How to Use Your Car's Owner's Manual
This book in your glovebox is filled with helpful information
Although it might be as long as a novel, your car’s owner’s manual isn’t exactly a page-turner. But if you haven’t eyeballed the paper or digital version, you’re missing out on valuable information on how to keep your vehicle in peak condition and how to be prepared when something goes wrong. It could also reveal useful features you didn’t realize your car has.
Service Intervals
What the manual tells you: Everything from when to change engine coolant, transmission fluid, and oil to how often to rotate the tires.
Why it’s important: “The best way to keep the car in top condition is to follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule,” says Crossen, who recommends bookmarking the service interval page and referring to it often. “Dealer service departments may notify you when service is due, but ultimately it’s your responsibility.”
Handling a Flat Tire
What the manual tells you: Where the spare is located if the car has one and, if it doesn’t, what other equipment the car has to deal with a flat tire.
Why it’s important: “More new cars are coming without a spare tire, so there are different solutions to handling a flat,” Crossen says. “Some models have a folding tire and a compressor to pump it up, and others come with a can of sealant you can use to fill the tire so that you can drive to a repair shop. The manual will tell you exactly what to do.”
Instrumentation and Displays
What the manual tells you: How your car’s gauges are laid out, what the various warning lights mean, and where to find information on things like tire pressure and oil level.
Why it’s important: “New cars often come with displays that can be customized to show information the driver needs most,” Crossen says. “On a road trip, you might want to see range or fuel-economy details. And if an amber engine icon or other light pops up, you’ll want to know what it means and how serious it is.”
Phone Pairing and Infotainment
What the manual tells you: How to connect smartphones to the infotainment system to stream music and use features such as Google Maps and Waze. It also has detailed instructions on how to use the car’s infotainment system.
Why it’s important: “If you want to make any changes to the infotainment system or add or remove phones without going back to the dealer for help, the manual provides step-by-step guidance on each facet of the system,” Crossen says.
Active Safety Systems
What the manual tells you: How to turn a car’s active safety systems on and off, as well as how to adjust them to suit your needs as the driver.
Why it’s important: “Some drivers may benefit from setting the forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking to activate earlier to improve reaction time,” says Kelly Funkhouser, CR’s manager of vehicle technology. “And it’s good to know how to adjust the adaptive cruise control in changing traffic conditions, if your car has that capability.”
Editor’s Note: This article also appeared in the September 2023 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
