10 Car Care Basics for Young Drivers

Car Care 101 for Teen, College and New Drivers

This is Part 2 of 2. Read Part 1.

So, your kid is finally on their way to college. Or you have a high school grad who managed to land a terrific after-school job. Whether they’re borrowing your car or have their own, there are some car care basics they should learn before they start driving. In an emergency, they will need more than their cell phone and roadside assistance to help them.

Battery Basics

Consider getting a new battery if the current one is older than 2-3 years or if your young driver will be far from home. Even if you aren’t sure about the age of the battery, replace it. Regardless of the warranty, the truth is that most batteries last about 4 years. This is cheap insurance and will offer you peace of mind.

Even if your kid will be close to home or if they have a new battery, it’s a good idea to teach them a few battery basics. Such as how to jump start their car if they ever need to. For about $50, you can buy rechargeable power backups that plug into the cigarette lighter or connects directly to the battery. This way, you can jump start the car without having another car available.

Rechargeable power backups are terrific devices. However, the backup power units need to be charged now and then, especially if they have been used. So, it is still a good idea to teach them how to use and connect jumper cables. It would be helpful to know how to use a pair of jumper cables if they forget to charge the pack or are riding with a friend who doesn’t have one.

Fluid Check

This is another area that will save tons of money and time. Not many gas stations will check oil levels for drivers anymore. So, along with tires, it’s a good idea to teach them how to check their car’s various fluids and how to top them off. As with the tires, have them put an alert on their phone to check the oil, windshield fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and coolant every month or so.

Get a 3X5 card and write (or type) what type of oil, power steering fluid, transmission oil, etc., that their car uses so they can’t forget or make a mistake. Tape the card on the visor or in the glove box door for easy reference.

Dash Lights, Noises, and Maintenance

Your teen will roll their eyes when you bring out the owner’s manual and talk to them about the dashboard lights and gauges, but do it anyway. While a lot of what you tell them may go in one ear, out the other, at least a few things will stick. Hopefully, if they see a light on their dash, they won’t panic. Instead, they’ll remember that they can look up the light in the owner’s manual.

Maintenance is another issue that will depend greatly on the age of the car they are driving. You might be better off writing the oil change mileage (or dates) on another 3X5 card and taping it to the visor. Write this card a few days before they leave so the mileage is close. For example, if the odometer reads 36,300, write on the card NEXT OIL CHANGE AT 39,300 and so on. While you can’t force them to read the card and act on it, you might be able to sneak in a, “Hey, isn’t your car ready for it’s next oil change?” Hopefully, this will spur them to take a look at the card.

You can teach them to change their own oil, but it’s more practical to recommend they take their car to an auto shop for an oil change. This way, a professional set of eyes can inspect the car and make them aware of any immediate or upcoming repair or maintenance needs. Explain to your teen or college student that if the auto shop does recommend a repair or maintenance service they should request a detailed estimate, and they can run it by you before approving any work.

Last, try to have at least a short conversation about turning down the stereo now and then, just for 5 minutes, and listening to their car. Any strange noises, such as grinding when they brake or squealing sounds from a dead stop, should be investigated. Explain that turning up the radio to drown out the noise will only make matters worse (aka: more expensive).

Pack an Emergency Kit

Hopefully, your young driver will help you with this so you can explain what everything is for. Even if they are “too busy,” pack it yourself. Kit basics include:

• Flashlight and spare batteries
• First-aid kit
• Warning light
• A few flares
• Spare fuses
• Tire jack
• Spare tire
• Lug wrench and cheater bar
• Old rug and gloves (optional)
• 2 cans of Fix a Flat (optional but recommended)
• Jumper cables
• $20 in small bills and some spare change
• Extra copy of driver’s license, registration and insurance, along with emergency contact numbers and any vital health information, such as medical conditions, allergies, etc.

The following are optional, but they have come in handy for many people:

• Water (either a few small or one large container)
• Snow and ice scraper
• Duct tape (works on nearly every broken radiator hose in a pinch)
• Warm clothing and/or blanket (keeping an old sweatshirt, a warm hat, extra socks, or a blanket can be a lifesaver if they are ever stranded in a snowstorm and can’t run the car for long)
• Snacks (think granola bars, cereal, beef jerky)
• Paper towels or clean rags
• A spare power supply for the cell phone

Yes, your kid will probably LOL (laugh out loud) and ask if they can tow the house behind them. For anyone who has been stranded during a heavy snow storm on a rural road with help hours away, you know that this emergency kit will keep your child comfortable if it happens to them. It could actually save their life.

There are a dozen other things that you could go over if you think your antsy teen will listen, such as:

• Insurance (who to call, what to do in case of an accident)
• When and how to pay their registration and get their emissions test (if applicable)
• The importance of not driving and texting
• How to change a headlamp or tail light bulb
• How to inspect the belts and hoses
• The importance (safety) of never going below a a quarter tank of gas
• The importance of cleaning the windshield and replacing wiper blades

Again, some of your information and tips may fall on deaf ears. Hopefully some of it sticks and they are able to use it if the need arises.

It’s nerve racking when our fledglings start driving or when they move away, but tell yourself that your parents lived through it. You will, too.

If your teen is sticking close to home, bring them and their car over to Hong Kong Auto Service and introduce them. Our mechanics will be happy to talk with them, answer any questions, and make them feel at home so if a problem arises, they know where they can come for service when they need it. 

Want to have your young driver’s vehicle inspected before it goes off to school? Schedule an appointment now.