Car Care FHE

Janet, Mom, and I enjoyed a classic Scoresby FHE on Monday. The lesson, taught by Dad, was about car care. This topic was mostly incited by Janet's inability to put windshield wiper fluid in the Saturn, in addition to a lack of other basic car care knowledge. For the lesson, Dad gave the following quiz. You should all take it to see your car IQ. You may also recognize some of the problems as things that have happened to family cars in the past.

For each of the situations describe what the problem may be and what to do to solve the problem.

1. Your car shakes slightly and shaking increases as your speed increases.
Diagnosis: Out of alignment, tire problems, tires out of balance
Treatment: Go to Wal-mart and get tires balances; get new tires; get car aligned (Wal-mart may not do this though)

2. Your older car won't start and it is the first morning you have frost.
Diagnosis: Old battery
Treatment: Get a new one (Wal-mart will install, so will most other car places)

3. The steering wheel pulls to one side of the road as you drive.
Diagnosis: Out of alignment
Treatment: Get it aligned

4. Black smoke comes out of your exhaust when you start it.
Diagnosis: Incorrect ratio of oil and air (Big problem)
Treatment: Tell Dad

5. Your car runs rough but runs smoother when traveling at higher speeds. (Metro 2007 from Wisconsin to Utah)
Diagnosis: Valve burned out
Treatment: Take it to car dealer and expect to pay

6. Your windshield wipers leave streaks when operating.
Diagnosis: Old wipers, ice or junk stuck to wipers
Treatment: Clean wipers, buy new wipers

7. Your oil light comes on.
Diagnosis: Low oil
Treatment: Put more in
Also, if you have dirty oil, change it
Note from Dad: Make sure you always have oil or it burns up the engine.

8. Hot temperature light comes on
Diagnosis: The car is hot
Treatment: Pull over immediately, even if you are on the Big Hill in Wyoming

Free response

What is the most important thing you can do to make your car last a long time?
Change the oil

How do you know when you need new tires?
Penny test (Stick a penny with the top of Lincoln's head in the treads. If you can see the top of the head, your treads are too worn.)
Also, if there is a lump in the tire that makes the car vibrate and threatens to blow, you need a new tire. You probably shouldn't drive to Salt Lake City on the tire.

How do you check the oil?
Pull out the dipstick, clean it, put it back in, and pull it out again. The oil needs to be above the low oil line, and below the full line. Note from Sarah: If your dipstick doesn't have lines, the little dots mean the same thing.


So, go out and take care of those cars! I suggested that maybe Loren should be a part of the FHE since he is driving a family car, but Dad suggested that he's a boy and can take care of a car without the car care FHE.