Do you have a road trip coming up with your friends or family? Well, there are a few things that you need to know to stay safe and enjoy your time on the road. Your car will play a critical role in ensuring that the trip is fun and memorable.
Driving long distances can be a little bit more strenuous to your vehicle than usual, and the last thing you will want to deal with is an unwanted care breakdown. We recommend taking your car to an experienced mechanic for thorough inspection before hitting the road to ensure that it is in excellent condition.
Here are the top five things that you need to check before your long trip.
Lights
One of the essential things that you need to check on your car is your lighting system. Although this is something that you want to make sure that it is functioning properly every time you are driving, it is critical when you head out on a long trip.
Therefore, make sure that you check your car light operation to be sure that everything is okay. Check the headlight aiming, park light system, headlight lens, and fog lamps. Ensure that the headlight lens is clear and clean and your stop lamps are clear and in operation.
Brake Pads
The other critical component that you need to check is the brake pad wear. Your brake pads are usually made of a metallic outer part and the inner part. The inner part should always be at least 5mm thick.
If you notice that your brake pad has worn out to below 5mm thick, you need to replace it before you hit the road. You should also ensure that your handbrake is working properly. It shouldn’t click more than four times before holding the vehicle in place.
Tires
The tires are essential for overall safety and performance of your car. The truth is that several car accidents are always linked to under-inflated, over-inflated, or worn out tires. Let a qualified mechanic inspect your tire condition and recommend appropriate measures that you need to take to stay safe.
If you discover that your tires need replacement and you are on a tight budget, this might be a good time to get a no credit check loan to get new tires. Make sure that you inflate your tires to the recommended air pressure level and go on a short road test to determine whether your vehicle requires wheel alignment.
Check All Fluids
There are critical fluids in your car that you need to check before you embark on a long trip. They include the coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and the windshield washer fluid. You should also check your engine oil and replace it if need be.
You will be in trouble if you run out of any of these fluids while on the road.A good rule of thumb is to replace all the essential fluids including your engine oil before you hit the road for that long trip.
Spare Wheel
Lastly, you need to confirm that you have a spare wheel, spanner, and the jack. Test the spanner and jack to be sure that they are working properly. Make sure that your spare tire is properly inflated before you drive out.
There is a high probability that you have not had to use the spare wheel for a long time, and it may have deflated a little bit. You want to be sure that everything is okay so that you don’t get stuck in the middle of your trip with a flat tire.
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