Last Minute Car Care Gift Ideas

By Brian Klaubert and Brian Warbington

Well, it is almost Christmas. Do you have someone that you just can’t find anything for? Consider car care items. Almost everyone has a car, but few people have the essentials for dealing with a stranded car or a roadside emergency.

Consider a battery booster box. You know, those self contained jumper cables that are about the size of a large notebook computer. They really do work. We use them all of the time. We have jump start a diesel bus with them. Just keep it plugged in in an out of the way spot. If any of your cars ever has trouble starting you can avoid a tow bill.

If you buy jumper cables, look for a heavy guage wire. Don’t look at how big the rubber cover around the wires is. There are a lot of cheap jumper cable sets out there with great looking rubber covers. They save money by using thin copper. They cannot transfer the current, or amps, necessary to jump start a car. We can frequently start a car with our battery booster box that could not be started by using cheap jumper cables.

Consider, also, a road side emergency kit. Good items to include are: fix-a-flat tire sealer and inflator, a flash light, three flares or a reflective triangle, a tire pressure gauge, and a windshield ice scraper. You can frequently buy these kits already made up, and with their own storage bag.

Another idea would be one of those small air compressors that are powered from your cigarette lighter. These can take care of a tire that goes flat over a matter of hours. It can be a benefit first thing in the morning, or in the parking lot at work or the mall. You may be able to avoid getting dirty or wet changing a flat. They are also great for inflating soccer balls and other sporting goods.

We wish all of you God’s blessings this Christmas season. Please take time out of your hectic schedule to give thanks for the miraculous gift we were offered.

Brian Klaubert and Brian Warbington are with Christian Brothers Automotive-Hamilton Mill, in Dacula.