by Gwendolyn Golden

Created on: January 09, 2009

I have had so many car repairs over the past 20 years, I could write a book. Whether it be leaky water pump to battery

trouble, I am proud to say that I have been there and done that. My uncle was a mechanic, so watching him work on cars

at a young age, enlightened me on how to one day take care of my own vehicle. My first car was a toyota corolla, then I

graduated to nova, then buick and finished with a grand marquis. My ownership of these vehicles abruptly taught me the

ins and outs of keeping my car in check. I got under my hood and experimented, not like many women today may do; but, I

wanted to see how things worked, and what made them work. I remember rotating my tires, and keeping enough air pressure

in the tire to make the car run properly. Keeping the right amount of air in a tire is very important. One morning I arrived at

work and after getting inside the building the tire exploded, I never did find out the hows and whys of it happening, but, I

am grateful that I did not have a blow out on the road. Checking your tires regularly was left for the oil change guys to do

when I became older, also they would check all fluids of the car for me at the same time. However, I was once the master

mechanic, in my own eyes, as I learned how to change my own oil, keeping the right amount in the car. Getting up under the

hood and know where the fluids are, the brake fluid, transmission, power steering and window washer fluid are essential to

you knowing your car. I could tell when I got in my car and heard that grinding sound when I turned a corner that I needed

power steering. Keeping my anti freeze in check was very important for me, as I have learned being in Florida, you don't

want to have a car that overheats on you as I have encountered numerous times. There were times I would have a leak

in my radiator and I purchased Stop Leak for it and it was instantly fixed, except for teh time I placed it in my radiator

without following directions and did not run the car after adding it and it sat overnight and clogged up my radiator and I

had to get another radiator.

I have learned to keep jumper cables inside my car when my car did not start, or when someone else needed help. In my

trunk I carry an emergency box that holds all kinds of nifty gadgets for when you may break down. It includes fix a flat

for when a tire maybe flat and you need a quick fix me up until you can get it repaired the same or next day. Also

includes electrical tape, road flares, an emergency sign, cables.

However, as I mentioned above with age comes wisdom and a lot of work I did in the past on my car, I leave in the

hands of the professionals. My son supplies AAA for me yearly, so if I unfortunately break down, they are there swiftly and in

4 years I have only used them maybe 4 times, so I consider that a good record. It is very important for women to knoe

what is under the hood of their car and know how to fix the small things themselves. The internet is a great example of

the how to dos' for us, check it out and be informed. It's always good to know about the car you are driving other than

it takes gas. Be smart.

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