Basic Car Maintenance Tips for Teens

For many parents, fixing the national debt crises is easier than trying to get their teenager to focus on the importance of basic car maintenance.

Most teenagers live in a world that focuses on the short-term where anything after next weekend is a million years away. So how do you get your teenager to learn the long term value of basic car maintenance? Hit them where it hurts. Now I don’t mean literally hit them, I’m talking about dinero, scratch, cold hard cash! The conversation might go like this: "By the way Johnny, you know that iPad that you’ve been saving for? Well, since you decided not to take the time to check your oil level and the car’s in the repair shop, you can kiss that iPad goodbye!"

Teenagers need to understand that costly repairs can occur if they don’t properly maintain their car and it all starts with basic car maintenance. It’s not about keeping the outside of the car clean and polished, you have to take a look under the hood.

1. Check the oil:

Show your teen where they can find the "oil dipstick." It usually has a bright handle that reads "engine oil." Have your teenager pull out the dip stick and wipe it off and remind your teenage girl to wear gloves before they say "EWW that’s gross!" and never want to check the oil again! Insert the dipstick fully back in. Pull it out again and check the oil level. It should be between the "Low" and "Full" marks.
Let your teen know the importance of keeping all the fluids -transmission fluid, coolant, etc. - clean and topped off. Point out where the oil filter and the coolant reservoir are located. Describe the dangers of opening the radiator cap when the engine is hot and be sure to tell them not to put their face directly over the radiator! Some auto repair shops, such as Echo Lube  will give you free top-offs on motor oil between service visits for up to 3,000 miles.
2. Battery:

Have your teen remove any metal jewelry before they come in contact with the battery … and that includes any bellybutton piercings that you might not know about. The metal could cause a spark and give them a nasty burn. Have your teen wear old, stained clothing while checking the battery for any leaks, cracks or other potential trouble. Battery fluid can make this a messy job and put holes in your clothes if battery acid is leaking. Look for any dirty, greasy terminals or corrosion which appears as a white, ashy deposit around the posts or cables. Tell your teen that if they let the corrosion build up and don’t clean it off, it’ll interfere will the electrical connection and can eat away at the wires and battery terminals. Before you start to clean the posts and terminals, remove the terminal connectors from their posts. Pour a can of soda or a mixture of baking soda and water over the battery.
Since baking soda neutralizes acids it will bubble so wait about 5 minutes before taking a wire brush and scraping all the corrosion and dirt off. Once you’re done, rinse thoroughly with water.

3. Windshield/ Wipers:

If the sun is shining brightly but your teenager thinks it’s a cloudy every day, it’s probably because their windshield needs to be cleaned. Explain that cleaning doesn’t mean wiping a small, circular spot on the windshield either. The whole windshield should be cleaned so show them how to fill the window washer fluid container so they can keep the windshield crystal clear. If you notice that the windshield isn’t getting clear, it might be time to check or change the wipers.

4. Tire Pressure:

Have your teen get in the habit of checking the tires on a weekly basis. This is bound to be a challenge because you probably can’t even get them to clean their rooms once a week! Inflating and maintaining proper tire pressure ensures safer, more comfortable driving and better fuel efficiency which means they can drive farther on less money! That might make an impression.

Teach your teenager to use a standard pressure gauge that measures pounds per square inch (PSI) and fits easily in the glove compartment. There’s no guarantee that the gauge won’t end up in the backseat in between the seat. To get the most accurate PSI check the vehicle's tire pressure when the tires are cold.

Also demonstrate how to change a flat tire so they can do it on their own. This will save you from having to leave the comfort of your home to change a tire on a cold and wintery night.

5. The Dashboard:

Be sure to show your teen how to navigate around the gauges and idiot lights on the dashboard. Most of the idiot lights come on as a visual alert. These are warnings that your teen might want to check out before there’s a major problem.

Turning up the radio and ignoring the flashing or dinging of these alerts will only make matters worse and costly.

Showing your teen the basics of car maintenance should only take a couple of hours. Your teenager will feel he spent an eternity with you but as they back out of the driveway, you can feel a bit more secure knowing that you just might have gotten through to them on the long term value of basic car maintenance … or not.