POWDER PUFF POWDER PUFF AUTO’SAUTO’S

Beginners’ Automotive Beginners’ Automotive Training for MomsTraining for Moms

Changing a Flat TireChanging a Flat Tire

Several easy steps to making Several easy steps to making a big deal turn into a small a big deal turn into a small

glitch.glitch.

Identifying a FlatIdentifying a Flat

– A car with a A car with a punctured tire has punctured tire has no air pressure, it no air pressure, it rides on the rim. rides on the rim. The spare must be The spare must be put on. put on.

Locating SpareLocating Spare

– The spare, along The spare, along with the jack, is with the jack, is usually in the usually in the trunk. Some trunk. Some vehicles store the vehicles store the spar under the spar under the car.car.

Setting the JackSetting the Jack

– Some cars have a Some cars have a marked place for marked place for the jack to rest on. the jack to rest on. Others, you must Others, you must set the jack on set the jack on any sturdy place any sturdy place such as a frame-such as a frame-rail or a control rail or a control arm. arm.

Loosening the Lug NutsLoosening the Lug Nuts

– Set the jack so Set the jack so that it is under that it is under pressure but the pressure but the vehicle is not yet vehicle is not yet of the ground. of the ground. Break each lug Break each lug nut loose, one by nut loose, one by one, but do not one, but do not remove them.remove them.

Remove Flat TireRemove Flat Tire

– Raise the car so Raise the car so that the tire is off that the tire is off the ground. the ground. Remove all of the Remove all of the lug nuts. Pull of lug nuts. Pull of the tire and set it the tire and set it down. Be careful down. Be careful while doing this so while doing this so as not to rock the as not to rock the car and drop it of car and drop it of the jack.the jack.

Put On SparePut On Spare

– Put the spare in Put the spare in place and spin the place and spin the lug nuts on with lug nuts on with your hand. Snug your hand. Snug them in a star them in a star pattern with a pattern with a wrench so that wrench so that tire is centered. tire is centered.

Finish Tightening the Lug Finish Tightening the Lug NutsNuts

– Bring the car Bring the car down so that the down so that the spare touches the spare touches the ground. Use the ground. Use the lug wrench to fully lug wrench to fully tighten the lug tighten the lug nuts. Bring the nuts. Bring the car down all that car down all that way and put away way and put away your tools.your tools.

Voila, Your Done! Voila, Your Done!

Checking Under the HoodChecking Under the Hood

Making sure all your fluids Making sure all your fluids and your battery are in and your battery are in perfect operating order.perfect operating order.

Checking Oil LevelChecking Oil Level

– First and First and foremost, oil level foremost, oil level is key for proper is key for proper engine operation. engine operation. The oil dipstick is The oil dipstick is either labeled or a either labeled or a bright color so bright color so that it’s easy to that it’s easy to find. Pull out the find. Pull out the dipstick and wipe dipstick and wipe it off with a rag.it off with a rag.

Proper Oil LevelProper Oil Level

– Dip the dipstick Dip the dipstick back into it’s back into it’s holder and bring it holder and bring it up to check the oil up to check the oil level. The level level. The level should be at the should be at the top of the hash top of the hash marks. If the oil is marks. If the oil is to dark/dirty, it to dark/dirty, it might be time to might be time to change it. change it.

Checking Coolant LevelChecking Coolant Level

– To check the To check the coolant, look at coolant, look at the side of the the side of the overflow tank and overflow tank and make sure the make sure the level is at the MAX level is at the MAX mark. Also, check mark. Also, check to see if the to see if the coolant is clean coolant is clean and still at it’s and still at it’s original color.original color.

Checking Transmission FluidChecking Transmission Fluid

– If a car is equipped If a car is equipped with an automatic with an automatic transmission, the transmission, the fluid in it must be fluid in it must be at the proper at the proper level. To check it, level. To check it, start the car and start the car and follow the same follow the same procedure as the procedure as the oil level, only with oil level, only with the car running.the car running.

Checking Power-Steering FluidChecking Power-Steering Fluid

– To check the To check the power-steering power-steering fluid, locate the fluid, locate the fluid reservoir. fluid reservoir. Remove the cap Remove the cap and you will notice and you will notice that the dipstick is that the dipstick is built right into it. built right into it. Simply dip it and Simply dip it and check the fluid. check the fluid.

Filling Windshield-Washer Fluid Filling Windshield-Washer Fluid

– The windshield-The windshield-washer fluid tank washer fluid tank should always be should always be filled, just in case. filled, just in case. To fill it, locate the To fill it, locate the tank and fill it until tank and fill it until the tank is filled to the tank is filled to the top. the top.

Inspecting the BatteryInspecting the Battery

– Without the Without the battery, your car battery, your car would not start. would not start. For this reason, it For this reason, it is important to is important to make sure that make sure that the battery is the battery is clean, dry, and clean, dry, and that the terminals that the terminals are shiny and not are shiny and not corroded.corroded.

Your Car Is Now Ready To Go!Your Car Is Now Ready To Go!