A Daughter's Book of Secrets. Robin K. Johnson

      John, Taylor and Gabby

      The Flat Tire

      • Pull off the road so that you are safely out of the flow of traffic

      • Try to stop in a straight part of the road, so that passing traffic can see you from a distance

      NOTE: if traffic is too busy . . . drive slowly and get off at the next exit and pull over on the feeder road. We can replace a tire rim and tire.

      • Stop the car on a level spot, it is unsafe to jack up a car on an incline

      • Turn on your Hazard lights

      • Raise your hood and trunk—this will show other motorist that you are in distress and make them aware of you on side of the road

      • Retrieve the tools listed above from the car and place them within reach

      • If desired, put on the gloves, and place the blocks under the tire opposite the flat

      • Position the jack under the car, and raise the jack until it contacts the frame

      • Make sure the jack is properly positioned

      • Extend the jack until the tire is about 6 inches off the ground

      • Remove the lug nuts from the bolts, and put them aside

      • Grab the wheel

      • it is easiest to grab the tire at the “nine o’clock” and “three o’clock” positions

      • Pull the wheel straight toward you, and off the car

      • Position the spare tire directly in front of the wheel well

      • Align the holes in the center of the spare tire with the bolts on the car

      • Lift the spare tire and position it on the threaded bolts

      • Push the tire onto the car until it cannot go any farther

      • Replace the lug nuts on the bolts and tighten them, but not too tight . . . just enough to hold the tire in place while you lower the car

      • Lower the car with the jack until the car is again resting on all four tires

      • Tighten the lug nuts, starting with one; then moving to the one opposite it, and so on . . .

      • Place the flat tire where the spare was located

      • Replace the jack and lug wrench in their proper locations

      • Carefully inspect your work area and make sure that you're not leaving anything

      • Continue on to your destination, and have the flat tire repaired

      Tires

      It is important that you rotate you rotate the tires on your car once every three to four months. This will allow your tires to wear in an even patter and save on your having to purchase one tire at varying times.

      This is something that will take you 25 minutes to do on your own or less than $20.00 if you go to a tire shop and have it done. OR you could give me a call and I can do it for you and we can have lunch together after I am done doing this and washing your car.

      • The first time you rotate the tires—do it in an X pattern.

      • The next time you rotate the tires—do it front to rear and rear to front

      • The following time you rotate your tires—do it in the X pattern again

      • The next time you rotate the tires—it is time to take a penny and check the tread wear

      • If Abe’s head in not buried in the tread, it is time to replace those tires which have been worn down

      Changing Oil

      This is something which should be done on a regular basis. Well, that is if you want your car to last through the last of your payments. Take your car to have the oil changed based on the manufacturer’s system: every 3 months or 3,000 miles or 5 months or 5,000 miles.

      Spending the $36.00 to get to get this done will save you thousands of dollars in the long run if you do not do it. It only takes 30 minutes out of one day every 3 or 5 months.