Checking car before long trip ?!?
(2012-02-06 15:25:06) 1. Says: I need to know what i should check before going on a trip to Florida. its around 2,000+ miles all together. I know i should check tires, oil, brake fluid, air filter. but i was just curious as to what else i should check to avoid any sort of breakdown on the road. i dont know too much about cars but i do know a more than most people, so be a little specific if at all possible! and could i even just take it to some mechanic and would it cost ? im sure it would but i am just wondering because they would obviously know everything to check.2. Says: I would also check the coolant levels. You don't want your car to overheat on a long trip due to a lack of coolant. When you're checking the oil, make sure you also check the oil filter. A clogged oil filter can be bad news on a long road trip. You also might want to check your transmission fluid and make sure your car battery is fully charged. Other then that it sounds like you've covered everything. Have a good trip!3. Says: having a mechanic give the car a once over is a good idea it all depends I guess on how picky you are. I would change the oil and definitely the inline fuel filter if you dont know where it is that is a good question for a mechanic especially since you may be dumping different brands of fuel in your vehicle pretty often for the next few weeks or so. Getting a mechanic to spend an hour or so is a good idea as far as that goes so what ever makes you feel more comfortable please do it. I have, and had the mechanic find some minor issues that could have been a bigger problewm on the road so you never know better safe than sorry I always say.4. Says: You should do what you stated above. If your car is in basic good shape, that is all you need to do. Have some jumper cables in the trunk and an emergency kit. A subscription to triple AAA would be recommended. Be safe.5. Says: Well you mentioned the tires and I assume you are thinking of air. But mainly for a roadtrip make sure the threads aren't bald or uneven in wear because a long trip could cause a flat tire easily. Check to see if you have a spare and the right tools to change it as well.Check your radiator hoses to make sure they're not broken or cracked. check for wet oil spots underneath your car, your belts on your alternator (listen for high pitch squealing), IMPORTANTLY check your breaks for any sounds as you hit them, check you signal lights, your headlights, your parking break (not a huge deal though), if your spark plugs haven't been changed (generally every 30-40 thousand miles), check your battery water levels and your battery posts to make sure they're not loose, if your check engine light is on then get it checked out, get some window shade blinds to prevent the sun from blinding you on the side or burning you, get a small cooler so you don't have to stop so often, make sure you have adequete heating and cooling so you're not miserable, make sure you're tunes are working so that you're not bored, don't eat too much cabbage or broccolli or your passengers will NOT be too happy with you!
It's also a good idea to plan out where and when your stops will be ahead of time so that you're not dancing around on your seat when you have to take a leak! Above all, MONSTER UP with Monster energy drinks so that you don't doze off on the road! Tag: Checking car before long trip ?!?