Maintenance Basics for Teens
By BENGT HALVORSON

So you're going to have a new driver in the family. Standard driver's ed courses may have already taught your son or daughter the basics of how to drive, but they seldom teach teens what they really need to know to keep a car running right, so as to avoid costly repairs and keep safe from roadside breakdowns and other mishaps.

Trouble is, many young drivers don't know -- or even care -- how a car works, or what they need to do to keep it working. There are some, admittedly, who are real gearheads, but most teens have other concerns, like clubs, sports, or their image to the opposite sex.
They may be fascinated with the car as a symbol of independence, and as an appliance,
but that's it. They get in, turn the key, and it goes. How do you enforce the importance of proper maintenance? As we cover below, helping to educate them is a big start to success.

In the interest of your son or daughter's happiness and safety -- and your wallet -- do the following before you even let them take to the roads:

Show them the basics underhood. This doesn't have to be complicated. Show your son or daughter around the hood. Show them where the engine is, the alternator, the battery,
the transmission, the radiator. If you don't know where everything is, your mechanic will probably be glad to show both of you. Follow up by showing where the items that need the most frequent attention are, like the oil dipstick and filler, the coolant reservoir, and the washer fluid bottle.

Check the spare. Teens tend to drive older vehicles in general, and the condition of the spare is important. Earl Baker, of AAA Approved Auto Repair, says, "Make sure the spare tire in their car has air in it. It's something that's almost always completely overlooked."
It may be completely deflated or unusable, or missing altogether. If it's an older car that was bought used, make sure the spare is there, along the jack, and test the jack to make sure it's the correct one and fits the car at the right jacking point.

Set the emergency kit. You should have an emergency toolkit and a first-aid kit in your car, no matter how old the car is or if you only drive around town. Make sure your teen driver knows where the kit is and what's inside. It should include flares, emergency triangles, and a blanket.

Get the paperwork in order. "Make sure they have the proper insurance papers and registration in the vehicle, that they know where they are, and that they're updated.
Young people tend to get involved in more minor fender-benders, too, and it only complicates matters," advised Baker. Being able to present the proper documents can
help reduce the chances of headaches later on when it comes time to make a claim. Tape
a cheat sheet inside the glovebox door for your son or daughter, with who to call, what to say, and what to present.

Give them a cellphone for emergencies, or at least keep a cellphone in the car, but make them promise never to use it while driving. Finally, remind your teen driver about distraction. Inexperience more than cancels out any advantage that the new driver might have in reaction time. Strictly ban them from driving while talking on the cell phone, eating, or drinking. Also place limits on friends who can ride along.

Now that your new driver is familiar with the car, they'll need to know what to do, and how often. "We don't want them to become a hazard on the road when normal maintenance could have avoided it," said Kathy Downing, manager of driver services for the Auto Club, an AAA affiliate for Southern California. Here are some maintenance concerns that should be addressed on a regular basis:

Check the oil. Many teen drivers make it out on the road with no idea how to check the oil, let alone that they should check it at every other fill-up. Some don't even wonder about it until the low oil light flickers and damage has already been done. Make sure they know how to read the dipstick, that the engine needs to be off, and that the car should be parked on level ground. Go over the procedure on what kind of oil to add and how, being careful not to add too much.

Check the tires. Inspect the tread for wear, embedded objects, cracking, or exposed belt material. Check the pressure every other time you fill up with fuel. Consult with the pressures on the inside of the driver's doorsill or inside the fuel filler door.

Battery. A dying battery will likely fail on one of the coldest or hottest days, Especially if a battery is more than a couple of years old, check frequently for a buildup of corrosion. Beware that some batteries still require checking the level and adding water as necessary.

Coolant. When you have the hood open, show your son or daughter where the coolant reservoir bottle is, and make sure it's in the acceptable range. It's an easy check, so emphasize that failing to check and maintain the cooling system will leave you stranded
on the side of the road sooner or later, probably at the least convenient time. Plus, overheats are costly and hazardous to the safety of the driver and other motorists.

Check all the lights. An easy thing for teens to check on their own. For checking the back-up lights, taillights, and brake lights, a strip-mall building at night with big windows may work well. Just back tail-in to a space, set the parking brake, and turn off the engine then bring the ignition key to the 'on' position without starting the engine. Run through all the lights, looking at their reflection. Good idea to check through them all once a month.

