will be important for them to learn basic care and maintenance, inspiring them to perform car maintenance independently later in life.
As a vehicle owner, your utmost priority is to keep your cat in top shape. In this guide, we’ll list down some of the car care basics that you can teach your child.
Checking Fluids Under the Hood
Your eldest should know the different fluid types that a standard vehicle needs. Ideally, they should be familiar with changing fluids underneath the hood. Teach the relevance of topping up with clean fluids. Low fluid levels in crucial car parts, such as engines and transmissions can affect your vehicle’s overall performance and can contribute to damages in various parts of your car.
Here are the most important fluids that your vehicle require:
- Coolant
- Brake fluid
- Engine Oil
- Washer fluid
On the other hand, power steering fluid and automatic transmission fluid are located in the engine compartment. You may refer to your car manufacturer’s manual to learn how you can properly access and evaluate these fluid types for your car make and model. Gain access to the fluids under the hood and schedule a fluid replacement, if needed.
Following Servicing Schedule As Per Manufacturer Recommendations
As a future drive, a child needs to be aware about the importance of adhering to a maintenance schedule. Being aware of when to send the car to an auto shop or mechanic ensures their safety once they become eligible to drive on their own. Keeping the car in excellent condition through care servicing not only guarantees your child’s safety but can also help them avoid costly repairs and replacements. Apart from referring to the car owner manual, you may also consult with a reputable car mechanic in Sydney about the ideal frequency of scheduled maintenance.
Changing Tyres On Their Own
It can be scary to be stranded in the middle of nowhere with a flat tyre. Unlike other car issues, resolving flat tyre issues is an urgent matter that one cannot delay. Teaching your child basics on how to change tyres will allow him or her to get back on the road as soon as possible. Again, a car manual is a great resource that illustrates proper and efficient tyre replacement. Perhaps the only difficulty that your child may have is using heavy tools. They may also have a hard time taking out lugs. For tyre replacement, it is imperative for you to give your child a crash course about the different types of tools and how to use them in resolving their flat tyre issues.
Switching Wiper Blades
Keeping safe must be the top lesson that you should teach your children when it comes to driving cars. One simple yet effective car component that a motorist must never ignore are the wiper blades. Ideally, wiper blades must be replaced every four months or once a year. Letting them learn how to switch wiper blades will reinforce independence as they grow.
DIY wiper blade replacement is a definite money saver since you don’t need to go to a Sydney mechanic to do it for you. If you aren’t too keen on instructing them on what to do, there are many online resources that you can let your child watch to gain familiarity with this maintenance service.
Assessing Tyre Pressure and Overall Condition
Driving with old and worn-out tyres is a safety tyre. It is therefore crucial to check tyre pressure regularly. Over or underinflated tyres can result in the development of treading and may affect the overall performance of a vehicle on the road. Due to its importance, make sure to include a lesson about tyre care basics, such as implementing a visual inspection on every tyre and using a gauge to calibrate tread depth. Teach them how to read tyre pressure and compare it to the numbers indicated on a vehicle’s door jamb.
Replacing Light Bulbs
Like the light bulbs that you have at home, car light bulbs will burn out over time; hence must be fixed in a timely manner. Knowing how to replace a car light bulb is crucial for safety reasons. If you are unsure about the process, you can refer to the owner manual for the step-by-step process for light bulb replacement.
As your child grows older, you can provide him or her with advanced car maintenance fundamentals such as jump starting the battery, replacing air and cabin filters, and switching to a new fuse, to name a few. It is equally imperative to discuss the importance of seeking professional help. Not all car issues can be resolved by simple DIY repairs. If you live in Sydney and are looking for a trustworthy and reliable auto mechanic shop, you can always rely on HP Automotive. Visit us on your next maintenance schedule and bring your children with you! For additional enquiries, you may call our direct line on 02 9979 8372 today.