Three Things New Drivers Need to Know!

Driver’s education courses teach new drivers things like how to safely merge into traffic, not how to tell if your car is about to overheat. Continue reading to learn a few things from an auto mechanic in Madison, TN that you’re not as likely to learn from your driver’s ed instructor!

Jumpstarts

You put the key in the ignition and try to turn the car on, but nothing happens. Uh-oh! Your battery is probably dead. In this situation, you’ll be glad that you have your jumper cables in your trunk. Hopefully, there’s another car nearby that can give you a jump. To do so, first attach one of the red clips to the positive terminal of your battery and the other red clip to the positive terminal of the other battery. Then, attach one black clip to the negative terminal of the other battery and the other black clip to an unpainted metal surface—like the metal struts that hold the hood open. Start the working vehicle and let it run for a few minutes before turning on your car. This should work—if not, you may need to have your car inspected by a professional.

Roadside tire changes

Getting a flat tire or having a tire blowout is every driver’s worst nightmare. Not only is it an inconvenience, but changing a tire by yourself can be tricky if you don’t know what to do! First, pull off to a safe spot on the road and turn on your hazard lights. Once it’s safe, get out and place wheel wedges in front of or behind your tires to ensure your car doesn’t start to roll away. Next, take off the hubcap and loosen the lug nuts of the flat tire. Place the jack under your vehicle alongside the flat tire and raise your car about six inches off the ground. Your owner’s manual should have the exact location to place the jack. Once your vehicle is raised, unscrew the lug nuts all the way and remove the flat tire. Finally, mount the spare and put the lug nuts back on. Voila—you’ve successfully changed your first flat tire!

It’s not a bad idea to join a service like AAA. Day or night, these auto assistance clubs will meet you on the side of the road and either change your tire on the spot or tow you to an auto mechanic in Madison, TN to have your tire replaced.

Overheating

Older vehicles tend to overheat on really hot days. If you notice that your dashboard light is blinking, turn off your AC and roll down your windows. If you’re stuck in traffic, put your vehicle in neutral and rev the engine. Doing so forces air and liquid through the radiator, cooling things off a bit. If it looks like you can’t drive any farther, pull off to the side of the road and open up the hood to let things cool off. Just remember to never remove the radiator cap, and don’t add water to your engine!

A little preventative maintenance goes a long way toward protecting your vehicle from breaking down on the side of the road. Bring your car to a trusted mechanic at Rivergate Muffler & Auto Repair on a regular basis for a checkup. We’ll inspect your whole vehicle to ensure everything looks good to go.

Categorised in: Mechanic

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