Spring break is just around the corner. You’ve got your hotels booked, your trip is mapped out, you’ve planned to see every tourist trap along the way but have you prepared your vehicle?
Automobiles need to be in good shape before taking them on a long road trip. You could encounter different climate changes, elevation changes and differing weather conditions. All of these aspects can impact the performance of your vehicle. To make sure that your car can get you from here to there and everywhere in between take a look at these tips. Here are 5 things you should have a professional automotive technician take a look at before heading out on your next road trip.
- Make sure to have your oil changed and all your fluid levels checked. The last thing you want to do is have your car overheat in the middle of no where because your coolant levels were low. Don’t forget the windshield wiper fluid too!
- Get your vehicle’s brakes inspected. Brakes are one of the most important aspects of your car. If they fail then you will likely be in a car accident. Talk about a vacation killer! Get your brakes inspected.
- Have your tires looked over. Make sure they have plenty of tread and that there is no wire showing through. Be sure to have your tire pressures checked and talk to a qualified technician to determine if you should have a wheel alignment or tire rotation.
- Clean or replace your windshield wiper blades. There is nothing worse than squeaky, streaky windshield wiper blades. Sometimes, it’s a simple as having them cleaned; while other times they should be replaced.
- Inspect your headlights and taillights to make sure they are working properly. If they are foggy or clouding you may consider having them resurfaced. Resurfacing your headlights/taillights is an inexpensive way to extend the life of your headlight assembly. Also, by resurfacing your headlights it will enable you are able to see better on dark unfamiliar roads. Resurfacing your taillights will ensure other vehicles can see you.
This may seem like a lot of work to add on to your already long list of things to do to prepare for vacation. However, you don’t have to worry you can drop your vehicle off to Rackley’s Performance & Auto and we will take care of everything for you. By dropping off your vehicle with us you will ensure your vehicle is in tip top shape as you head off on your road trip. Call us today to schedule your “Vacation Inspection” where we will take care of all the items above and ensure your vehicle is ready for your vacation.
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I have been wanting to go on a road trip this whole year and now that the weather is starting to cool down my friends are willing to come with me. You mentioned a great tip to prepare for a road trip which involved getting windshield wipers replaced and when you said it, I felt inspired. It has been so long since I have gotten my windshield replaced with all of it’s cracks. Now that I am preparing for this trip it may be a good idea to get the windshield replaced.
Yes! Most definitely have that windshield replaced before going in a road trip!
Thanks for the great tips! My friends and I are planning on a road trip next week and I wanted to make sure that my car would run without hitch. And a key to that is to have your oil changed and all your car’s fluid levels checked while you’re at it. Cheers!
It is an informative post and contains very useful maintenance tips about the car maintenance before leaving for a road trip. Cars need maintenance at a regular interval in order to perform efficiently. Tire pressure fluctuates with the change in surrounding temperature. So before leaving for a trip, we have to make sure that our tire pressure is at an optimum level. Tire tread and tire pressure should be checked at a regular interval, so that tire doesn’t get damaged, as damaged tire could lead you to an accident. If your battery is old enough and showing some problem you should replace it before leaving for a trip. And before leaving for a road trip you should take your vehicle to a trusted repair center for making sure if everything is alright or not.
I admit the fact that a quick inspection of the car is really essential before leaving for a long road trip. Older battery are problematic in nature and should be replaced with new one according to the owner’s manual before leaving for a long road trip. Use of tires with lesser tread depth should be replaced with appropriate tires. Tire pressure including to the spare one should be inspected and should be properly inflated. As mentioned above, brake inspection is also necessary before leaving for road trip. Other tips given in this articles should be followed to prevent any types of unfortunate situations.
I do agree with your sentiment about cleaning or replacing one’s windshield wiper blades to prevent them from making squeaks and creating a streaky windshield. Aside from that, one should also send it to a local auto glass shop too. That way, one can get its cracks repaired or replaced entirely to keep the driver safe throughout the trip.