Mount Pleasant, South Carolina : Many families travel over the summer months to destinations around the country in their automobiles. It is important to family safety and comfort that their cars are in good working condition before leaving.
Get a vehicle inspection. To avoid auto repairs along the route travelers will want to have a complete inspection of their vehicle including the air-conditioning system. It is important to have a trained auto repair technician go over the vehicle and check the engine, exhaust system, battery and the cooling system. To avoid auto repairs all of these systems need to be in peak working order.
Tire Pressure. This is an area that if often overlooked until there is a problem. Under normal conditions, tires will lose up to one pound of pressure per square inch each month. When drivers are putting on a lot of miles in a day on a road trip, this loss will increase. Make sure the car is cool and then use a tire gauge to check the air pressure. It is a good idea to do this once a month. To avoid auto repairs while on vacation, make sure this is part of the inspection that is completed before leaving on a trip.
Tire Tread. While checking the pressure in the tires, check the tread which should be at least 1/16 of an inch in depth. There is great test that can be done with a penny. Insert the penny at several different points in the tire. Make sue that President Lincoln’s head is pointing downward. If the top of the president’s head can be seen, this is a good indication that the tire is word and may require replacement. Don’t stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire and a car full of family, so check the tires to avoid these auto repairs.
Check fluid levels. Have an auto repair technician check the fluid levels in the vehicle. This should include the transmission, engine oil, brake fluid, windshield washer, power steering fluids and coolant. Also make sure the vehicle has a full tank of gas before starting a trip.
Use caution when loading the vehicle. With rising gas prices a traveler does not want to overload their vehicle. This will not only increase gas consumption, but also over heat tires and cause excessive wear on tires. In the event there is a need for auto repairs, this will eliminate the need to have a lot of stuff to unpack from the car. This can hard to do with everyone wanting to take their things with them on vacation, but try and cut down as much as possible.
Take an emergency kit. Emergencies will happen no matter how prepared a family is for the trip. Some of the items needed to handle minor car repairs are:
- Flashlight and batteries
- A reflector
- Protective gloves
- Jumper cables
- Basic toolkit
- Flares and matches
- A blanket
- Tire pressure gauge
- Gallon of distilled water
- Non-perishable food items
It is also a good idea to have an auto club membership for those unexpected auto repairs. Make sure there is a fully charged cell phone available. A car charger for a cell phone is a great asset for a long summer trip.
East Cooper Aamco is a full service auto repair shop serving Mount Pleasant and Charleston South Carolina. We offer tips for keeping automobiles in good running condition at http://mtpleasantautorepair.com.
