Two kinds of people prepare for a holiday road trip: those who check everything a week ahead of time, and those who discover a problem somewhere between the driveway and the freeway.
I once had a customer tell me he was about 200 miles into a family vacation when his car started making “a funny noise.” His wife said the noise had been there for two weeks. His teenage son said it had been there for a month. Dad, apparently, had classified it under the highly technical automotive category of “It’ll probably be fine.” It wasn’t.
Fortunately, most holiday travel disasters can be prevented with a little preparation before you load the luggage, the kids, the cooler, and approximately 47 other things nobody remembers packing.
Start With the Tires
Your tires are where the rubber literally meets the road, so give them some attention before a long trip. Check the tire pressure, including the spare — and look for uneven wear, cracks or obvious damage. And don’t forget that a fully loaded vehicle changes how it handles. Check your owner’s manual or the tire-pressure label inside the driver’s door to determine the proper pressure.
Check the Fluids
Engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid and windshield washer fluid all deserve a look. If your oil-change reminder light has been glowing at you for several weeks, holiday travel is probably not the time to start negotiating with it. Low or dirty fluids can signal bigger problems, and finding them in your driveway is far more convenient than finding them beside a gas station three states away.
Give the Battery Some Respect
Batteries have remarkable timing. They rarely choose a beautiful Tuesday afternoon in your driveway to fail. They prefer Christmas Eve, freezing weather, a packed parking lot and a car full of relatives. If your battery is several years old, have it checked before the trip. A quick test can tell you whether it is ready for another season of dependable starts — or quietly planning its retirement.
Don’t Ignore the Brakes
If you hear squealing, grinding, feel vibration, or notice that the brake pedal feels different, get it checked. Brakes are one area where “I’ll deal with it after the holidays” can become an unnecessarily expensive (or potentially dangerous) decision.
And Finally, Check the Basics
Make sure your lights, wipers, air conditioning or heater, belts and hoses are working properly. Check that your emergency kit is stocked and make sure your phone charger actually works before you need it. A pre-holiday inspection isn’t about expecting the worst. It’s about stacking the odds in your favor. The goal of a holiday road trip is to arrive at your destination with memories of family, food and fun — not memories of sitting on the shoulder waiting for a tow truck.
Before you head out, let Doctor J Automotive give your vehicle a holiday checkup. A little preventive maintenance can make the difference between saying, “What a great trip!” and, “Remember that time Dad ignored the funny noise?”
Happy Thanksgiving,
Jim, Steve and Kevin
Doctor J Automotive
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