Road Trip Ready Your Car at Done Right Auto Repair in Boulder

Many people remember taking road trips as a kid during summer break. This tradition continues with trips to national parks, amusement parks, and historical wonders, but is your vehicle road trip ready? Here is how to road trip ready your car.

How to Road Trip Ready your Car

There are plenty of things you can do yourself to road trip ready your car. This includes inspecting your vehicle’s tires, checking fluid levels, changing windshield wipers, checking lights and signals, and checking the battery. Here is the full list on how to road trip ready your car:

  • Check your vehicle’s tires Many sites advise checking the tires for wear, and also uneven wear. It’s important to make sure the tires have good road-to-tread contact to not only improve fuel economy, but to also avoid a blowout, according to wikiHow. If the tread wear is uneven you many need an alignment. Make sure the tires are properly inflated to the manufacturer’s specs. Don’t forget about the spare tire! Make sure it is inflated and that you have a tire iron and jack if you need to change a tire.
  • Inspect your brakes Make sure there is enough material left on the brake pads. If not, it may be time for new brake pads. The brake fluid system may also need to be flushed, according to Tech Net.
  • Inspect the suspension system Tech Net advises having the suspension looked at so your drive is a lot smoother. This may include replacing struts or shocks.
  • Check fluid levels Along with the brake fluid, make sure to check the oil, coolant, and windshield wiper fluids, according to wikiHow.
  • When’s the last time the oil was changed? Service intervals for an oil change vary by the type of vehicle and how you drive. The range can be from every three months or 3,000 miles to every two years or 20,000 miles. Based on your owner’s manual, if it is almost time to get an oil change it is best to do so before you embark on your journey, according to wikiHow.
  • Have your cooling system looked at This may just involve adding more coolant, or you may be due for a coolant flush. Replacing the water pump or radiator cap may need to be done as well, according to Tech Net.
  • Check the timing belt Many vehicles have timing belts, although newer models may have timing chains. A timing belt keeps aspects of your vehicle’s engine timed properly, according to Jalopnik, so it is important to ensure your timing belt does not snap. They advise that a timing belt should be replaced every 60,000 miles or 5 years.
  • Change your windshield wipers If your windshield wipers leave streaks it’s time for a new pair.
  • Check the lights and signals If a light isn’t functioning you may just need to replace the fuse, according to wikiHow.
  • Check the battery Inspect the battery for corrosion and ensure the cable connections are tight. Batteries typically last three to five years, according to Smead, so if it is beyond this estimate it might be time to replace the battery.
  • Inspect the engine air filter According to Cars.com, you’ll need a new air filter if you see black spots on the air filter. Estimates for how often the filter should be changed range from 30,000 to 50,000 miles.