How To Prepare Your Car For Summertime Travel
Summertime is almost here and for many families, college students, or adventure-enthusiasts this means one thing…ROAD TRIP!!! However, as with any trip, there are important details to map out far beyond booking hotels and collecting toiletries. It’s important to have a checklist to ensure that the maintenance and care of your vehicle are up to par with tackling so much road.
Luckily, Driver’s Auto Mart has put together a comprehensive listing to ensure that your car has the utmost capability. Here’s How To Prepare Your Car For Summertime Travel.
Examine Tires and Tire Pressure
The first step is to examine all of your tires, including the spare one. Be on the lookout for any sort of blemishes, cuts, or lumps in the sidewall. To check the tire tread, place a quarter upside down into the tire’s grooves. If you see the top of Mr. Washington’s head, you’re due for new tires.
It’s best to check the tire pressure when the tires are cool and the car has been inactive. Simply inflate the tires as needed according to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure, it will be listed in both the owner’s manual and the sticker on the door jamb by the driver’s side.
Pay Heed To Odd Sounds and Feeling of The Brakes
Functioning brakes should not have a grinding sound nor cause a nervous or shaky sensation when it is applied by the driver, but if this is the case, it’s best to visit your local repair shop for an inspection. There, a serviceman will look out for fluid leaks, as well as pads, rotors, shoes and drums, finally determining whether or not a replacement is needed.
Stabilize and Test the Battery
Inspect the car’s battery to ensure that the cable connections are clean and secure, and the tie-down hardware is fixed. Request that a serviceperson perform a battery check to figure out its remaining capacity.
Fill Up All Of The Necessary Engine Fluids
Another thing that is important to ensure is that the levels of the engine’s oil, coolant and brake, transmission and power steering fluids are at their correct levels. The specifics regarding how much fluid is needed should be listed in the owner’s manual.
It’s also worth noting that recent car models have their automatic transmissions sealed and without a dipstick, and electric vehicles may not even use fluid.
Get New Wiper Blades and Refill Windshield Cleaner
Over time, rubber wiper blades naturally wear off, causing them to streak or fall short in clearing the windshield. If this is the case, it’s time to replace the blades. Load the windshield washer reservoir with fluid that is made to get rid of insects and other waste, and test to confirm that the nozzles spray as they should.
Investigate Belts and Hoses
One should also inspect the toughened rubber drive belts, as it is responsible for giving power to the engine’s water pump and other components, like the alternator and air conditioning compressor. Should any of these workings have some sort of imperfection to them, they should be replaced.
It’s also important to know that today’s drive belt materials don’t show obvious signs of wear, so as a rule of thumb, replace these belts every 60,000 miles.
Moreover, one should examine and replace radiator hoses that are either worn, frail or distressingly soft. Look out for leaks near hose clamps, radiator, and water pump.
Ensure The AC Stays Cool
While the AC is running, take your car out of a test drive. Pay attention to whether or not there has been a lessening in cooling capacity, and if so, take the car to a repair shop for inspection. Additionally, it’s good to have the cabin filter examined and replaced (if need be).
Get Emergency Supplies (If You Don’t Have Them)
Lastly, it’s recommended for road trippers to stock an emergency kit in their car. This kit should contain items like a flashlight, fresh batteries, first-aid supplies, drinking water, non-perishable snacks, booster cables, emergency flares or reflectors, weather-resistant ponchos, a conventional toolset, duct tape, gloves, and paper towels.
Driver’s Auto Mart
All of these inspections are already done for you at Driver’s Auto Mart. We sell a wide range of used cars that are incredibly modern and with state-of-the-art technologies. We carry various big-named brands like Mercedes-Benz, Chevrolet, Buick, Dodge, and so much more!
Those who are interested in any of our vehicles can simply view our online pre-owned inventory and chat with a representative for further assistance.