Checking Your Car Before Any Long Trip
Any time of the year could be a good time to take a vacation
in your vehicle. Before you embarq on
your journey, there are some items that you need to check out on your
vehicle. Easton Motors wants you to be
safe, so we suggest you check the following:
The Owners Manual
It all starts with the owners manual. Make sure that yours is placed in the glove
department or another easily accessible location in the vehicle. When trouble arises, the owners manual will
serve as the first place to look for answers.
Never leave home without it.
The Hood Area
Lift up the hood of your car. There are a few key components to your cars
health that need to checked out before you start your trip. For one, you need to check the engine
oil. Is it time for an oil change
soon? Get it done before your trip. Many engine problems can be avoided with
proper maintenance and timely oil changes are a vital part of that.
Also, make sure you have enough automatic transmission
fluid. You can do this by locating the
fluid dipstick out, wiping it, reinserting it and wiping it again. If it has red or pinkish-red color to it,
then it is fine. If the color is more brownish,
it probably needs to be replaced.
While you are under the hood, make sure that you have enough
coolant in the vehicle and check the battery to see if there is any visible
erosion. Also look at the drive belt for
any signs of cracks. If there are any,
you will need to replace the belt before a long trip.
Other items to check under the hood are brake fluid, power
steering fluid, windshield washer fluid
levels and the air filter.
The Tires
It is critical before any long trip that you make sure that
your tires are in good working shape.
This means that you will need to check the tire pressure, measure depth
of tread, and make sure that you do not feel any vibration when the car is at a
cruising speed, which could indicate that the tires need to be balanced.
While you're at it, also check the tire pressure on the
spare, make sure that you have a tire jack and any other key components you
would need to change a flat tire.
Inside the Vehicle
Inside the car you should check the lights to make sure they
are all working, and also the horn and windshield wipers. This would be a good time to make sure that
the air conditioning and the heater are working properly as well.
Do you have an
Emergency Kit Handy?
It only takes a few items on hand to make an unplanned car
emergency much easier to deal with.
Every vehicle should have jumper cables, a tire gauge, a flashlight,
duck tape, a First Aid kit, emergency flares, a bottle of water, a couple of
rags, and a simple tool kit just in case.
Want more information on how to prepare your vehicle for a
long trip? Check out this article.
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