The government has been easing restrictions on travel some of you may be thinking of going on a long road trip. Summer is right around the corner and your feet have been itching for months to enjoy the outdoors. A crucial part of your upcoming road trip to the beach or to some far away destination is car care and maintenance. It is imperative that your car is in good working condition before you take it for a long drive once again.
Here are some tips that will help you prepare for that highly anticipated road trip with family and friends.
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Check All Fluids
Checking all the fluid vehicles throughout your vehicle is a must if you want a smooth ride to your destination. Find time to check fluid levels a few days before your departure. This will give you ample time to drive your car to a trusted car mechanic for maintenance and repair.
According to Sydney car mechanics, it’s ideal to check your vehicle’s oil, brake fluid, radiator fluid, windshield wiper fluid, and transmission fluid. If you observe wrong fluid levels, it is recommended to have them replenished. You may do this all by yourself or have a car repair shop restore ideal fluid levels.
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Check tyres
Your tyres should be ready for the long trip ahead. To ensure safety on the road, we highly encourage that you check the condition of all tyres. Check tyre pressure before leaving. Make a thorough assessment of your tyres, including treads, cracks, cuts, or basic wear and tear. If one or more tyres do not look great, it’s best to have them fixed or replaced a few days before departure. Do not forget to check the spare tyre in case of emergency.
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Inspect Lights and Wipers
When you are going on a long trip, 100% visibility is a must. You must be able to see all activities around you. With this in mind, we highly encourage that you take a closer look at your vehicle’s lights and wipers. These elements should be in good working condition to ensure that you can drive safely across all weather conditions.
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Car Wash
Wash your car, or at least keep your windows clean. Clean windows give you the best visibility while driving for many hours. If your wiper blades are worn out, replace them with new ones.
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Test Brakes
Brake pads are important as they provide much-needed friction to slow or stop the car safely. Over time, brake pads suffer from the usual wear and tear, reducing their efficiency on the road. Check for signs that your brake pads are nearing its end. Screeching or squealing noise are indicative of worn out brake pads. In this case, you need to replace the brake pads or have them fixed by a trusted car mechanic in Sydney.
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Check Air Filters
Air filters play a crucial role in preventing dust, dirt, and other debris from causing problems to your engine and vehicle interiors. At some point, your air filters will reach its full capacity. If neglected, air filters can get clogged resulting in poor engine performance and fuel economy as well as subpar interior air quality. It is ideal to change engine air filters once a year or every 15,000 miles. On the other hand, cabin filters need to be replaced every 12,000 miles.
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Inspect Light Bulbs
If you want to arrive at your destination on schedule, make sure to fix the burnt out blinker, headlight, and taillight to avoid getting pulled over. To check whether the lights of your car are in good condition, turn on your car and switch on the headlights. Walk around your vehicle and see which ones are burnt out. Repeat the process for all lights such as turn signals and brake lights, too.
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Check Belts and Hoses
It can be intimidating to look at the components under your car, but there are a few signs that you can easily spot if you do so. Check the belts if they are secure and tight. Belts should only have minimal slack, without any teeth coming loose when you push the belt further down. Experts also recommend checking for any missing teeth in the belts, cracking, and fraying, all of which may indicate faulty belts that need replacement or repair.
Check all hoses for any signs of leakage, especially towards the end portion. Belts and hoses that are not functioning optimally can result in serious problems while on the road.
If you have no time performing all these checks on your vehicle, you can delegate this task to a professional car mechanic in Sydney. HP Automotive provides the best car servicing in the city. We offer routine assessment and checkup to diagnose any problem that your vehicle may have before a long drive. We identify issues and fix them accordingly, so that you can finally drive your vehicle safely in the long run.