road trip preparation
Business trip? Family vacation?
Long trips are actually easier on your car than day-to-day driving — but a breakdown far from home can ruin your day -and a vacation or business trip. Extra phone calls, delay of plans, towing charges, rental car cost and a repair bill may be avoided by inspection and preparation of your vehicle, by you or a qualified automotive technician.
First check your vehicle owner’s manual. It’s the best source of useful information for your particular vehicle. Information on towing, how to change a tire, where the jack and tools are stored, how to replace headlight and signal bulbs, where is the transmission dipstick is, and more are there, including the maintenance schedule!
________________________________________________________________
.
Under the hood:
Many engine problems are initially caused by a lack of motor oil changes. So if your next oil change is due within a few hundred miles, do it before your trip.
Long-distance driving of a vehicle that’s fully loaded and/or towing is a real test of an automatic transmission. So if that’s due for a fluid change soon (see your vehicle manual), do it before the trip!
Check the coolant. If your destination is much warmer or cooler than home, check (or have a technician check) the coolant’s mixture of water and antifreeze to ensure the car is properly protected. If the coolant needs to be changed, do it (or have it done) before the big trip.
When you take your vehicle to certified auto service shop for an oil and filter change and chassis lube, you can get a complete inspection and safety check at the same time. Technicians check and refill coolant/antifreeze, brake fluid, power steering fluid and washer fluid (front and rear). Techs check the wipers (front and rear), all exterior light bulbs and inspect hoses and belts, the battery and cables, the radiator fan, the air filter and look for anything amiss under the hood..
________________________________________________________________
tires:
Check the tires to ensure that they’re inflated to the proper pressure. See the tires’ sidewalls for the maximum and consider the loading of your vehicle. Low pressures can cause extra heat buildup that can lead to a blowout at highway speeds.
Tires normally have two recommended air pressures, one for light loads and one for heavy loads and/or high speeds. If the vehicle will be loaded with people and luggage or towing, inflate the tires to the higher setting. See the owner manual or the decal on the driver’s door jamb. Always check and inflate tires when they’re cold for consistent, accurate measurement.
.
Check the tires’ tread depth by inserting a penny with Lincoln’s head pointing down. If you can see space above Abe’s head, it’s time for new tires. If the tire tread is deep enough to cover Abe’s hair, you’re good to go.
Inspect the tire tread for uneven wear from left to right, cupping, balding or other defects. You may even find an object embedded in the tread, which, if it comes out on the highway, can let out the air. You don’t want that at 60 mph! Also look at the inner and outer sidewalls for ripples, bulges, abrasions, tears or threads showing through.
If you haven’t done it for a while (or never), have your tires rotated (right to left and, front to rear) before your trip. Leave it to a technician, because many tires are uni-directional (one-way) and shouldn’t be flipped to roll backward. Tires must be dismounted from wheels and remounted to roll forward on the wheels on the opposite side of your vehicle.
________________________________________________________________
.
elsewhere:
Check the spare tire’s pressure. If it’s a full-size spare, the pressure should be the same as in the other tires. If it’s a smaller, temporary use tire, the proper pressure is indicated on the sidewall of the tire; usually 50 – 60 psi. If the spare tire is secured under your vehicle, see if you can remove it at home in your driveway before you need to do it beside a highway.
That leads you to be sure of the location and condition of the vehicle jack, jack handle and lug nut wrench in your vehicle! If your vehicle has wheel locks, be sure to have the adapter for the ‘locking’ nuts.
________________________________________________________________
.
brakes:
A complete brake system inspection is another reason to see a automotive tech if you’ve heard brake squeal lately or felt your vehicle ‘pull’ to one side when braking. Don’t put it off to save money for your trip, because the life you save may be your own. Braking from high speed, with or without a full load of passengers, pets and luggage, puts an extra strain on the system.
________________________________________________________________
.
Especially if you’ll be traveling to a different climate, ensure that your vehicle’s heater and A/C is working properly by running it for a while in each of its operating modes. Verify that air comes through all open vents. If the air smells sour, the drain hose is probably blocked – an easy fix. If the system takes an too long to cool the vehicle, or if the air never gets cold enough, have the system checked for leaks and recharged with refrigerant.
.
Better safe than sorry-
Though you may be saving money for a big trip, don’t defer needed repairs and replacement parts for your vehicle until ‘after the trip,’ because they seem to cost too much. Can you put a price on your safety?
Brian