Things to know about your car

It has been found that 76% of English households own a car of some style. This is a considerable number of people who either know how to drive or are going through the process of learning.

How many of these car owners have a basic general knowledge about cars? I’m guessing not as many as you would think. Keep reading for a quick read about the essential things to know about your vehicle.

Year, Make, and Model

The moment you purchase a car, you should take note of what year it was manufactured. This is one of the car basics for beginners to learn. Simply look at the two numbers in the middle of the plate.

· 1 March – End of August

01 – 2001

02 – 2002

03 – 2003

So on

· 1 September – End of February

51 – 2001/2002

52 – 2002/2003

53 – 2003/2004

So on

The make of the car is probably the most common knowledge to all car owners. When you buy a vehicle, the make name is located in three separate locations on the car. The bonnet symbol, the rear symbol, and the back title.

The model is also located alongside the rear make title. Knowing all three of these things will help when it comes to buying new parts for your car. Models created in different years will have different part requirements.

VIN

The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of your car is what makes it unique. The VIN will be different if you have two cars of the same make and model made in the same year without license plates.

The VIN is a 17-digit number that trained mechanics use to learn everything you need to know about cars and engines. You don’t need to memorise this number; it is an easy process in the car for dummies learning.

Place yourself along the outside of the driver’s side of your car. Look at the corner of the dashboard where it connects with your windshield. You should be able to clearly see the VIN from here.

Maintenance Schedule

Keeping up to date with your car maintenance will ensure it stays healthy and running as smooth as it can. You will have things like your MOT, which is required yearly, but other aspects are needed more frequently.

Such aspects would be how often you are required to undergo a complete service. Your logbook will state a certain distance driven or a certain amount of time to pass before needing a service.

Each cars maintenance schedule will be different. Make sure to learn your new car’s schedule early on and stick to it. Doing this will mean your car will last far longer before any significant changes are needed.

Tire Pressure

Keeping your tire pressure at the correct level is often overlooked by car owners. Your car will tell you when you need to adjust your tire pressure via a light on the dashboard.

Attend to this as soon as you can, don’t leave it until you next need to top up your petrol. Keeping your tire pressure at the optimal level will save your tires and save you money in the long run.

If your tires are underinflated, they will wear out quickly, which will cost you to replace them. But you will also find you are going through petrol quicker as well. This is because your car is working harder to run on flat tires.

Engine Lights

The lights within your dashboard are there to tell you what is happening with your car. There will be lights on more than the others, but these aren’t necessarily a bad thing.

Dashboard lights tend to come in three different colours. Depending on what colour the symbol will depend on the severity of the situation your car is telling you.

Blue or green lights tell you something has been activated, such as your main beam lights. Yellow lights are informing you that something has happened which should be looked into. Red lights tell you that something needs immediate attention for safety reasons.

Know Your Car

This list may not be everything you need to know about cars and engines, but it should still be learned. Having a basic understanding of your car will help you keep the car running healthily.

Make sure to keep up to date with all your checks and keep your car optimal. You will find that you and your car will have a long and happy life together should you do this.

If you enjoyed this quick read about keeping your car healthy, head over to Quick Coffee Reads for more easy read articles. You will find a range of Eco-Friendly blogs, Technology articles, and more.