Car repairing can be quite the costly endeavor and, let’s face it, you’re probably not having a good day if you find that your car won’t start. It can be a bummer to have to call someone to deal with your vehicle problems on top of everything else. But don’t worry! We’ve put together this handy list of checklists for things that you should do before taking off on a long drive in order to avoid any car-related disasters.
Check Your Tire Pressure
Most cars will alert you when your tire pressure has dropped below the safe levels. But this doesn’t always mean that it’s time to worry. If you get a warning light on your dashboard and then find that your car won’t even turn over, then it’s best to call around to see if anyone can check things out for you. Better safe than sorry!
The tires on a vehicle are very important in order to maximize their efficiency and safety, so it’s not a bad idea to take a trip to the store and buy some new ones before starting out on an adventure. Just to be safe, keep an eye on the tire pressure for a few days to make sure that it doesn’t drop suddenly. It’s also a good idea to manually check your tire pressure at least twice a month (or every time you fill up your tank) as well.
Check Your Engine Coolant
The engine coolant in your vehicle is also very important in order to keep the temperature regulated in your car and ultimately keep everything running smoothly. With that said, it’s definitely not a bad idea to regularly check the coolant level and replace any fluids if they’re needed. Keeping an eye on this will prevent long-term problems and potential damage.
There are a few simple ways to tell if your engine coolant is in need of replacement. If you have perspiration-like droplets appearing around your radiator, then it’s probably time for some new coolant. Another way to tell is if the water doesn’t have any sort of green tint to it anymore. The green coloration will start to fade over time and become more brown or black than anything else.
Check Your Power Steering Fluid
There’s a lot that goes on underneath the hood of your car. The power steering fluid helps cool and lubricate everything down there as well as keep things running smoothly while you’re driving around town. Many people have their power steering fluid checked regularly to make sure that it’s in good condition, so why should you be any different?
Check the Transmission Fluid
It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on your transmission fluid as well. Just like the power steering fluid, it too helps lubricate and cool your vehicle and can prevent any long-term damage from happening down there. Keeping an eye on this one is a little more complicated as most modern cars have a transmission that can’t be manually drained like standard oil changes. Instead, you’ll need to use a dipstick or some other sort of method to check your level without having to take things apart and risk doing any damage.
Conclusion
I hope that you can use all of this information to keep your car healthy and safe, and avoid any potential problems by regularly checking for signs of wear, damage, or a potential problem. If you’re not sure if your vehicle is in good condition or if any issues are developing from keeping it broken in the past, then we can certainly help!