As anyone who lives in the Midwest can attest to, Spring Break is about as necessary as food and water. After a long winter filled with ice, snow and arctic temperatures, a spring getaway is a much-needed activity to rejuvenate the soul and get you through to summer. So how horrible would it be if you made all the necessary arrangements, loaded the family into the car, and something went wrong on the road?
Instead of leaving it to chance, schedule a road trip checkup for your vehicle at My Mechanic—and do so well in advance of your trip. This will ensure you have:
- Your pick of appointment days and times.
- Plenty of time to complete any needed repairs.
- Time to drive your car locally after any repairs are made, ensuring everything is working as intended.
At My Mechanic, when you bring your vehicle in for a pre-trip inspection, we will use our 60-point inspection and Vehicle Report Card to make sure everything is in tip-top shape for your trip. This inspection includes…
Fluid Levels and Condition
Your car needs various fluids to operate, everything from engine oil to coolant to brake fluid. These fluids provide lubrication to engine parts, prevent overheating, and ensure you can stop the car. Before you head out on the road, we’ll make sure all of the fluids are topped off and in good condition.
Tire Pressure
The proper tire pressure is essential for having the best control over your vehicle as you barrel down the road, and it helps maximize fuel economy. We will make sure that your tires are set to the proper PSI for the best road trip ever!
Tire Tread
When it comes to safety on the road, the amount of tread left on your tires is also critical. Your tire tread needs to have a depth of more than 2/32 inch to be safe. We actually prefer to see at least 3/32 to 4/32 tread left. And if you haven’t had your tires rotated in a while, that can lead to premature tread wear. We can rotate your tires if needed to help you get more miles out of them.
Brakes
Next to tires in importance is your car’s ability to stop when necessary. If you haven’t had your brakes inspected lately, don’t just assume that they are all good to go. Although the signs of wear and tear might be obvious—like grinding, squeaking or a brake warning light—we can do a visual inspection to make sure the brake pads are applying evenly and to ensure the rotors aren’t rusted through or too thin.
Battery Check
A dead battery can put a damper on departure time or the start of a new day on your trip. A battery check before your trip is quick and easy. But there is nothing quick or easy about having to replace a battery on the road or being stuck when you’re trying to get somewhere. A professional technician from My Mechanic can ensure your battery terminals are clean and that your battery is strong enough to avoid a call for roadside assistance.
Lighting Check
You don’t want a state trooper to be the one to tell you that one of your brake lights is out. We’ll do a lighting check to make sure your turn signals, headlights and brake lights all work. This will ensure you’re visible on the road—and that you’re not giving an attentive officer a reason to pull you over.
Safety First
Beat the rush and come in early for your road trip check. You can scheduling online or call us at 630-833-6100. Our schedule gets very filled up the closer it gets to spring break, so if you wait, it could lead to delays.
Once you know your vehicle is ready to hit the road, you can concentrate on finalizing your travel plans and getting everyone packed and ready to go.
