Why You Should Read Your Car Owner’s Manual
Most car drivers, especially the more old-school, macho type, will probably scoff at the prospect of reading their car owner’s manual. However, now more than ever when cars are becoming computers on wheels, this book should be regarded as the bible of road safety.
Here are some of the most unequivocal reasons why you should pay your car owner’s manual the respect and attention it deserves. For other valuable insight and advice on all things on the road, visit https://onlinerepairmanuals.com/.
Adjusting Period
All drivers know every new car takes some time to adjust to. To make the process quicker, smoother, and devoid of accidents, you should read your manual rather than press buttons randomly like a kid with a new toy. Nowadays, with cars becoming increasingly technological and sophisticated, this reason is especially valid.
Make the Most of Your Car’s Features
Unless you are the one who designed the car or are extremely knowledgeable of the particular model, if you’re not using your manual, you are bound to be missing out on some of your car’s features.
Again, this is another reason that is true now more than ever in the age of technological innovations.
Timing Maintenance
A lot of people wait for their car to give them undeniable signals, or requests, for maintenance. But instead of waiting for such symptoms, doing the legwork, meaning reading other people’s work that has been neatly laid out for you in the manual, will let you know the unique maintenance schedule and needs of your car.
That way, you can take consistent care of your vehicle and undertake preventative measures rather than waiting until it’s too late.
Proper Tire Pressure
Lots of card drivers live under the illusion that when it comes to tire pressure, the more the better. However, that’s a very dangerous misconception.
In fact, deflated tires are just as dangerous as over-inflated ones.
Your car owner’s manual will tell you the exact pressure your tires need to be inflated to.
Indicators’ Meaning
Besides the obvious indicators, a lot of the other ones might as well be Egyptian hieroglyphs. But if they were specifically incorporated in your car’s design, it’s for a reason, and that reason is to bring something important to your attention.
In your manual, you’ll find out exactly what that is.
Take Advantage of Your warranty
It’s crazy to think how many people constantly pay for services that are actually covered under their warranty, just because they never got around to reading their manual.
DIY
Surely, a lot of proud drivers will scoff at this point, arguing that they don’t need a manual to tell them how to take care of a lot of the simpler mechanical fixes of their car, like changing a spark plug, for example. And that’s fair enough, because that point isn’t for them, but for all those who don’t pride themselves on their mechanical prowess, but have the eagerness to learn and save a few bucks on taking their car to garages.
The fact of the matter is, a car owner’s manual and a will to apply yourself will suffice in most cases when light repairs are needed.
Compatible Modifications
Many people dive into modifications and tuning, blinded by the possibilities. But had they read the manual, it would have provided a lens through which they would see certain modifications simply don’t align with their vehicle and its capacity.
Not only can such ignorance cost you lots of money and time, but it can even have much direr consequences.
Avoid Scams
Most drivers probably won’t disagree that a lot of garages and auto shops pray on inexperienced and ignorant car owners, making them pay for parts and services that their car hardly needs. The knowledge your manual holds can shield you from such unprofessionalism, even if cars aren’t your forte in general.
Don’t Have to Learn on the Fly
A lot of people think that having their manual in the car is enough in the case of an emergency, but a lot of the time, that’s hardly the case.
Imagine you end up in one of those “when it rains, it pours” scenarios, literally – your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, during a movie-esque storm, on your way to a major event or meeting you’re already late to. Does that sound like the most appropriate time to do a reading comprehension test?
No, the idea is to read your car owner’s manual before you absolutely have to read it. That is its main purpose, after all, and if people, smart enough to make the machines modern existence largely depends on, then you might as well take their word for it. The worst thing that could happen is you might learn something you never get to apply in practice.