10 basic things to know about cars

Most cars today are made up of more than 30,000 parts, meaning any malfunction can be costly if not properly used and maintained.

1. Read the user manual:

Almost every car has an owner’s manual, but not every owner actually takes the time to read every page. That’s part of the reason why not every driver knows the car they drive every day.

2. Parallel parking skills:

Parallel parkingIt may seem like a daunting task for many drivers, but with practice, this skill can be surprisingly useful.

Since April 1, Vietnamese drivers have had an additional test of parallel parking, in addition to the previous vertical parking test for B1, B2, and C licenses.

3. Check tire pressure:

Properly inflated tires help save fuel and provide a better driving experience, especially in bad weather conditions. Under-inflated tires can waste fuel and have a negative impact on the rims and the tire itself, specifically the tread. Over-inflated tires reduce friction and can blow out, leading to accidents.

For the above reasons, drivers should check tire pressure regularly to ensure the tire is properly inflated. To do this, you need a pressure gauge with the following steps:

.4. Fuel tank cap location:

There is a small symbol on the dashboard, this triangle next to the fuel tank. Whichever side the sharp corner is facing, the fuel tank cap is actually on that side of the vehicle. Confusion or not knowing which side the fuel tank cap is on often happens when borrowing someone else's vehicle, and at that time just look at this symbol to determine.

5. Jump start when the car battery is dead:

The only things you'll need in case your car battery dies are a set of cables and another car. Make sure both cars are off before you start anything, and don'tWhen connecting the battery to the tow vehicle, it is necessary to follow the correct order of the positive and negative terminals to avoid electrical surges. The procedure is as follows:

6. Cool the car when parked in the sun for a long time:

After a long time of parking in the hot sun, do not immediately get into the car, close the door and turn on the air conditioner. Instead, the driver should open the driver's door, roll down all the windows and close it. Then go to the passenger side door and open and close it continuously about 4-5 times, the effect of pushing hot air out will be more effective.

7. What to do when the vehicle starts to skid on a slippery road:

Rain or snow can create a hazardous road surface that makes braking difficult, especially at high speeds. If your front-wheel drive vehicle begins to skid, do not take your foot off the accelerator. If your vehicle is rear-wheel drive, gently lift your foot off the accelerator as soon as you notice the vehicle begin to skid.

Then take a quick look ahead and decide where you want the car to go and steer in that direction. The trick is to get the wheels to move in the same direction as the skid to help you regain control.

8. Use air conditioning effectively:

To save fuel when driving at high speed, turn on the air conditioner instead of rolling down the windows. If you are stuck in traffic, using the air conditioner will use more fuel. In that case, you should lower the windows or use an auxiliary cooling device such as a small fan. Installing this device on the car sounds funny, but it is effective in saving fuel.

9. Escape from the swamp:

Getting stuck in mud or snow can be one of the most frightening experiences for many drivers, and most of them just want to slam on the gas and get out. But this only causes the wheels to spin harder without enough traction. If you find yourself in this situation, here’s what to do:

Using a shovel or similar tool, remove some of the mud or snow from the area in front of the wheels. Then, use floor mats, blankets, or cardboard to fill in the space. Slowly move the car forward until the wheels grip the material. If it is an automatic, use the lowest gear possible.

Always carry small, useful items in your car such as flashlights, small shovels, sandbags for emergencies like the ones above. The video below shows another way a driver can prevent sinking:

10. Turn on the turn signal:

It may seem like a basic and redundant skill to remind someone, but many drivers still ignore it even though it is one of the first lessons when learning to drive. Turn signals need to be turned on before you want to turn or change lanes. And turn signals are your "friend", so don't be afraid to use them whenever needed.

According to VNE