It’s a cold, snowy night as you return from dinner with friends in late December. On your dashboard flashes lights and warnings that have been on for some time, yet you have no idea why. On the slick frozen road, your old summer tires spin helplessly out of control, sliding your vehicle into a ditch.
Unfortunately, this situation is all too common, especially among high schoolers. The preventative measures that can be taken to ensure that any given vehicle is safe, reliable and maintained are easy, cheap and simple using online tutorials and the advice of others.
The Check Engine light, one of the most common warnings to see on a dashboard, is simply an indicator that something in the engine compartment is malfunctioning, or the wire circuit in charge of maintaining that thing is malfunctioning.
Jiffy Lube Car Maintenance – Oil Changes, Tires & Brakes, which has multiple locations in and around Lincoln, performs free diagnostic evaluation of the check engine light. Simply drive to one of their garages and request a free evaluation if this light comes on.
The Tire Pressure Warning light is another one of the most common warning lights. This light, which looks like a tire with an exclamation point in it, is an indicator that the tire pressure is low and should be filled.
However, this is not as bad as it sounds. As the fluctuating temperatures can affect the elasticity of the rubber, meaning it can expand and shrink. As the tires are driven and friction heats them up, they expand and it’s likely that the tire pressure will be affected. Seeing this light does not necessarily mean the car has a flat tire or anything needs to be replaced.
To fill the tires with air, visit any gas station and go to one of their free (or very cheap) air stations. Pay, if it’s necessary, attach the tube to the tire, and fill them up to the correct PSI (pounds per square inch).
Most commonly all four tires will need the same pressure, with each tire’s specific PSI being found written on the side of the wheel. Most every tire’s PSI will range from 30-40, depending on the vehicle.
Changing the tires on the car is also crucial for preparing and anticipating the winter roads, and it’s much easier than one might think.
Tires need to be replaced every six years, or if the tread of the tire is worn down more than two-thirds of an inch past where it started. When one of these things comes, it’s time to go shopping.
A simple Google search for “tires for the (make, model, and year of the vehicle)”, and a click on any of the following links can reveal the perfect wheels. Goodyear and Firestone are both excellent and affordable tire companies. The tires need to be replaced either two or four at a time, depending on which ones have been worn down the most. Each tire will cost anywhere between $100-300 depending on quality and delivery.
Once the tires have been delivered, call Big Red Tire Pros located on 4900 Old Cheney Road, schedule an appointment, and have them installed. Installation of two tires, as well as disposal of two old ones will cost between $70-100. Combine that with the cost of ordering tires, and the procedure should take 3-4 days and less than $400.
Getting an oil change, probably one of the most infamous car procedures, is easier than ever before. Look for the “check oil” or “change oil” light to come on the dashboard to go get a change. Alternatively, if the last time the oil was changed is known, it should be changed every 7,500 miles.
Once again, take the vehicle to Jiffy Lube Car Maintenance – Oil Changes, Tires & Brakes once one of those two things have happened. Request to have the oil changed, and simply wait. A change should take roughly 30 minutes and $75.
While it may seem costly to repair and maintain your vehicle, especially when it seems there’s always something that needs fixing, it is still very important. Ordering and changing a new pair of tires is much less of a hassle than sliding the car off of an icy road and potentially hurting someone or totalling the vehicle.
As the winter months rapidly approach, Lincoln drivers need to start gearing up, fixing their vehicles, and anticipating those cold, snowy nights.
