Why women should know how to maintain their cars

They see it more or less as a ‘men task’. So while it is common to see ladies cruising or driving their cars, it is not common to see them changing their tyres when they go flat for instance or doing basic maintenance checks on their cars .As such there are women who have been […]

They see it more or less as a ‘men task’. So while it is common to see ladies cruising or driving their cars, it is not common to see them changing their tyres when they go flat for instance or doing basic maintenance checks on their cars .
As such there are women who have been driving for up to ten years but don’t know how to use the tools in their car. They also always need help to jack up the car, change tires or jumpstart a dead battery.  
Though this piece is not saying women should  turn to mechanics or do strenuous physical activities associated with their cars it is however important for them to be acquainted with the basics.
It is important for women to try to care for their cars themselves just as they care for their bodies and hair. For many women it has become the norm  for  their husbands ,  brothers, male friends, colleagues or neighbours to care and maintain their cars for them. Much as they love their cars they believe ensuring the upkeep, hydration , regular ‘check-ups’, and proper maintenance should be done by the male figure around them.
But the question this raises is what happens in case of emergencies or when there is no male figure around? Should someone else be the one to know more about their cars , the components and maintenance than the owners?
A man who does not want his name in print said he bought a car for his wife and all she does is drive it while he routinely check it for problems. “Whenever she is driving it and notices any problem, she always call  me and I tell her what to do. Sometimes I have to leave my office to meet her wherever she is until one day I traveled and she was stuck on the road.
“She started calling me as usual and I jokingly told her to remain there.  I had to call my mechanic to go and meet her to check what it was but it turned out to be something minor. But she learnt her lesson and made efforts to know more about the car,” he said.
Another respondent, a housewife said she realized the importance of knowing more about her car  after taking it to the mechanic for the first time  three years after  she started driving the car.
She said she left everything about the car’s maintenance to her husband  who willingly did it  until one time when he was not around and the car broke down.
 “ I needed to take my children to school the next day so I was forced to go to the mechanic. I found myself answering I don’t know to every question the mechanic asked. ‘When did you last service the car?’ ‘ I don’t know,’ ‘what oil have you been using’  ‘I don’t know ‘and so on —I just told myself then that I need to be conversant with this things myself.”
At a recent gathering of  women, The home front asked several women if they knew basic maintenance of their cars  and many of them said they didn’t. Most of them however admitted they can easily maintain the cars if they  indicate interest in learning or paying attention to how to do them whenever the male figures around them are doing them.
According to the Deputy Route Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Apata Tunde Kehinde, it is expedient for female drivers to be equipped with basic rudiments and elementary vehicle maintainance skills saying this will prevent them from not only embarrassment but also danger in case of breakdown in an awkward location.
“These includes routine culture of checking the oil, water, fluids and others before taking off (known as first parade). Female drivers should also learn fundamental maintenance skills like changing of tyres, fixing of loose bolts, screwing of nuts and related others. These could be done through exposure to training, books, clips, and learning from the experience of the others,” he said.
Apata who is also the  author of several books including “Principles of Driving Intelligence” and  “The Psychology of Driving” explained vehicle maintenance as “the upkeep, or servicing of motor vehicles in order to obtain maximum working efficiency, thereby prolonging its lifespan or cycle at a minimum cost. It is a combination of actions carried out in order to retain the vehicle and restore such to serviceable working condition or form.”
The expert said the objectives of maintenance are:
To ensure optimum performance of the components at all times.
To prevent failure of any part during usage.
To ensure safety of lives and property.
To prolong the lifespan of the facility.
He said there are basically two types of maintenance; planned and unplanned. In addition, he said there are three basic types of maintenance culture which are  routine, preventive and overhaul.
Apata gave the following tips on how female drivers can effectively maintain a vehicle:
Vehicle literacy: This entails understanding of how the major components of vehicles work, as this will make routine check easier.
Have a maintenance programme: Female drivers should maintain a well coordinated programme of maintenance to avoid failure.
Maintain a proper record of maintenance: This entails proper documentation of vehicle maintenance through log book.
Create a maintenance culture
Be proactive, reactive and sensitive to faults in the vehicle.
Acquire the necessary equipment and kits like; spanner, jack, screw-driver and related others.
Learn simple vehicle maintenance skills like changing of tyres, oil, water and related others.
Women should spare some time to read  vehicle manuals, videos and enlightenment programmes of the FRSC and other experts on TV, radio or in their area.