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New Year’s Resolutions for Your Car
A new year has arrived and it’s time for new year’s resolutions. But while you’re pretending to go to the gym and buying books that will sit on your nightstand for a year, what of your beloved car? Doesn’t it deserve to be the best version of itself? We’re here to help you help your car! We’ve got five resolutions to help your car start the year off right.
Clean Your Car Inside & Out
A clean car is a healthy car, both inside and out. First, let’s tackle the interior. Use auto window cleaner and a microfiber cloth to wipe down your windows and mirror. It can be dangerous for everyone on the road if they’re dirty. Wipe down door handles, steering wheels and other surfaces inside of your car to get rid of bacteria. Next, you’re going to want to take care of the dirt and crumbs that have accumulated in your vehicle. Even the cleanest person tracks dirt into their car. A handheld vacuum will do nicely for this.
As for the exterior, you could take your car to the car wash. We generally don’t recommend that as the bristles pick up dirt from the other vehicles as they clean. There is a risk that abrasive material could get ground into your paint job. We suggest a 3 bucket system: 1 bucket with soap and water for cleaning your vehicle, 1 bucket with water so you can rinse abrasives out of your cleaning mitt, and 1 bucket filled with cleaning solution for your wheels. For more information, check out our blog on the subject!
Touch Up Your Car
Yes. We are a touch up paint company and this is a tad self serving. But we genuinely believe that everyone’s paint job could use a little boost. Why drive around with those ugly little scratches and nicks that your car has picked up on its day to day? With our perfect color match, you can vanish those blemishes in no time! We recommend different applicators for different types of damage. For rock chips and tiny nicks (around the size of a pencil eraser or smaller), we suggest using the Pen. The Pen’s fine tip allows for more control working with a small area. For slightly bigger scratches (around the size of a quarter or smaller), try the Brush. Its brush in cap system is versatile enough to handle blemishes of all sizes. Spend an hour or two restoring the paint job your car deserves.
Organize Your Trunk
Having stuff just roll around your trunk is both messy and dangerous. A bunch of loose clutter back there can lead to crushed groceries and a whole bunch of stuff you’re going to have to clean up. Get the back of your car in order with a trunk organizer! First, de-clutter your car and sort the items you need to keep into categories. This way, you’ll know what kind of organizer to get. There are a variety of trunk organizers, so finding the one that’s right for your vehicle is important. Is your trunk usually filled with groceries? Make sure to look for a thicker cloth organizer that has handles. Is space an issue? Purchase one that folds away when you need to make more room. Find the trunk organizer that is best for you so your car will be filled with easily findable things you will need for your trip. Speaking of…
Put Together an Emergency Kit
You never know what’s going to happen. Maybe you hit a nail on the road or maybe a sudden snowstorm comes down on you. Make sure that you are prepared for any eventuality by creating an emergency kit. While you should definitely pack jumper cables and tools, pack your car with things that can keep you safe and comfortable if you have to wait for help. That means water, blankets, warm clothes, medical kits, a portable charger and non-perishable food. For those living in areas where snow will be a factor, an ice scraper to clean your windows and a small shovel to dig yourself out of the snow will be helpful. If you want a more detailed description of what you should put in your kit, we have just the blog for you!
Check Up On Your Car’s Health
We all forget a routine check now and again. People get busy and these things fall by the wayside. It’s completely understandable. If you don’t currently have the time or money to get your checkup, here are a few acts of preventative maintenance you can do to protect your car’s health.
Check Your Oil – Oil is the lifeblood of your vehicle, lubricating the working parts of your engine. Use an engine oil dipstick to measure the oil. If your dipstick markings show that it’s on the low side, it’s time to change that oil.
Coolant Replacement – When you’re checking the oil, you should also take the time to measure the coolant. Coolant is the liquid that keeps your engine from overheating. Like the oil, you can visually check to ensure that it’s at a high level. If it’s low, top off your car’s coolant reserve.
Check Your Tires – First, we’re going to check the tire pressure. You can find the correct pressure for your tire’s vehicle in its manual. You can check at the gas station or purchase your own portable air pressure pump to check that it matches the pressure in the manual. Next, we’re going to look at the tread. If the tread on your tires has worn down, it means that you’ve lost traction. That could be dangerous the next time you’re driving on wet roads. Try the Lincoln’s Head test to see if the tread is okay. Insert a penny into each tire’s tread groove, with Lincoln’s head pointing toward the tire. Press the penny into the groove and if you can see all of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to replace your tires.
Recharge Your Batteries – You should probably leave recharging your batteries to the professionals but there is a way to check your charge at home. A digital voltmeter can help you find out if your charge has dropped under 12.29 volts. While you’re there looking at your battery, check to see if any corrosion has occurred in the terminals and cables. If that’s the case, take your car to a professional immediately.
Check Your Brake Pads – A worn down brake pad can hurt other parts of your vehicle. Located in between the brake shoe and the brake drum, you can see your brake pads through the wheel spokes. They should be at least a quarter of an inch thick. Replace them if that’s not the case.
These are just a couple of things you can do to keep your car healthy. To learn about more actions you can take to keep your car healthy, check out our blog on the subject.
