Check your car before going on vacation this summer 2022. All precaution is little before hitting the road, especially if your car has been stopped for a long time. As the saying goes, prevention is cure.
The first thing you can do before traveling is to wash your car well to ensure maximum visibility. One recommendation is to apply a ceramic coating type treatment to the windshield, with this it is possible for the water to slip even more on the glass surface, ideal when there is heavy rain.
Since we are talking about washing the car, it would not be bad to clean it well inside. I am not only referring to removing dirt, it would also be ideal to throw away everything that you have been accumulating throughout the year in the holes in the doors, trunk and other corners. What the thieves do not take appears in the corners. So, a little order will help recover lost cargo space and on top of that you will remove a few kilos of unnecessary ballast.
What you should bring are reflective vests, triangles or a V16 emergency light. The light is convenient because it is smaller, you can carry it in the glove compartment and even while sitting behind the wheel you can place it on the roof of the car without having to risk getting out of the vehicle. By way of prevention, a first-aid kit or a fire extinguisher would not be bad to have on hand just in case, it will not be…
If your car has been in the garage for a long time, it is essential to check the tire pressure, yes also that of the spare wheel that if you need it later, it will not work for you. With the correct pressures indicated by the manufacturer, the behavior of the vehicle changes completely. If the pressure is too low, in addition to deforming the tires, you will also spend more fuel than necessary. On the contrary, with excess pressure you lose grip and cause inadequate wear.
Look for the label, which is usually on the driver’s door frame where you can read the pressure indicated by the manufacturer for the different tire sizes, as well as if you are only in the car or with a maximum load. Remember that in case of traveling with the whole family and the trunk loaded with luggage, it is important to raise pressures, always following the indication given by the manufacturer.
The condition of the tire itself, as well as its drawing, is also key. If you have exceeded the wear limit that all the rubbers have in their tread, you should change them immediately. If the car is two-wheel drive, it is recommended to change the ones on the axle that has problems, if it is a 4×4, the ideal would be to change all four.
Another important element is that the headlights and taillights work properly. In these times we all have a Smartphone with a video camera at hand, you can leave it on the floor of the garage recording and so you alone can carry out this check. Taking a look at the level of the windshield washer fluid, the coolant liquid and the engine oil will also prevent greater evils.
Of course, the best thing would be to take the car to a trusted or local workshop to carry out a 100-point review. With this you will have the opinion of a professional of the state of the different components of your vehicle. Thus, in case you find a defect you will already have it resolved. Take it as an investment in security and not as an expense.
