After all of these years, you would think that being the daughter of an Auto Repair Person/Mechanic that I would know a little about keeping your car up to par and when to do those certain “Up-keeps”.  I even work for my dad one summer at his business while I was in college (that was an interesting summer to say the least because I enjoyed wearing my dresses-those great, bright print, cute shift dresses- and sandals and that was not really the “uniform” that he would have preferred me to come to work in) and I still can not tell you how to change oil and have a hard time just raising the hood of a car. (I always get the “Hood” leaver and “Emergency Break” leaver confused and don’t roll your eyes because I bet that there is at least one other person out there that has that same problem).  I heard “Larry the Cable Guy” being interviewed the other day and he made a great comment- “A lot of people think that mechanics and people that work in a car/truck place have no abilities and are just plain dumb UNTIL they need their car/truck “fixed” and then they have became the Brain Surgeons of the Automobile Repair World”.  I have to admit that I think anyone who works in the Automobile Repair World – no matter what your job is…are very smart in my eyes.  Basically, they are operating on your car just like a Surgeon operates on a human. Some people care about their automobile more than themselves…. Have you ever thought about it in that way?

Anyway, on to my original point- Usually, this is the time of the year; I try to do a little “Car Keeping” with my car.  I may not know how to actually do any of the work myself but I do know how to line the work up to be done.  And yes, I take care of arranging it all. Just ask Jimmy!

Here are a few things to remember when getting your car/truck ready for summer:

Get your Tires Rotated and Balanced:  This is usually around $40 for both services (4 Tires).  This should be done every 10,000 miles. (At least this is the rule that I have always tried to follow)

Get your Oil Changed:  Of course, you need to get your oil checked regularly but you should get it changed about every 3,000 miles.  Most places will put a sticker in your front window letting you know when you should get it changed again.  I have always thought that was such a nice gesture for them to do- for people like me who would never remember to take care of that throughout the year.  From what I have seen in the newspapers (I do scan them pretty good) this Oil Change is a VERY GOOD DEAL so you need to get on it!!!!

General Upkeep: And last, but certainly not least is getting everything else checked out like the Freon (that does not look like it is spelled correct but I promise it is) checked so that the air  blowing is COLD AIR and not HOT AIR that first warm day that we will be experiencing soon.

Here is a list of additional items to check on:

·                    TIMING BELT- replaced if it needs to be

·                    TUNE UP- this will allow better gas mileage

·                    SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT- make sure this is not on because if it is- it is not helping the gas mileage either.

·                    CLICKS, BUZZES, MISSING KNOBS- this is a good time to get all of this taken care of too.

I know you all are so impressed with me after that “list” but what can I say?  Remember I am the daughter of a mechanic and did work for him for 2 months..Ha!   Also, an FYI- you KNOW you should be able to get an “estimated” amount of what your work will cost prior to giving the “go-ahead” to take care of the work that needs to be done.  That way, you will know if you are going to have to do without eating that week or have to cancel the hair appointment to get the “roots” touched up…Hope that will not be the case though. 

I know some of you that know me pretty well are SHOCKED that I actually take care of this chore BUT I do!!!

Make plans now to take care of this task and if you haven’t already taken your car/truck to my GREAT DAD then I would HIGHLY recommend him in the “Spring Cleaning” Department.  All you have to do is give him a call or go by and see him at Rousseau’s Auto Service!!! (By the way, for those that must have that Diet Mt. Dew first thing in the a.m.- dad has his refrigerator stocked with them—that is for you Beth, Cindy, Hardin and any other “Dt. MD” Addict..Ha!  So make sure to drop your car off in the morning so you can get your “Dt. MD fix” while you discuss your “Car Keeping” with him) 

 Tell him that his #1 Daughter told you that he would take good care of you!! Ha!  (Hope my sister, Candi, is not reading this because she will have a few words for me on that one BUT I am sure that I owe her that comment….Ha!) And NO, I do not get to be first priority with getting my car “worked on”- I usually have to “show out” and “pout” a little- then end up begging one of his great employees to “help the daughter” out

with a problem. Ha! 

I do hope this will make you remember to take care of your car and do a little “Car Keeping” and “Spring Cleaning” in the next few weeks.  After the big work is done- make sure it is clean too….

Until next time-