It’s time for a College Car Checklist

It's an exciting time in a young student's life when he or she makes the transition from high school to college. For most young adults, college is an unknown territory. This often comes with a move to an unfamiliar city and being thrown among fellow students who are just as unfamiliar. What worries most parents is their child's safety when traveling to their college campus.

A lot of students have to make the trek to and from school, and this often means long car rides. Before you wave goodbye, make sure to inspect the car.

Give the car a checkup before you hand over the keys.

Make sure the vehicle is in prime shape. Mavis can inspect and provide service in the event you need an oil change, tire rotation, brake inspection, battery test, fluid top off or any other automotive service.

Student Checklist

For a smoother, safer transition to college, be sure to instruct your child on basic vehicle safety tips and let them know that Mavis can be of great service to them in times of "car needs."

The following checklist is here to aid you in preparing your student for all of their college car safety needs:

Check Your Tires

Out of all the parts in a car, the tires are arguably the most important part, as they are in constant motion and always in contact with the road. Even driving on paved roads can lead to uneven wearing of the tires. From weight distribution to road conditions, there are variables to consider that impact the life of your tires. When evaluating your tires, you should:

• Measure your tire air pressure

• Check your tire tread depth

• Look for any tire damage

If your tire can’t hold the recommended air pressure, lacks sufficient tread depth, or has sustained damage, it’s necessary to have the tire experts at evaluate and possibly replace your tires.

Brake Check

Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air, which can lead to corrosion of the car parts. This can also make the brakes hot, which overheats the fluid and causes the brakes to fail. Other similar types of brake failure can occur during vigorous mountain driving, or general hard driving. 

Change your brake fluid every five years if possible. Something to note is that brake fluid isn't something you want getting on your hands. The professionals at can do it for you with no muss, no fuss. 

Oil Change

Mavis suggests changing oil every 3000 miles whether you are using traditional oil or synthetic. Oil can stop working for a range of reasons, depending on the way you drive, different climates, and how frequently you drive your vehicle. If the oil in your vehicle is ineffective, it cannot lubricate the engine properly, which can lead to severe overheating, parts of the engine wearing out, and being unable to neutralize acids. If your vehicle is in need of an oil change, please schedule an appointment with your local. The service is professional, quick, and affordable. 

Cooling System and Coolant

Coolants are a mixture of 50% antifreeze and 50% water. Coolant systems should be changed approximately every 20,000 to 40,000 miles, or once a year, depending on whichever happens first, as coolant can become acidic over time.

Failure in changing your coolant can lead to corrosion and an improperly working cooling system. The cooling system also needs to be flushed to eliminate contaminants that could be in the car. Some common symptoms of a damaged cooling system are overheating, the need to add coolant regularly, and leaks. Remember, is here to help with all of your automotive needs.

Wiper Blades

Make sure you inspect your wiper blades regularly, checking that the rubber isn’t breaking down and you have an even, sharp edge to the blade. If you spot any cracks and other signs of wear and tear, this is your sign to take your car to for a new set of wiper blades.

A routine inspection now and again can also reveal problems with the wipers themselves, and they can range from a broken strut to a stiff wiper blade socket. Although these may be considered minor issues, they will worsen if they aren't fixed early.

If your wiper blades leave streaks while using them, that means the blades' edges don't have an even point of contact with the glass. That might not seem like a big deal, but the combination of streaks of uncleared, dirty water and a low-hanging sun may lead to unsafe driving conditions.

Headlights

Maintaining visual safety by checking your wiper blades is important, but ensuring functional headlights is also a priority. Even while driving on campus, where lamps and other light sources illuminate the streets, your child may accidentally rely on just daytime running lights that may not be visible to other drivers.

 To ensure safe and illuminated driving:

• Make sure your child is familiar with the vehicle's symbols and headlight settings to know the difference between daytime running lights, nighttime lights, and their high-beam headlights

• Make sure both headlights and taillights are working, and replace any dead bulbs

• Be sure to leave on any automatic headlights if available

• Instill the habit of turning on headlights at dusk and only turning them off after sunrise

If your headlights have any issues related to electrical wiring or foggy headlights, make an appointment with the service professionals.

Keeping It Clean

Try to keep your car as clean as possible. Collecting trash out of your car every week, and washing it on a regular basis (don’t forget to wash the undercarriage as well) can make a significant difference and keep it running smoothly. Also, harsh weather conditions like snow can damage your windshields and lights, so clean them often, too.

Emergency kit

It is always a good idea to prepare for emergencies. In the case of an emergency situation, it is always good to pack the following, along with any other supplies that might come in handy:

• Jumper cables

• Flashlight

• First-aid kits

• Blanket

• Tire pressure gauge

• Paper towels

• Work gloves

• Flares

• Spare key for ignition

• Bottle of water

• Granola or energy bars

• Basic hand tools (screwdrivers, pliers, etc.)

• Ice scraper and snow brush

Regardless of how much your student knows or doesn’t know, you can always count on to get them started on the right foot with a thorough vehicle inspection.