The holiday season is here, and you may be planning a road trip as part of your year-end festivities. If so, having the check engine light come on while you’re away is the last thing you want. To help you avoid any problems, here are some things to do to get your vehicle ready for the holiday trip.
Tires
First, make sure you have at least 2/32nds of the tread left on your tires. Your tire dealer will be glad to check the tread wear, or you can do it yourself using a penny. Place a penny in the tread grove with Lincoln’s head upside down. If you can see the top of Abe’s head, you need to replace your tires. If the president’s head is covered, you still have more than 2/32nds of the tread left.
Beyond tread depth, if you’re going to be driving through snow, you might consider installing winter tires. The rubber compound and tread design of winter tires are designed to grip snow and ice and help you maintain control of your vehicle.
If you’re still driving with your original set of tires, maintain the air pressure recommended by the car’s manufacturer. If you have replacement tires, maintain the pressure recommended by the tire manufacturer. Low tire pressure reduces gas mileage and can make your vehicle harder to control.
Find your spare tire (it may be in a rack under your car) and make sure it’s properly inflated.
Also, be sure you have a tire iron and a working car jack.
Lights
Take a walk around your car and make sure all lights are working. These include both the high and low beams of your headlights, tail and brake lights, directional blinkers, and license plate light.
Wiper Blades and Windshield Fluid
To avoid any streaking and smearing on your windshield, it’s a good idea to replace your wiper blades every six months.
Make sure you have plenty of winter windshield wiper fluid. You might even store an extra gallon in your trunk just in case it’s needed.
Brakes
Brakes in good working order are essential, whatever the season. Go to an auto repair shop offering brake inspections, and have the brakes checked. You want all the parts, like the brake pads, to be in good working order.
Battery
The average car battery lasts three years, but freezing temperatures can really drain the life out of it. In fact, at 0° Fahrenheit, your battery has only half the cranking power it has at 80°. To complicate matters, cold weather forces your car to work much harder to crank.
Before starting your trip, have your battery checked to make sure it’s still in good working order and there’s no corrosion on the cables and terminals.
Don’t leave home without a pair of jumper cables, and you might consider buying a portable jump starter that will start your car without assistance from another vehicle.
Emergency Preparation
To be safe, have a few essentials in case something goes wrong. Emergency items include a cell phone charger, flashlight, small first-aid kit, some basic food items, warning flares or reflecting triangles, and gloves, hats, and coats for everyone making the trip.
Auto Repair in Chicago, IL
Bucaro Brothers offers complete auto repair and maintenance. That includes a variety of services, including everything from a routine oil change to complex car engine diagnostic services in Lincoln Park. All our technicians are ASE certified and provide state of the art service for both domestic and foreign vehicles, and our customer service is second to none. Before heading out for the holidays, come see us at Bucaro Brothers Auto Care, and we’ll make sure your vehicle is ready for the road ahead.