cars ran on mechanical systems that were relatively easy to understand. Because those systems weren't always reliable, people were trained to constantly monitor their vehicles. Parents could teach their children basic car maintenance and repair in the driveway. An experienced tinkerer could probably figure out what was wrong with her car and fix it herself.
But Tenpenny says those days are long gone. Computerization has made it more difficult to fix a car at home and has increased the risk of accidentally causing bigger problems. Drivers today also have different expectations that lead them to pay less attention to what's going on under the hood. "We have 100,000 mile warranties now. We think nothing will happen for that long so we don't realize we have to check things like anti-freeze and oil," Tenpenny says." That's how we end up with costly repair bills."
While you might never become an expert on your car, you can still learn enough to keep it running and keep yourself from getting hosed by unscrupulous repairmen. While there are numbers of sources you can turn to for information, Tenpenny says the most important one came with your car. Your owner's manual can tell you everything from how to
change the wiper blades to where to pour extra anti-freeze. As boring as it might sound, reading the manual cover to cover will save you money in the long run. And
not all books about cars are as dull as your manual. Tenpenny teaches his class at LHS with Auto Repair for Dummies by Deana Sclar. He says the book provides a good overview of car maintenance, but lightens the dense subject matter with humor to keep it interesting. "It even has cartoons," he says.
Another good place to look is the Internet. All car companies have Web sites. So do repair
also a great source because they put you in contact with other people who own your same make and model. Comparing notes with other owners can help you
"A lot of these college kids drive off to Chicago or Dallas without looking under the hood and the next thing you know, half the population of KU is sitting by the side of the highway."
gurus such as Tom and Ray Magliozzi, hosts of National Public Radio's Car Talk. Their site, www.cartalk.cars.com, has archives of questions from their show and newspaper column as well as searchable advice topics, including what to do before a road trip. Car fan sites are
David Tenpenny, automotive technology teacher at Lawrence High School.
figure out what's wrong or likely to go wrong with your car. The Volkswagen Vortex, www.vwvortex.com, is one such site. It connects VW owners from around the world through themed chat rooms and message boards.
Ultimately what all these sources should be teaching you is common sense. Tenpenny says you should know basics: where your dipstick is, what the lights on the dashboard mean and how to contact
factories. Keeping a small set of tools including wrenches, pliers and screw-drivers in your car is also a good idea. But most importantly, know to take your car to a mechanic whenever something doesn't sound or look right. "Don't sit there and go 'well I'll do it tomorrow,'"
Tenpenny says. "A lot of these college kids drive off to Chicago or Dallas without looking under the hood and the next thing you know half the population of KU is sitting by the side of the highway." The Magliozzi brothers agree. "It's a mistake to think you're saving money by putting off maintenance and non-emergency repair," they say.
But don't take your car just anywhere. Find a mechanic you can trust. The best way to do this is by talking to people. Tenpenny says word of mouth is what makes or breaks a mechanic. Try asking to your friends, teachers and organizations such as the Better Business Bureau what they recommend. Once you actually get to a shop, keep an ear open for the signs of a good mechanic. Tenpenny says most good shops will take the time to answer your questions. If there's a strange noise you've noticed, a good shop will send someone to go on a test drive and give you an evaluation. Most importantly, a good shop will never keep you in the dark. "If they just say I think you need this, run away." Tenpenny says. "A good technician will tell you what you need and why."
—Maggie Koerth, Jayplay staff writer, can be reached at mkoerth@kansan.com.
A CLOSER LOOK: This is a 1992 Oldsmobile Cutlass Cierra. Most of the labeled parts will look similar in other cars, but they may be in other places. Check your owner's manual for a description specific to your vehicle. power steering fluid
thursday, october 9, 2003
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