One thing is going to happen this summer, perhaps more than ever before.
Road Trips.
With airlines having big problems being able to find staff, they are canceling flights right and left.
Who wants to sit on a stuffy, crowded airline anyway when you can hit the open road? Imagine finally being able to get out of the house and go wherever the road takes you?
We are betting that millions of people will be using their cars for this summer’s vacation.
Is that your plan as well?
There is one big tip that will help save you time, money, and major headaches: A safety inspection of your car, truck, or SUV before you head out the door.
The Best Tool You Can Use
You may be using several “tools” to make this trip memorable. GPS, a list of national parks, an online booking site, maybe even custom-made playlists to suit the mood!
These are all terrific tools to help make things easy and ensure a great time is had by everyone, but how useful will any of those items be if your car breaks down along the way because you didn’t use the one readily available tool?
What tool is that? A pre-road trip safety inspection.
What Does a Safety Inspection Look At?
Even if you’ve recently had the oil changed or if you think your vehicle is nearly new so everything should be fine, you should still take a few minutes to make an appointment and have the pros at My Mechanic inspect your vehicle.
The top items that tend to give people trouble on a road trip are (not necessarily in order):
- Battery- Believe it or not, more batteries die during hot weather than cold weather. Even if you believe that your vehicle starts just fine, keep in mind that temps in the 70s are not as harsh on a battery as temps in the 90s or even triple digits! We can do a quick inspection of your battery and tell you if it is up to snuff or if it is a weakling that probably won’t make the trip there and back.
- Tires- When was the last time you really bent or kneeled all the way down and inspected the entire tire tread? Sometimes, when the alignment is off or if something in the front suspension isn’t working right, it can cause problems that show up on the inside of the tire tread, which you usually cannot see unless you give your knees a workout. We will inspect your tires for unusual wear, worn-out tread, or problems such as bubbles or slipped belts.
- Brakes- This is another item that most people never give a second thought to unless the brakes start making noise. Inspecting the brakes is vital, especially if you plan on taking any mountainous roads or if you are towing anything. It’s easy for the mechanics at My Mechanic to inspect your tires and brakes at the same time. Imagine the peace of mind you will feel knowing that the brakes (and tires) on your ride are up to snuff.
- Belts and Hoses- Ugh. Is there anything more annoying than being stuck on the road because of something as simple as a broken belt or hose? These parts are easy to inspect and can be a real vacation saver if we spot one that is leaking or cracking and change it before it leaves you stranded.
- Lights and Wipers- While these may not seem like important items, keep in mind that you can be pulled over in all 50 states for having a burned-out light bulb. The pros at My Mechanic will inspect all the outside and interior lights, as well as the condition of the wiper blades. A torn wiper blade rubber portion can cause the metal wiper blade edge to scratch your windshield, not to mention make it difficult to see during a rainstorm.
- The Check Engine Light- the dreaded Check Engine light is about as annoying as a toddler with a squeaky toy. If your Check Engine light is on, don’t wait until you get back to have the problem resolved because you may find out that you can’t get back until you have the problem fixed!
We will also inspect all the fluid levels in your vehicle and top them off if necessary to give your car a good start on its way to vacationland.
A Few Other Tips
As a matter of safety, you might find these tips can make your journey more comfortable and safer.
- Pack an emergency bag with a flashlight, some batteries, a first aid kit, water, those aluminum blankets, and some snacks in case you should become stranded.
- Leave an itinerary with a trusted friend, neighbor, co-worker, or family member in the event of a worst-case scenario.
- A spare battery pack or solar charger for cell phones
- You may want to pack a set of jumper cables or a portable battery jumper
- Lightsticks are always a good idea since they last about 6 hours, and you can save the batteries in your flashlight
- A tow rope if you plan to go camping or head off the beaten path
- A tire inflator or a can of fix a flat are great to have in an emergency
- If anyone in your family takes prescription medication, most pharmacies will allow you to get your prescriptions filled about 2 weeks in advance, so you have plenty for your trip.
Don’t wait until the last minute or even the day before your road trip to get a safety inspection. If repairs or additional maintenance is needed that is time-consuming and involved, you’re going to want to leave enough time between the repairs and the trip to drive the vehicle for a couple of days to make sure there are no issues.
It’s always a good idea to make an appointment for your safety inspection about 2 weeks before you plan to leave.
This way, if parts need to be ordered, there is plenty of time to repair your vehicle and not interfere with your scheduled departure date.
Why not call us today while you are thinking about it? Our expert mechanics will be more than happy to inspect your vehicle so you can feel confident- at least about your vehicle- when you hit the road this summer.
