Get your holiday road trip off to a good start by making sure that your car is in a good condition. It’s important to ensure that your vehicle can get you to your destination safely. Not only are breakdowns inconvenient, but they can also compromise the safety of your family. It’s advisable to visit a professional to do a complete check on your vehicle before your holiday road trip. You can find a wide range of vehicle service providers and car spares on Junk Mail.
Photo Source – By Senivpetro On Freepik.com
The importance of vehicle maintenance
If you’ve planned the perfect family getaway, there are plenty of reasons to add vehicle maintenance to your list of things to do before you go on holiday. Whether you check your vehicle yourself or schedule a professional service, it needs to be done sooner rather than later. Waiting till the last minute can cause stress and it may also leave you with insufficient time to get repairs done.
Vehicle maintenance tips
1. Fluids (oil, water, brake fluid, etc.)
Forgetting to check your car’s fluids before you hit the road can cause damage to your engine that will cost you a fortune to repair. If you’ve been saving up all year for your December holiday, you don’t want your money to go to waste on costly repairs that could have been avoided. Keeping a schedule of your car’s services and checking the oil and water levels regularly is advised. Things to check include engine oil, coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid and windshield washer fluid. Perform these checks when your vehicle has cooled off. This ensures a more accurate reading of fluid levels, preventing you from overfilling fluids when you top up something.
Photo Source – By Peoplecreation On Freepik.com
2. Battery
A dead battery can put a dampener on any holiday plans. Make sure that you check your car’s battery life and inspect the battery for corrosion. You can visit a professional specialising in vehicle batteries, just to be 100% sure your battery is in perfect working condition. They can also check whether your alternator is charging your battery properly.
Photo Source – www.pixabay.com
3. Belts and hoses
Make sure that you get your radiator and heater hoses checked for cracks. Blisters can also be a sign that the hose wall is weak. If your car’s hoses aren’t in good condition, get them replaced before your road trip. Likewise, you’ll need to get your engine belts checked for tears or cracks. If your car makes a screeching noise when you take off, you should rather have it checked out.
Photo Source – By Jannoon On Freepik.com
4. Tyres
Properly maintained tyres are vital for the safety of you and your loved ones when you’re travelling on the road. While this is true at any time of the year, it’s especially important if you’re planning a longer trip. You should check the thread of the tyres, inspect them for cracks and check the tyre pressure of all your tyres, including your spare wheel. Make sure you also carry a tyre repair kit with you, just in case.
Photo Source – www.pixabay.com
5. Brake pads
Neglecting your car’s brake pads can put you and your family at risk. To avoid the danger of brakes that are in poor condition make sure that you get your brakes checked and replaced if necessary. Squeaking or grinding noises when you brake can be a sign that they need to be replaced.
Photo Source – www.pixabay.com
6. Cooling system
Overheating is a common problem on longer journeys, so checking your cooling system for leaks or cracks is recommended. Things to check include the coolant (water and antifreeze mixture) level, thermostat, hoses and connections, radiator cap, and drive belt. You can perform these checks when your vehicle has cooled off, which ensures more accurate readings.
Photo Source – By Peoplecreation On Freepik.com
When it comes to vehicle maintenance, it’s advisable to get your car properly checked out by a professional so that you can be sure everything is working as it should be. You can visit Junk Mail to find a wide range of reputable vehicle service providers who can perform these vehicle checks for you. You can also find a wide range of spare parts on Junk Mail if you want to do the repairs yourself.
Once you’ve made sure that your car is in good working order, you can set off on your holiday road trip with confidence.
My head lights are not in the good position.full are pointing very up and deem points down.where can I get a help?
Hi Ronald,
We’d like to suggest that you contact the service centre of your vehicle’s brand and ask for assistance.
Kind regards,
The Junk Mail Team