In a situation like this where everyone’s life is at risk , taking public transports for any trips is not the best idea . People therefore are opting for private transports for travelling.
If you are one of them who is planning for a road trip , don’t let your car’s malfunctions affect your trip and cost you your time, efforts and mood .
Just follow this few maintenance tasks before setting off on road and spend your vacations without worries and disappointment.
- Check the fluids and top them off – According to NHTSA , checking the levels of all fluids present in your car, like engine oil, power steering , transmission fluid , coolant and windshield washer fluid and filling them up if any of these levels are low before hitting road is recommended . According to Cars.com , coolants become acidic over time so the coolant tanks should be checked for corrosion and changed if found . This in turn will prevent other parts of the car from getting damaged.
- Check the filters and replace them if necessary – Air filters in cars are meant to protect engines and prevent dust and debris form reaching the engines. If not performing well, these can result the car to face problem during accelerating .
- Check car’s battery – From reports made by The Allstate Blogs team, checking the car’s battery is also a must thing to take in note. Check for any loose connection and fix them . Make sure the connections are corrosion free . If you find them corroded, disconnect the batteries and clean them. Take professional support if you find it difficult to do by yourself.
4 Inspect Tires – Unchecked tires can lead you to spend a lot of time in fixing them, if by any chance they break down on road. It is hence recommended to check the tire pressure before departing and take in note if they are inflated. If found so, should be readily changed.
Despite of taking in note all of it ,carrying a spare tire is recommended so that it can be used in case of any emergency.
5.Check the electrical equipments – Electrical equipments in cars include lights, brakes, horns, air-conditioner, ,windshield wipers etc.
Make sure all the lights both in and outside are working properly. If any of them are damaged, change them.
If your brakes are making squealing noises, this can indicate worn out brakes. The level of brake fluid also concerns. Get them checked and changed before setting of as it can be dangerous to hit road with damaged brakes.
Check if your air conditioner is cooling properly especially if you are travelling in warm weathers.
Check if the wipers are removing water efficiently. If they are leaving streaks, consider them worn out and get them replaced.
6 . Check the belts and hoses – These have critical functioning in keeping your car’s electrical, power steering and cooling system work properly according to Consumer Reports. Get them inspected properly. Install belts tightly without any slack. Be sure the hoses don’t leak or drip.
Be sure to give a proper maintenance task to your car by yourself or by professional to get a hustle free , safe and happy vacation.