Elgin seniors get free car checkups
When Marilyn Werner's sick brother was staying with her in her mobile retirement home in Elgin, Senior Services Associates would stop by to check on him and make sure he had everything he needed in his last days.
Senior Services, in partnership with Elgin Township and local police, was there for Werner again on Saturday.
Werner was one of 28 seniors from Elgin and South Elgin who brought their cars to the township offices for a 25-point inspection.
This is the third year the Elgin Township Triad, which caters to the needs of local seniors, has offered the free service for residents 60 and older.
"I recently took a trip to Wyoming with my granddaughter, so I wanted to make sure we didn't do any damage," Werner said.
It's a good thing Werner took her car in. The automotive students who inspected her vehicle discovered one of her brake lights was out -- just as she had feared.
"Unless somebody tells you that they're working or not, you don't really know," Werner said.
Volunteers from the Elgin Township Triad said the free safety inspections are a great service to seniors and a learning opportunity for the Elgin Community College students who perform them.
The inspections "just give them an unbiased opinion on if something's wrong with their car, and it gives these students a chance to practice," service officer Cherie Aschenbrenner said.
The five students who volunteered performed more inspections this year than in the past -- but they were able to accommodate every senior who was interested.
"Each year, more and more people learn about it," said Wendy Holtz with Senior Services Associates.
The most common issues students found were low power steering fluid and low tire pressure. Under the hood of one car, they found a mouse nest.
Students said Saturday's inspections gave them good experience communicating with customers.
"The nice thing about ECC is they don't just teach you the principles of automotive service," student Rob Miller said. "They also help you with customer service skills."
Instructor Rick Green agreed.
"Last year and this year have gone really smoothly," Green said. "It's great for the students, not only to see the variety of cars … they get to talk to the customers."