It should come as no surprise that not everyone is a car nut. There’s nothing wrong with having a passion for cars, but some of us only care about their ability to get us from point A to point B. However, there are some fundamental aspects of your vehicle that you should be aware of. If you know virtually nothing about your car and are wondering what things you should definitely know about it, then this guide is just for you.
The Make, Model, and Year
The three things everyone should know by heart are the make, model, and year of their vehicle. Whenever someone needs to know information about your vehicle, this is usually the first thing they’ll ask. If you aren’t sure what yours are, you can easily find them in the owner’s manual.
The make is the company that made the vehicle, and the model is what brand it is. The year might not seem as important, but it’s probably the most crucial detail. Most vehicle models vary wildly between years, so in order to get the right parts, repair shops must know the year your vehicle is from.
The Type of Engine and Transmission
One could argue that knowing your engine and transmission types isn’t as valuable, but this information can still be helpful. The engine will always have its serial number stamped somewhere, but transmissions are trickier, since they’re under the car. Fortunately, there are quite a few ways to figure out what kind of transmission you have. At the very least, though, you’ll know if you have a manual or automatic transmission based on whether or not you have to manually shift gears while driving.
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
If you don’t know any of the previous information we covered, the repair shop will likely ask for your VIN. This is the 17-digit code that you can find on the driver’s side of your windshield. It’s a good idea to have this number written down somewhere for reference in case you ever need it.
The Important Dashboard Lights
There are so many important dashboard lights you need to know about, including the check engine and low tire pressure indicators. The no seatbelt and door ajar lights will be more understandable at first glance, but not all of them will be. That’s why it’s always a good idea to sit down with your owner’s manual after buying a vehicle to learn what all the dashboard lights mean.
The Maintenance Schedule
Finally, the last thing you should definitely know about your car is when it’s time to have someone perform maintenance on it. To keep your vehicle running for as long as possible, you need to change the oil, check the fluids, and rotate the tires regularly. Failing to do so will lead to significant problems that will make you wish you had paid attention to maintenance sooner.
