New Driver Education

Owner, James Zych gives his clients real tips and advice on how to take care of their vehicle’s normal care and maintenance. We offer new drivers an educational demonstration on how to keep up with the maintenance of their vehicle. This is great for young adults who have recently gotten their license or a new car.

The checklist:

 

  • ☐  Check the engine oil and transmission fluid regularly. When checking the transmission fluid the engine should be running. Be careful about moving parts in the engine.
  • ☐  Oil changes are recommended about every 3,000 miles or 3 months. Check your oil sticker in the upper left hand corner of your windshield to see when your car is due.
  • ☐  Check your tire pressure at least once per month. Average tire pressure is from 32 to 36 psi. Low air pressure wastes gas and shortens tire life.
  • ☐  To maximize the life of your tires, you should rotate and balance them about every 10,000 miles.
  • ☐  Before going on a long driving trip make sure your car’s tires, breaks, hoses, belts, lights and wipers are in good condition.
  • ☐  Brakes should be inspected every 6 months or every 6,000 – 10,000 miles. Many brake pads have “warning squealer clips” but they don’t always work.
  • ☐  An overlooked service is flushing the brake fluid.
  • ☐  If your air conditioning is not as cold as it should be, it may just need to be topped up with Freon.
  • ☐  Your car may have a cabin air filter that needs to be replaced. The cabin air filter optimizes A/C performance and provides you with clean air to breathe.
  • ☐  Windshield wipers should be replaced every year for optimal visibility when driving in rain.
  • ☐  A clean fuel injection and throttle body allow for optimal power and gas mileage. The fuel injection should be cleaned once a year.
  • ☐  Your vehicle’s engine should be tuned up according to the manufacturer’s schedule. A fouled spark plug can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 30%.
  • ☐  Inspect engine belts regularly. Worn belts can affect the engine’s performance and can cause damage if they break. Look for cracks or tears in the belt.
  • ☐  You should replace the engine air filter, on average, every 15,000 miles.
  • ☐  You should replace the fuel filter, on average, every 30,000 miles.
  • ☐  Have your headlights become yellow and cloudy? The cloudy lens blocks light which reduces visibility at night. The clarity of your headlights can be restored by having your headlights polished.
  • ☐  Extreme hot and extreme cold weather puts a lot of stress on your battery. Make sure your battery is in good condition so you don’t get stuck with a car that won’t start.
  • ☐  Check battery cables and posts for corrosion and clean them if needed.