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Quiz: Are You Taking Good Care of Your Car?

Wendy Helfenbaum,

Updated July 11, 2023

AARP

Published May 05, 2020

/ Updated July 11, 2023

10 Questions

aeb2dad2-3fe3-40aa-a200-b42fd0f9cb9b

Quiz: Are You Taking Good Care of Your Car?

[ {
 "question" : "1. Which car maintenance tasks are easy enough to do yourself?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Changing your front and rear windshield wipers",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Changing your cabin and engine air filters",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Checking your tire pressure",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Lubricating your door hinges, hood and trunk latches",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "All of the above",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "You can save money and time spent at the garage by going the DIY maintenance route for some tasks. Learn how to take care of your car by reading your owner’s manual, doing some online research or by taking a class to learn the basics.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
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}, {
 "question" : "2. On average, how often should you rotate your tires in order to extend their life?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Every 1,000 to 2,000 miles",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Every 6,000 to 8,000 miles",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "Every 100,000 miles",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Never",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Regular tire rotations distribute wear evenly across all four tires. Pro tip: If you live in a climate where you switch out your tires each winter and summer, use a grease pencil to write where each tire was — such as front passenger, rear driver — so it’s easier to rotate them when you put them back on.\n",
 "hint" : "",
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}, {
 "question" : "3. The edges of each of your tires look worn. What causes this?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Your tires are underinflated",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Your car is too heavy for your tires",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Your wheel alignment is off",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "Your shock absorbers need replacing",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "When just the edges of your tires are wearing, you need to get your tires realigned.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
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 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "4. Your headlights don’t seem as bright as they used to be. What could be the problem?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Your lights are dirty",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "The UV coating has worn off and the plastic has oxidized",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "There’s condensation inside the casing",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Wax has built up from too many car washes",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "The sun’s UV rays can cause plastic headlight lenses to oxidize and look cloudy. A headlight restoration specialist can remove the old finish and apply a new clear coat so your lights will shine brightly once more.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
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}, {
 "question" : "5. Which of the following will not help extend the life of your tires?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Regularly checking and adjusting your tire pressure according to your owner’s manual",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Rotating your tires",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Checking the tread on your tires by inserting a penny in the groove",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "Aligning your wheels once a year",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Although the penny test is an effective method to monitor the treads of your tires to know when they need to be replaced, it does nothing to physically reduce wear or extend the life of your tires. The other methods actively help reduce uneven wear and can keep your tires in good shape.\n",
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}, {
 "question" : "6. Low tire pressure can affect your driving by:\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Compromised cornering, braking and stability",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Decreased fuel efficiency",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Uneven wear and increased chance of tire failure blowouts",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "All of the above",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Tires should be kept at the factory-recommended pressure noted on each tire wall. This ensures an ideal point of contact of the tread to the road so tires don’t drag excessively and wear out prematurely. Check tire pressure once a month after the vehicle has been sitting overnight. Pro tip: Tire pressure can change by one pound for every 10 degrees of temperature. So when the weather shifts, you may need to adjust your tire pressure.\n",
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 "hintLink" : "",
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}, {
 "question" : "7. How often should you change your oil and oil filter\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Every 3,000 miles",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "It depends on your driving style and conditions (stop-and-go versus mostly highway)",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "It depends on the car’s year and model",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Both B and C",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Your engine’s oil keeps the pistons lubricated and rids the engine of contaminants and impurities. Over time, as it gets dirty and loses volume, it needs to be replaced. Always check your owner’s manual and talk with your mechanic about your driving habits to develop an ideal interval for your vehicle. Pro tip: if your car is still under warranty, you must change your oil according to the manufacturer’s recommendations or risk voiding your warranty.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "8. Which of these tasks does not need a jack?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Replacing your shock absorbers",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Fixing a flat tire",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Changing your oil",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Replacing your air filter",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "You can replace your engine’s air filter by popping the hood. For everything else on this list, you’ll need a jack to elevate your car.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
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}, {
 "question" : "9. Your car’s engine air filter should be inspected for signs of wear after every oil change, but how often should it be replaced even if it’s not failing?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Once every 6 months",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Once per year",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "Every two years",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Every 50,000 miles",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Over time, engine oil filters can get dirty and clogged with debris, and while it won’t affect fuel efficiency, it can mean a significant decrease in acceleration. Replacing the filter once a year can ensure a vehicle’s top performance, but many can last for up to 30,000 miles. Your owner's manual will suggest when to change your engine air filter, but depending on the air quality where you live, you may need to change it more often.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
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}, {
 "question" : "10. When should you replace the belts (V-belts or serpentine) that power your alternator, water pump, power steering and cooling fans?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Every time you have your car serviced",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "During an oil change",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "When the belts look greasy or glazed, have excessive cracks or contain splits and chunking",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "When the Check Engine light illuminates",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Your belts look like large rubber bands stretched around different-size pulleys. They run along the exterior of the engine. Because the rubber degrades naturally over time, it’s important to examine them regularly for excessive wear. Your owner’s manual will tell you when to replace them, but if you hear a high-pitched squealing when your engine is running, your belts might be slipping and should be replaced.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
} ]

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Wendy Helfenbaum is a contributing writer who covers home improvement, gardening, automotive, real estate and travel. She’s written for outlets including Apartment Therapy, Houzz, BBC.com, WomansDay.com and Costco Connection.