Keep the windshield clean. "Just a dirty windshield could cause big problems," said Downing. It's hard to stress the importance of visibility enough. Make sure there's a fresh set of wipers and that the washer bottle underhood is topped off on a regular basis with washer fluid, not water. There's a difference: Water combines with road grime to help
make wipers smear, while washer fluid helps keep them clean. On another note, never set out on a cold morning without first scraping or wiping the frost or dew off the windshield, windows, and lights.

Then there are some important maintenance-minded habits for every time your son or daughter gets behind the wheel:

Do a walk-around. Sherry Goodloe, senior instructor with the Auto Club, says, "We do a walk-around the first lesson…then, each subsequent lesson, before getting in the car we have them do the walkaround" to spot anything unusual, especially eyeing the windows, tires, and front and back ends. In the quick check, they may find a flat before damaging
the wheel, or, for instance, an object, child, or pet behind the car.

Look down at the gauges and idiot lights. Some cars come with a set of thorough gauges, while others only have a set of "idiot lights" that remind the driver when the engine is already overheating or when it's dangerously low in oil or oil pressure. If you have gauges, remind your son or daughter where the normal range is, and that if any of the idiot lights ever comes on, to pull over at the next safe place and call for advice.

Listen to the engine. When your young driver is learning, don't allow loud music; best not
to listen to anything but the symphony of the road. "No matter what the vehicle, it's important to know what the vehicle is supposed to be like when it's running as normal," added Dave Skaien senior instructor with the Auto Club Driving School . Skaien said that if
a driver is more familiar with the normal sounds of the vehicle, he or she will be much more likely to recognize when something is wrong and avoid a breakdown or accident.

Get the car inspected at least once every year. Again, because teens tend to drive older vehicles this is especially important. Whatever the model, Skaien said, "You should have the vehicle thoroughly inspected and repaired to make it worthy to drive. All of this should be done by a qualified mechanic." If the young driver isn't capable of paying for this, or bringing it up to safe and reliable running condition, he or she probably shouldn't be owning a vehicle.

Establish the responsibilities

Parents and children have different expectations about car privileges and the financial responsibilities of driving -- and each family situation is different, too, so it's important to establish these responsibilities before something happens. The AAA officials agreed on
one thing: before a teen driver gets car privileges, parents and child need to meet and
come up with a contract, so it's understood what the young driver is expected to pay for and when they are allowed to use the car. If the new driver will have his or her own car, try to estimate what the maintenance expenses are going to be before he or she drowns in them.

If you're still worrying -- and right you should -- consider a driving school that teaches
new drivers about cars and driving and accident avoidance. Don't rely on a simple Internet search for this. Ask your insurance agent, high school, car club, or the DMV.

Remember, the most effective way of getting the strategy to work is by inflicting an
adult-like level of responsibility and accountability, and by clearly calling out the rules in advance. As is the case with all aspects of teen driving, set a good example. If you keep your own vehicle in good shape and are prepared for breakdowns or mishaps, it's more likely that your son or daughter will be, too.

"How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off on Repairs & Maintenance"
Edmunds.com editors

Few things in life are filled with as much mystery and anxiety as automotive service. Any number of questions can arise when something is wrong with your car or even when you just bring it to the dealer for its scheduled maintenance:

"My car only has 12,000 miles on it, so why do the brakes shudder?"

"When I brought my car to the dealership for its 15,000-mile maintenance, the service adviser showed me a list of things to be done that was a lot more than my owner's manual called for. Do I go by the book or heed the service adviser's recommendations?"

As with anything else in life, the more you know, the better off you are. A little homework and street smarts will go a long way toward saving your pocketbook from unsavory service practices. Yes, we know that not all dealerships and mechanics are out to cheat you, and there are a lot of them who take pride in their work ethic. But let's not be naive, reputations don't just materialize out of thin air, either. Can you fully trust that the service team at the dealership or the mechanic down the street is going to give you a fair shake? Maybe, but it wouldn't hurt to arm yourself with some knowledge to guard against those who are out to rip you off.

That said, here are a few tips for dealing with both repair and maintenance circumstances:


Repairs:

1) Get yourself a service/repair manual for your car (typically available at the major auto parts chains, such as Pep Boys and AutoZone). When the time comes, this will at least help you research and understand what the mechanic or service adviser is talking about when
he tells you what's wrong with your car.

