Preparing Your Car For A Trip

The holidays are quickly approaching and that means one thing: traveling! If you’re planning on taking your car on a road trip to visit friends or family this holiday season, it’s not only important to prepare yourself, but also your car for the long journey!

While a well maintained vehicle cannot always ensure a smooth trip, i.e., unavoidable accidents, it will most certainly reduce the probability for those accidents to get out of hand.

Pre-Trip Inspection
The best thing you can do is take your vehicle to an auto mechanic for a pre-trip inspection. They will be able to check for your tires’ pressure, balance, and rotate them if necessary. They will also be able to tell you if the tread on your tires is too low, and if this is the case, it would be wise to change the tires before the trip. After all, no one wants to stop on the side of the road to change a flat that could have been avoided!

At ABQ Transmission & Auto Repair, we offer pre-trip auto inspections to customers because we understand the safety of your family depends on the reliability of your car!

Oil Change & Other Fluids
It’s important to make sure your car’s fluids are taken care of as well! If you don’t do the pre-trip inspection, make sure you get your car’s oil changed, especially if it’s been driven over 5,000 miles since the last inspection! Other important vehicle fluids to keep in mind: brake fluid, coolant, and power steering fluid.

Brakes
If your vehicle is making grinding, screeching or other unsatisfactory noises, it’s imperative you get your brakes looked at before getting out on the road! Unreliable brakes are a true hazard for you and everyone around you. If your brakes are not fully functioning, someone stopping short ahead of you could mean the difference between a happy vacation and a stay at the hospital.

The Smaller Things
Smaller, more easily forgettable items such as windshield wipers should also be checked for proper functionality. Getting caught in the rain without working windshield wipers endangers you, your family, and those around you. Be sure to check your car battery as well if it hasn’t been replaced in awhile. Keep an eye out for corrosion, and ensure that the terminals are clean.

Drop by or give us a call today!