Automotive Maintenance Merit Badge
Twelve requirements, and you need access to a car or truck and its owner's manual. Safety and registration; general maintenance checks; the dashboard; tires; engine; cooling; fuel; ignition and electrical systems; drive train; brakes; TWO of four projects (vehicle costs, cleaning and waxing, changing a tire, or an oil change); and automotive careers.
The plan behind this
You need a vehicle and its owner's manual
The badge page notes that you will need access to a car or truck and its owner's manual for some requirements. If you do not have your own vehicle, work with your counselor or another trusted adult to get access to one and its manual. Requirement 1(b) asks you to use the safety equipment, tools and clothing it discusses, when needed or called for, throughout the badge.
Done on the vehicle
| requirement | what you do |
|---|---|
| 1(e) | review the maintenance chart in the owner's manual |
| 2(a) | check brake fluid, engine oil, coolant, power steering fluid, windshield washer fluid, transmission fluid, and battery fluid (if possible) with the condition of the battery terminals |
| 2(b) | locate the fuse boxes, determine the type and size of fuses, and replace a burned-out fuse |
| 2(c) | check the condition and tension of belts and hoses |
| 2(d) | check the interior overhead, instrument, warning and exterior lights |
| 2(e) | locate and check the air filter(s) |
| 3(a) | point out the gauges on the instrument cluster |
| 4(b) | check tire pressure, inflate a tire, and check the spare is ready for use |
| 8(d) | safely connect jumper cables to your car battery |
| 10(c) | check the condition of the brake system, then recommend repairs if necessary |
Found out, not only explained
1(g) your state's emissions and safety inspection requirements (as applicable) and how often a vehicle needs inspecting; 1(h) the annual registration fee for renewing your family car's registration.
Requirement 8(a): ONE of three systems
Diagram and explain the parts of the starting/charging system, a hybrid or electric vehicle inverter, or the lighting system.
Requirement 11: do TWO of four
| route | what it asks |
|---|---|
| 11(a) | the value of three vehicles you are interested in buying (one new, one used, the third either), their insurance, and the operation/maintenance chart in the pamphlet, completed with your counselor's assistance, to find the operating cost per mile |
| 11(b) | choose a cleaner and wax, explain clear-coat paint and its care, clean the vehicle inside and out, wax the exterior, and use a vinyl and rubber protectant |
| 11(c) | locate the manufacturer's jack, engage it correctly on the vehicle, and change a tire correctly |
| 11(d) | perform an oil filter and oil change, and explain how to dispose of the used oil and filter |
What this page is
The Automotive Maintenance merit badge, drawn so the work done on the vehicle stands out from the explanations, with the electrical system of 8(a) and the two projects of requirement 11 drawn as questions. It is not a copy of the requirements: each step is a short label with a link to the official requirements, which are what actually governs and which change from year to year. The free official pamphlet is the fuller guide.
Sources for this page
- Automotive Maintenance Merit Badge Requirements, Merit Badge Hub, last modified 2025-12-31 · The requirements themselves, and the free official pamphlet linked from them.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 7.0.0.3 · The process every merit badge is earned through, which this page does not repeat.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 7.0.4.3 · Which version of a changed requirement applies to a Scout who has already started.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 4.0.0.1 · Why the requirements are not in the Guide to Advancement and are expected to change annually.
Last checked against its sources on .