2) If the problem is something that affects safety or seems to be a common manufacturing defect (such as shuddering brakes on a relatively new car), chances are you can get the problem taken care of for free. What you want to do is find out if a recall (which is when the manufacturer openly acknowledges a defect) has been issued for that problem. Oftentimes you'll get a letter in the mail (a "recall notice") that will tell you what the problem is (even
if you haven't experienced it) and urge you to make a service appointment to get it taken care of. But if you feel you have a problem and haven't received any notice in the mail, go to the NHTSA site and click on "Recall Searches by make, model, year." Under "Select the TYPE of search," you'll want to go with the already selected "Vehicle" category. You then enter the information that's requested to obtain the recall notice(s) that have been issued for your vehicle.

In addition to recalls, there are also technical service bulletins (also called "TSBs" or "Service Bulletins"), which are similar to recalls except that the defect(s) haven't cropped up in enough vehicles for a recall to be issued. In other words, only a small number of people have discovered and complained about the problem. The manufacturer lets the dealership's service department know about the problem, and if someone brings in a vehicle with said problem, it should be taken care of for free. To check for a possible TSB
on your vehicle, again go to the NHTSA site only this time click on "Service Bulletins" and then click on "Search Technical Bulletins." You then enter the information on your vehicle
as you would when looking for a recall. Note that you can also find service bulletin and
recall information for your car by using the Edmunds.com Maintenance Calculator.

3) If the above doesn't apply and you're going to be facing some repair bills, you should check with the local Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if any complaints have been filed against the repair shops or dealerships you're considering for your car's care.

4) If they check out OK, ask the respective shop managers if the mechanics they employ are "ASE" (Automotive Service Excellence) certified, and in what areas (such as engine, brakes, electrical, etc.). Obviously, you only want ASE mechanics working on your car.

5) When you've picked a shop and are dropping the car off, tell the person handling your
car that you want to be given an estimate before they perform the repair(s). Tell them to call you with the estimate and for your authorization before they do anything else so you can decide whether you want them to do the work.

6) Once you've gotten the lowdown on the necessary repairs and an estimate, it wouldn't hurt to quickly call another half-dozen or so shops (that also have good credentials) to get additional estimates for the work. Be certain that you make it clear to them exactly what you need done to your vehicle. What you're looking for is some consistency -- estimates that are a lot lower than the average might not be real, whereas ones that are a lot higher could indicate a shop trying to take you to the cleaners.

7) If the shop that already has your car seems to have a fair price for the work, call them back and authorize them to make the repairs. Ask them if there is a written warranty. You might want to tell them that you'd like to have the old parts back -- as confirmation that
the repairs have indeed been made. Use your best judgment on this one; if you're getting
a new exhaust system, for example, you can simply look under the car to check that a new one has been installed. Finally, don't forget to ask them when the car will be ready for pickup.

8) After the repairs are complete and you've gone to the shop to pick up your car, first scrutinize the bill to make sure the agreed-upon work was done and the cost is in line with the estimate. If anything looks awry, ask about it right then and there.

9) Check out your car and take it for a brief test-drive with the service adviser or the mechanic riding shotgun. This way, if the car still makes the "funny noise," or "runs rough" or "pulls to the side" when you hit the brakes, he'll be right there to witness it. Don't take the car unless you are satisfied.


Maintenance:

1) Before you take your car in for its scheduled maintenance ("15,000-mile service," for example), grab the owner's manual (that little-read book that's usually in the glovebox) and look up what services the manufacturer recommends at this particular mileage point. Usually, there will be two different schedules, one for "normal driving" and another for "severe duty" use. The latter usually is defined as the car being driven primarily for very short trips (such as for delivery use), or in very dusty or severe climate conditions.

2) Once you've figured out which schedule applies to your car (more often than not, it's going to be "normal driving"), call the dealer and make an appointment for your car's service.

3) When you take your car to the dealer, make sure that you take the owner's manual with you. When you arrive and talk to the service adviser, chances are he's going to whip out some official-looking chart showing what the dealership recommends for your car's service. And chances are the cost of this "service" is double or triple what the manufacturer's recommended service would be. But since you've studied the owner's manual and are confident that the actual maker of the car (not some easy-profit-oriented dealership) knows what the car needs, you can politely tell the adviser, "No thanks, just do what the manufacturer states." If he balks, show him the owner's manual and go over the actual service you want performed. At that point, his argument for transmission fluid replacement or fuel-injection cleaning for your 15,000-mile car will cease to have any validity.

