Owning a car is supposed to be part and parcel of living a successful life. But all too often it can be the arena in which we make some of our worst gaffes. Here’re some of the things that people regularly get wrong when it comes to cars.
Driving On The Wrong Side Of The Road
Have you ever taken a trip to say, Britain, gone to hire a car and then found yourself in trouble? You’re not alone. Thousands of tourists on holiday in the UK make the same mistake every year. Driving on the left instead of on the right just feels so unnatural. But don’t worry, it’s not just the rest of the world that has a problem with driving on the right side of the road. It’s the Brits too. In fact, the problem is so bad, that a travel company has set up the first ever motoring school for right-hand driving.
And what’s the business advice? Continuously repeat the phrase “drive on the right” to yourself.
Getting Locked Out
Recently an elderly couple made the headline for locking themselves inside their keyless car. But most of the time, the problem is that people are getting locked out. For instance, back in April, Kylie Jenner got locked out of her car after going on a massive shopping spree. And guess what? She wasn’t happy.
If only she had employed the services of a mobile locksmith. Then she wouldn’t have had to wait around for her car to get towed to the nearest service station. Oh well, at least she got to go back to her $4.5 million mansion after the ordeal.
Filling The Engine With The Wrong Fuel
Anybody who has driven for more than a decade has probably made this mistake. One day, you turn up to the petrol station. You’re dog tired and yawning as you lift the fuel nozzle. You fill your tank and drive off. A couple of miles later, your car doesn’t sound so good. Suddenly you realize what you’ve done. You’ve filled a petrol car to the brim with thick, oily diesel. And it’s wrecking your engine. Oops!
The good news is that if you realize your mistake early, you can get the diesel pumped out by a roadside rescue vehicle. If you keep driving and don’t notice, you can wreck your engine.
Not Changing Dirty Filters
Air filters are an important part of your car’s anatomy. But most people don’t realize this. They just assume the air filter is there to keep their nostrils clear. It isn’t. The primary function of the air filter, besides keeping the air in the car breathable, is to keep the internals clean. This is critical. When sensors get dirty, they stop working. And drivers then stop getting information about how their engine is performing. You might be driving along thinking everything is hunky dory. But it could all be an illusion, based on the fact that none of your car’s sensors work. If your engine warning light is constantly on, it’s probably a sign that your engine sensors aren’t working. If you don’t do something about it, and fast, you could end up with hundreds of dollars of damage.