Common Sense Car Tips for Women
By Teresa Ambord
If your father never told you, a shade tree mechanic might. There are a lot of simple, common sense things you should know about your car and driving that can save you problems on the road, or prevent some from ever happening.
If your car overheats:
Turn on the heater full blast. This pulls heat off the engine. Then keep an eye on the gauge to see if it changes.
Of course, if the car overheats while the air conditioner is on, turn it off immediately as it taxes the engine.
If you'll be sitting idle for more than 90 seconds, like at a train crossing or drive-thru, pop your automatic transmission into neutral. This takes some of the strain off the engine.
Tires:
Get in the habit of glancing at your tires when you get in the car. Soon it'll be second nature and you'll know before leaving home if you have a potential problem. Don't wait to check a tire that looks low. Not only will you avoid flats, but your tires will last longer when properly inflated, and your car will get better mileage.
While you are driving, if the car seems to be pulling right or left, it could indicate a low tire that is on its way to flattening. Don't ignore the warning signal. Pull off as soon as you can to inflate the tire, and you may save yourself a flat.
When tires get worn in spots, the cords can begin to pop out. You may not be able to see the cords, so once in a while, especially before a trip, run your hands all around the tires and see if you feel anything you shouldn't, like wires.
Battery Cables and Connectors:
If your battery connectors become corroded and covered with greenish, fuzzy material, you could end up going nowhere fast. You can clean the corrosion yourself by pouring some cola directly on the green fuzz. If it's stubborn, you may have to remove the cables and scrub the corrosion with a wire brush that you can get at a hardware store. The corrosion is battery acid so you may need gloves.
Brakes:
If you must drive through a puddle, your brakes could get wet. After leaving the puddle, accelerate slowly while applying your brake. That exposes the brakes to air, giving them a chance to dry.
If you must hit a pothole, don't keep the brakes applied. Doing that locks up the wheel and can damage the suspension.
Miscellaneous:
Suppose your fan belt breaks miles from anywhere. In a pinch, you can use panty hose. Just loop the pantyhose around the fan belt cogs and, if possible, cut off the loose ends. Then get yourself to a mechanic.
If you're driving on a windy day and the wind is pushing the car around, you can counteract that somewhat by rolling the two rear windows down a few inches. That allows the wind to go through the car instead of pushing against it.
Once in a while, clean your windshield wipers with window cleaner and a paper towel to remove the road oil and grime. They'll last longer and perform better.
If your car has a problem smell, you may be able to solve it simply with dryer sheets. Even a strong smoke smell can eventually be defeated by tucking dryer sheets in every nook and cranny of the interior of the car. After a while, you should be able to remove the sheets and the smell should have vanished.
If pet hair is an issue, you know it can seem sticky when you try to vacuum or brush it. Try spraying it with Static Guard, which should loosen it.
