New Year’s Resolutions for Your Car

When January 1^st rolls around, it’s common to make some resolutions to start the New Year off right. Why not make some for your car as well? Here are a few suggestions from Victorville Motors, CA.

Take care of the tires.

The last thing that you want to happen to you while you’re speeding down SoCal freeways is to get a flat. You can prevent that issue by checking your tires every time you stop for gas.

Look for obvious tears, scratches, or punctures that could become more serious later on. Check the depth of the treads by inserting a penny face down into a tread. If the entire head a showing, you need to replace the tire.

If you do not have a Tire Pressure Monitoring System, check your air pressure with a pressure gauge that you buy at your auto parts store. The recommended number will be listed either at the driver’s-side door jamb or in your owner’s manual. If your current pressure is less than that, add air using the air pump at the gas station.

Avoid distracted driving.

You probably already know that you shouldn’t be texting or using your smartphone as you drive. The distraction caused by these actions may cause an accident. If you have to make a phone call, pull over to a safe place and park before using your smartphone.

However, there are other sources of distracted driving that you should avoid. Don’t eat or drink, groom yourself, fiddle with a GPS or radio, or turn to yell at the kids. Keep your focus on the road as long as your hands are on the wheel. If the children are making trouble, you can pull over someplace before telling them to behave.

Create an emergency kit.

An emergency kit can help protect you during a breakdown and keep you and your passengers comfortable as you wait for help. You can create one yourself by putting the following items in a small backpack that you can take with you in case you need to leave the car.

·         Jumper cable for restarting a dead battery.

·         Multi-tool to make minor repairs.

·         First aid kit to deal with minor injuries.

·         Snacks and water to keep you satisfied.

·         Flashlight and extra batteries for illuminating dark places.

·         A fully charged battery pack that can power up your smartphone.

·         Emergency warning devices such as road flares or orange triangles to warn other drivers.

·         If it’s winter, an ice scraper and snow brush can help you remove visibility-impairing frost and snow from your windows and windshield. A bag of kitty litter or sand can be spread around the tires to help improve traction if you get stuck.

·         Season-appropriate clothing. In the winter, including mittens, hats, and a blanket. In the summer, have a hat with a wide brim, sunglasses, and sunblock.

Clear your visibility.

The external lights of your vehicle not only illuminate your route at night but also keep you visible to other drivers. Unfortunately, because you are inside your vehicle when you turn on the lights, you may not know if any of them are not working properly.

You’ll need the help of a relative or friend who can sit in the driver’s seat and make the lights function, for example, by switching on the headlamps or engaging a turn signal. You can then walk around your car to confirm that all your lights are working.

If you do spot non-working bulbs, you can change them easily and inexpensively by buying a replacement at your auto parts store. You can then make the replacement by following the instructions on the bulb package or in your owner’s manual.

Come in for regular maintenance.

Regular maintenance is the key to keeping your car functioning at its best level. It’s easy enough to forget that you need to bring your car in periodically after you’ve owned it for a few years. If you’ve ever had maintenance at our Service Department, we will mail you periodic reminders.

With the exception of creating an emergency kit, we can perform all the tasks listed in this New Year’s resolution while adding a few more. The advantage of bringing in your vehicle rather than doing it yourself lies beyond convenience and time savings. Our automotive technicians are factory-trained to diagnose and fix your particular brand. We only use manufacturer-approved components to ensure that your vehicle runs to its original specifications.