If you were driving down the highway and your tire blew out, would you know how to fix it? Knowing how to perform some basic car maintenance tasks is vital when you’re in a jam and can save you a lot of time and money in the long run. It can also help you as a driver foster a deeper understanding of your vehicle, making it easier to assess when your car requires more extensive repairs at Double L Motors.

Here are five simple tasks that you can learn to help maintain your car:

#1 Changing a Flat Tire

One of the first things drivers learn when it comes to maintenance is that learning how to change a flat tire is very important. If you experience a flat tire, pull over to a safe place and engage your parking brake. Next, loosen the lug nuts and jack up the car. Spare tires should only ever be placed on the rear of your car. If you experience a front flat tire, replace it with one of the rear tires and put the spare tire in the back. Ensure that the air valve on the spare tire is facing out and replace the lug nuts before driving to a repair shop.

#2 Jumpstarting a Car

This is an especially useful trick to have if you own a used car in Calgary, where the winters can be freezing cold. After turning off the engine on both your car and the one giving you energy:

  1. Grab your jumper cables and connect them to the battery terminals.
  2. Ensure that you connect the red clamps to the positive terminals and one black clamp to the negative terminals of the working battery, and the other to a metal surface under the hood of the dead car.
  3. Do not let the jumper leads come into contact at any time during the process.
  4. Start the engine of the working car and give your battery five minutes to charge.

 #3 Replacing Windshield Wiper Blades

It is very easy for worn wipers to go unnoticed until you are caught in a rainstorm and they aren’t doing their job. It may surprise you to learn that wipers should be replaced every six months, especially after the winter. Watch for squeaking, slapping, or clicking sounds that indicate it is time to replace your wipers.

#4 Checking Tire Pressure

Incorrect tire pressure can have a negative impact on your car’s gas usage and handling. To check tire pressure:

  1. Check the recommended PSI located on the inside of the driver’s door.
  2. Remove the caps from the air valves, apply a pressure gauge to the valve, and ensure a solid seal between the valve and gauge. If the pressure is off, use an air compressor to add air to the tire or depress the valve to remove some air.
  3. Remember to never overfill your tires, as this can cause them to blow.

#5 Checking Fluid Pressure

Transmission fluid, engine oil, coolant, and wiper fluid should be considered the lifeblood of your car. Checking them means that you need to have some familiarity with your engine, so read through your owner’s manual for details on maintaining them properly and how often they should be checked. Make sure that you always allow your engine to cool before touching anything under the hood of your car.

Visit Double L Motors

If you are looking to buy used cars in Calgary, please visit our team at Double L Motors. We are happy to find you the car of your dreams and provide you with tips on how to look after your new vehicle so that you can enjoy it for years to come.