Basic Car Maintenance Checklist to Get Your Car Road Trip Ready
Road trips top the list of fun and adventurous activities. Unfortunately, you can’t take your car out and leave for a road trip. You need to prepare for it in advance because poor planning and lack of car maintenance may hinder the fun. Therefore, you need to check your car thoroughly.
Here is an essential car maintenance checklist that you need to follow before leaving for your trip.
The Braking System
It is one of the most important safety features, so you need to check it first. Ensure that the breaks are in good condition. If there is squeaking, sponginess, or grinding whenever you keep your foot on the brake pedal, your braking system requires servicing. Another major sign is your steering wheel shaking. Get your brake and the accessories like drums, brake fluids, hoses, pads, and rotors checked.
Recheck the Tires
Flat-tire disasters are the biggest mood spoilers during any trip. So get them checked properly. First, you need to check the pressure of each of the tires to avoid issues like a bumpy ride, tire blowout, overheating, and premature wear. The pressure needs to be set at what is recommended and not over or under-inflated. Similarly, you also need to get the tire wear and alignment checked. A proper tire inspection can help detect the problem and solve it.
Check the Fluids
You must carefully check all the fluids and oils – brake fluid, windshield washer fluid, antifreeze, power steering fluid, and transmission fluid. You need to check the oil level and keep track of the mileage or date due for a change for the proper functioning of the car. If the date is closer to your road trip date, it’s better to get it changed before your journey.
The Working of Lights & Wipers
We all know that the functioning of a car’s headlights is essential for night driving. But, there are different lights that you need to check too. Check your interior lights so that you can find things easily in the dark. Make sure your indicators and brake lights are also working correctly because you might think you’ve given a signal, but there’s no point if they don’t blink and the person behind you won’t understand. Also, check the condition of your vipers so that you have visibility in rainfall or fog.
Check the Battery
Always keep a tab on the expiry date of your car’s battery. It is advisable to replace it if it’s more than three years. Also, check that the electrical charging system for the battery is working correctly. If there is corrosion, you can wipe the white powder from the outside and proceed with driving. Whenever you start the car, you should not hear sluggish sounds, which may indicate a corroded or dying battery.
Change Air Filters
The roads are full of dust and debris, and air filters are equipped to prevent them from entering the car engine interiors. However, the filters can get clogged after reaching their peak and impact the engine performance, interior air quality, and fuel condition. Therefore, air filters need to be replaced every 12,000 miles to maintain the air quality inside the car. In addition, check the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) to ensure proper cooling and interior comfort.
Adjust Suspension and Steering
To avoid extreme vehicle bouncing on your trip, you need to adjust the loose steerings and worn-out bushing.
Exhaust System Check
An issue in the exhaust system can cause troubles like improper venting out of toxic gases, decreased power, and poor fuel condition. A sign that should not be ignored is the hissing and popping sounds. Getting an exhaust system servicing done if your car is five years old is recommended.
Check the Front & Rear Washers
Both the washer jets need to spray water evenly and adequately. So make sure the jet sprays aren’t clogged and adjusted at the right angle to have a safe journey without any hassles.
Some tips go unsaid; fill up the tank before the trip! Ensure that your car is equipped with an updated emergency kit and a spare tire (Stepney). Also, don’t forget to test drive your vehicle before you start the actual trip.
Last but not least, you can opt for a service to get your car squeaky clean. If you’re looking for the best car wash services in Abu Dhabi, opt for Express Auto Wash. In addition to touchless and automatic washes, we also offer interior detailing so that all the dirt stays away from the inside of your car! So get your car road trip ready today!
