Ok, ladies, do you find yourself sometimes overwhelmed by all of the maintanance required to keep your car up and running? My dad, Bob, has owned Solo Tire and Lawn for thirty years, so you would think I wouldn't have vehicle maintenance frustrations, but I do. This is why I decided to tell Dad that I was going to create a section of his web site just for us girls. So, if you have ever wondered about the appropriate way to check the pressure of your tires, how to determine if your car is front or rear-wheel drive, or how to winterize your vehicle, check out the following information.

       ~ How to Check the Air Pressure of Your Tires ~

Sounds like an easy task, doesn’t it ladies? Since full-service gas stations are hard to find, it is up to us to maintain our tires. I guess you could wait and depend on your husband to do it, but… you know how that can be at times. I decided to research and write this article so we can start taking care of our vehicle without paying for it or waiting on the hubby.

Keep these pointers in mind. You cannot tell whether your tires need air by looking at them or even by kicking them. You should always keep a good-quality tire-pressure gauge in your car's glove box. You can find a nice, electronic gauge for around $20 or; like me, just go with the $1.50 brand, it hasn’t failed me yet. By the way, don't forget about that spare tire in the trunk, it needs your constant attention just the same.

Here are the steps to follow:

0. Go to a gas station or garage that has pressurized air with a gauge.
0. Park your car so you can reach all four tires with the air hose.
0. Find the air-pressure specifications for your car's tires. Look for a sticker located on the driver's side doorjamb or in the glove box or trunk.
0. Unscrew the plastic cap on the air valve. Don’t make the same mistake I have done and put it on the top of the tire thinking you won’t loose it, ‘cause it will be gone. Put it in your pocket.
0. Check the air pressure using either your own tire-pressure gauge or the one on the gas station air pump. To do this, press the gauge against the valve and hold it down firmly. If you hear a hissing noise, you are letting air out. Press down harder. I usually double and triple check the current air pressure, just to make sure I am correct.
0. Add air as necessary. Press the air pump hose on the valve while squeezing the lever on the end of the hose.
0. Check the air pressure with your gauge, or use the one on the air pump hose.
0. Let some air out of the tires if you accidentally overfill them. Press down on the small needle in the center of the valve to let air out. Most tire-pressure gauges have a small knob for this purpose, but a fingernail or a pen will do the trick.
0. Seasonal air pressure adjustment- It is important to check your tire's air pressure when the tire is cold, as driving increases the pressure. The temperature outside can change the pressure in your tires. When the temperature goes down, your tire pressure will also decrease, and you will have to add a little air to compensate for the change. When the temperature becomes warmer in the spring, you will have to let a little air out of your tires. And when the hot weather rolls in for the summer, tire pressure will increase even more.

Overall Tips & Warnings

• If a tire needs air every time you check the pressure, you really need to consider calling Solo Tire and Lawn for a tire patch or to purchase a new tire.
• Don't look at the tire's sidewall for air-pressure specifications, as it lists the maximum pressure for the tire.
• Always use a tire-pressure gauge to get the right air pressure; you don't want to over- or underinflate your tires and cause a blow out.    

  ~ How to Check if Your Car Is Front or Rear-Wheel Drive ~

A few weeks ago I was visiting with the gang down at Solo Tire and Dee White, Solo’s accountant and customer service representative, and I were discussing whether or not our vehicles were front or rear-wheel drive. Bob, my dad, proceeded to try and explain to us why our vehicles were front or rear-wheel. So, here is what Dad was telling us in “girl talk”.

Usually, large trucks and vehicles with large engines are rear-wheel drive. Smaller cars are most often front-wheel drive, like mine and Dee’s. But you don't have to guess which one you have - find out for yourself.

Here’s how you can discover if your vehicle is front or rear-wheel drive:

Let’s define what all this “wheel drive” stuff means. Front-wheel drive means the power from the engine and the transmission goes to the front wheels. Rear-wheel drive means the power goes to the rear wheels. Four-wheel, or all-wheel, drive means all four wheels are powered. Now, let’s get started.

0. Open the hood.
0. Find the front of the engine. The front of the engine is always where the belts are located.
0. Look to see if the front of the engine is by the fender, or the side of the car. If so, then you have front-wheel drive.
0. Check to see if the front of the engine is by the radiator and the grill. If so, then you have rear-wheel drive.
0. Look under the car near each front wheel. If you see an axle with a rubber boot (called the CV boot) on either end going into the wheel, then you have front- wheel drive.
0. Look under the car between the rear wheels. If you see a large, metal, pumpkin- shaped thing, called the differential, with two axles coming out either side, then you have rear-wheel drive.
0. Check both under the hood for the position of the engine and under the car for the axles to be sure, because not every car follows the rules for engine position and front- or rear-wheel drive.

Additional information:

Some vehicles like the Toyota Tercel have the belts at the front of the engine but are still front-wheel drive. Check for the axles underneath to be sure. Saab puts the engine in backward, so the belts are at the back of the engine compartment. Old, air-cooled Volkswagen Beetles have the engine in the back and the power goes right to the rear wheels, although the overall design is more like a front-wheel-driven car. By the way, if you have the manufacturer's manual for your car, you can simply read it and have a wealth of knowledge at your finger tips. 

                    ~ How to Winterize Your Car ~

Below are some things to remember when winterizing your car. 

0. Don't put off a 30,000-mile full service, if your car is due.
0. Flush the cooling system and replace the coolant.
0. Replace the windshield wiper blades. Put windshield washer fluid in the windshield washer reservoir (plain water will freeze).
0. Have the battery serviced (clean the battery terminal ends and add water) and load-tested to check its ability to hold a charge. If the battery is more than 4 1/2 years old, replace it.
0. Use a tire gauge to check the tire pressure. Air contracts with cold, and the tires may become low as the temperature drops.
0. Make sure there is air in the spare tire and that all the proper tire-changing equipment is in the trunk.
0. Make sure the tires are in good condition. If you are not sure what this means, ask a mechanic for an opinion.
0. Check the lights, heater and defroster.
0. Keep the gas tank as full as possible to prevent moisture from freezing in the gas lines.
0. Get a brake check if you haven't had one in the last six months.
0. Put together an emergency winter kit for the trunk of your car: blanket, extra boots and gloves, ice scraper, small snow shovel, flashlight and kitty litter (for traction when stuck in the snow).

                            robert_shanks@sbcglobal.net