Your Burning Car Maintenance Questions, Answered

In February, we asked our Facebook fans what their most burning car maintenance questions were and we loved the responses so much, we felt they needed answered. Check out below for the questions and answers.

Who offers a car 101 class to people of all ages?

There are many options for a car 101 class to learn basic maintenance tasks and emergency repairs like changing a flat tire, using jumper cables and much more. These kinds of classes tend to vary based on location, but common places to check out for possible classes include:

• Your local AAA bureau
• A local community college or university
• Local library
• Local community center

If you’re purchasing auto parts at a local store, ask the staff if they have any recommendations for a class. They may also be able to give you the instructions or help you need.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for locally, there are plenty of options available online, including our very own Safelite resource center. We include plenty of car maintenance tips along with other helpful safety information and much more.

Other great online resources include:

AutoZone Repair Help – this online page includes articles, videos, troubleshooting guides and much more. AutoEducation – this site includes an autoshop 101 course that you can take at your leisure.

Why is it so hard to find a mechanic who is trustworthy?

Luckily, it doesn’t have to be hard to find a trustworthy and reasonable mechanic. Chances are that plenty of your neighbors, friends and family have used a mechanic in the past and they may have great recommendations. Ask if they have someone they would recommend using, or try crowdsourcing by posting on your social channels.

If recommendations from friends and family don’t uncover a great mechanic, there are plenty of other ways to find a recommendation. AAA has a list of AAA-approved auto repair and auto body shops.

Many local newspapers or magazines do a yearly “best of” series. It’s worth checking out past yearly lists to see if they have included auto mechanics.

Another great way to find a good mechanic is to utilize review sites like Yelp or Angie’s List. You can even do a quick Google search of the recommended mechanic’s name, to see if any negative reviews pop up.

What are the essential items to keep in your car at all times?

There are many items that should be a permanent presence in your car – trust us, in case of emergency, you’ll be glad they are there. Some of the essential items we recommend keeping at all times include:

• A spare tire (one that is in good condition and full of air), plus a tire jack and tire iron
• Tire inflater or sealer (like Fix-a-Flat or other similar types of products)
• Flashlight or headlamp
• Jumper cables
• Blanket
• Gallon of water
• Non-perishable snacks like jerky or granola bars
• First aid supplies
• Extra cell phone charger
• Car repair information (AAA card, mechanic’s information, insurance information, car manual, etc.)