Car Quiz 101 - Does your car knowledge need a tune-up?

This sentence started me thinking..."Rich and his staff have seen clients at a loss when their mechanic goes out of business or is unavailable"

Found on www.hillcrest.patch.com and brought to you by Car Rapair Salinas

By Katherine Kurkov | Email the author | March 26, 2011

 

What year is your car?

What is the model ? (be specific)

What kind of engine does it have ?

When was your last oil change?

What is the tire size and correct pressure ?

Where is your registration and owner's manual?

If you scored less than 100 percent it's time to do a quick knowledge tune-up. Rich Tidy, store manager of Car Parts Warehouse on Mayfield Road, is a source for individuals and repair shops.

He said that for them to get you the right parts you need to know your car.

“It's important, you depend on your car.”

Since many of us have trouble remembering all the letters, numbers and options, he suggested jotting down all pertinent information. However, the best time to start is before you are in a bind. A new folder for the new year can help make your life easier, your driving safer and even stretch your gas dollar.

First, dig out all your receipts and organize them in two groups: maintenance and repair. If possible, jot down the last few oil changes (date/mileage) and any recent repairs on the outside of the folder and put the rest inside. This will make your life easier if you have an unexpected breakdown and need to provide details of previous work. Think of  these as medical records for your car.

Rich and his staff have seen clients at a loss when their mechanic goes out of business or is unavailable. Keeping good records will also remind you when it is time for an oil change. It can even help impress a future buyer with your car care. The model and engine size are needed when talking to your mechanic or ordering the right part. This can influence even small items like wiper blades.

Other vital statistics to know about your auto are the size and type of tire. For recommendations, look in the owner's manual, the tires themselves and on a tag usually found on the side of the door. This tag also has load and inflation information. Having the right tires on your car properly inflated will definitely save you money with better gas milage and longer tire wear, but it will also help your car handle properly in less-than-perfect conditions.

Finally, locate your owner's manual and registration. Take a few minutes to look through the manual and add the registration to your folder.  You should also write down the vehicle identification number, located on the dashboard, and keep it in your folder information. You may want to add insurance policies to this folder as well. Once you have your folder started it will be easy to keep up. It’s the right way to “roll” (on properly inflated tires, of course).

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