Linda A. Krutsinger 10

Women can learn basic car care techniques at the SIUC Women’s Service Car Care Seminar Saturday, and a Carbondale mechanic will lend her expertise to the event.

Karen Greenberg, an Automotive Service Excellence certified automotive technician, will teach the seminar Saturday. The seminar is free and open to area women interested in learning about basic car care and maintenance tips.

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Mary Woitke, an outreach and group counseling assistant at Women’s Services, said the number of women participating in the program have ranged from 16 to 60.

If their car breaks down, maybe they won’t feel so helpless, she said.

Greenberg said she started working in the front office of her husband’s car shop in Murphysboro, and to explain everything right to the customer, she had to know first-hand what was going on.

I got interested in working on cars about the same time most automobiles went to being computer controlled in 1982, Greenberg said.

Greenberg started with oil changing like everyone else and ended up specializing in electrical and engine performance.

Greenberg said one of the past clinics received attention from a passerby.

There were about 10 cars with their hoods up, and someone stopped and asked if we had car trouble, Greenberg said.

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The free clinic will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday in parking lot 56 located south of the SIU Arena. It is expected to last about two hours.

The women who attend the clinic will leave with a better understanding of what makes their cars run and how to check the fluids, Greenberg said. They will understand basic maintenance.

Greenberg, who has been involved in the past six car clinics sponsored by Women’s Services, said she would like to see these sessions opened up to men.

A lot of men feel very uncomfortable about their cars and would like to know more, Greenberg said. It depends on the individual, but in some ways both men and women find it easier talking with a woman.

FACTOID:The free seminar will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday in parking lot 56 south of SIU Arena.