Parents can assemble a Car Care Package for their young drivers whether they are driving a distance or operating a vehicle near home. Planning ahead will help prevent breakdowns that could leave young drivers stranded along the roadside.
No parent wants to think of his or her child broken down along a busy highway, said Jeff Walker, 2005 NAPA Technician of the Year and owner of Walker 's Automotive Services in Pleasantville , N.J. A car care package is inexpensive and contains items that will help young people perform necessary preventive maintenance and simple repairs to keep their vehicles moving.
A basic car repair kit should contain the following:
- Tire pressure gauge
- Jumper cables
- Extra oil
- Antifreeze
- Windshield wiper fluid
- Mechanics wire (to wire up an exhaust system or sagging bumper)
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Assortment of tools, including a lug wrench, hammer, standard and Phillips screwdrivers, adjustable wrench
- Duct tape (to tape a mirror in place or temporarily cover a hole in a hose)
- Extra money (for car wash or to pay a towing company that requires cash)
Have your child's vehicle periodically checked by a certified automotive technician to confirm they are road ready. The technician should inspect fluid levels, belts and hoses, tire pressure, filters, windshield wipers, brakes, lights and the battery.
Parents may also want to develop a "cheat sheet" indicating when to add oil, how much air to keep in the tires and how to use jumper cables. Teach kids how to check oil and antifreeze levels, as well as air pressure, and steps to change a flat tire.
Young drivers should also learn to use the tools in their car care package. They should know, for example, how to use a hammer to remove a tire rim that might be slightly rusted when changing a flat tire.
Parents may want to sign young drivers up for roadside assistance programs. NAPA AutoCare Centers offer the consumer warranties, with 12 months or 12,000 miles coverage on qualifying repairs.