We recommend printing out this list of tips and keeping it in your glovebox (preferably with the owner's manual) so you can review it if need be. Now that you're savvy about matters of maintenance (and repair), we're confident that taking your car in for service won't equate to a chance of you being taken to the cleaners.
 

How to shop for a fuel-efficient car
Keeping fuel economy in mind early can make a big difference.
By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNNMoney.com staff writer

If you're shopping for a more fuel-efficient car, you need to get a handle on what poor fuel economy really costs you. And you'll need to take a hard look at what you actually need in
a vehicle.

If fuel economy is important to you, you'll need to keep it in mind early in your decision process. Once you've settled on a specific make and model, most choices you make will have only a slight effect on fuel economy.

You might want to consider a gas-electric hybrid vehicle. If you do, you should make that choice for reasons other than saving money.

A hybrid car or SUV will burn considerably less fuel than a non-hybrid version. It shuts
down its gasoline engine whenever it stops, making it quieter and more relaxing to drive in city traffic. However, according to various calculations, hybrid cars are not cost effective,
on a purely financial basis, because they add more in cost than they save in fuel, even
when factoring in federal tax credits.

Another option, of course, is to consider whether you could get by with a smaller vehicle to begin with.

Be aware of all your options

If you've decided you need an SUV, for example, ask yourself why. If you need the storage flexibility to occasionally haul large items, don't forget that there are other options.

"Most people I know who drive SUVs use them as large station wagons," said Jack Nerad, editorial director for Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com Website.

So why not just buy a station wagon? There are plenty to choose from these days and they generally get better mileage than SUVs.

If it's for the sake of getting all-wheel-drive, there are many cars today that offer that as
an option. And, if you live in an area where it snows only occasionally, new technology like electronic traction control and stability control offer improved handling and traction in snow without the added weight and complexity of all-wheel-drive.

If you still feel you want the flexibility of an SUV, that doesn't have to mean getting a gas-guzzling behemoth. The so-called "crossover" segment of car-based SUVs has expanded enormously in recent years, meaning that you can probably find something with reasonably good fuel economy.

Fine tuning

In most cases, choosing different engines and transmissions on the same vehicle will make slight differences in your fuel economy. For example, on vehicles with several different engine options, getting a smaller engine -- a V-6, for example, instead of a V-8 -- will usually get you about two miles per gallon better fuel economy, as estimated by the EPA.

Forgoing all-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive on a car or SUV will gain you about one mile
per gallon in fuel economy by EPA estimates.

How much money that ultimately means depends on the vehicle and, of course, on fuel prices. If gasoline costs about $3.00 per gallon, a one mile per gallon difference in fuel economy will save you about $90 to $150 a year in fuel costs. The difference in annual fuel cost will be larger for vehicles that get poorer fuel economy, like large SUVs, since that
extra mile per gallon will mean more in percentage terms.

For some items, like a larger engine or all-wheel-drive, the extra fuel costs will be added to the higher initial cost for the vehicle and higher insurance costs. So, if you can get by with
a slightly more fuel-efficient powertrain, it may pay off financially in more ways than just at the gas pump.

Consider other costs

On the other hand, some decisions made for the sake of fuel economy can cost you more
in other ways. For example, you might save fuel by getting a stickshift transmission rather than an automatic. But, because automatic transmissions have become very efficient, the savings are slight, usually about one mile per gallon, according to EPA estimates.

Depending on how you drive, the stickshift may actually be less efficient in real-world driving. If you always rev the engine for maximum power, you're burning more fuel than
you would have with an automatic transmission.

Also, when it comes time to trade in or sell that car, the stickshift version will probably be worth much less, said Nerad. Except for sports cars, cars with manual transmissions are harder to sell in the used car market. So any amount saved on fuel would be more than wiped out at trade-in time.

The same can go for small engines. While getting the smallest possible engine will save
you money in several ways, including a lower price for the vehicle and lower insurance costs, you should consider the effect it will have on the vehicle's resale value. Getting an underpowered engine in a car can make it harder to sell later, ultimately costing you thousands of dollars.