Macomb County Collision Shop Gives Tips to Prep Your Vehicle for Road Trips

Macomb County Collision Shop Gives Tips on Prepping Your Vehicle for Road Trips

Summer is a popular season for Michiganders to take road trips and soak up the sun before winter confines us to the indoors again. Before you and your family hit the road, make sure to perform these routine inspections regardless of your vehicle’s age, make or model.

It’s better to take the time before your trip to prepare and inspect your vehicle than to have your trip delayed due to an overheated engine or blown tire. If you do not feel confident to inspect your vehicle on your own, contact a local mechanic to examine it for you.

Check All Fluids

Pop the hood and check all fluids which include:

  • Brake Fluid
  • Engine Oil
  • Power Steering Fluid
  • Windshield Washer Fluid
  • Collant

All fluids should be easy to identify and will have some type of line indicating what level the fluid needs to be filled to.  Also, always check your owners manual to make sure you are replenishing fluids that are suitable for your specific vehicle. For example, brake fluid and coolant may vary based on your car’s make and model.

Measure Brake Pad Thickness

Brakes are one of the most important safety systems in your vehicle and should be at the top of your inspection list.

Make sure your brake pads are not worn and have the correct thickness. You can purchase a measuring tool at your local auto parts store. New brake pads are 10-12 millimeters thick while completely worn break pads are about 2-3 millimeters.

If you notice any other symptoms such as the brakes are making squealing or scraping noises, it’s time to have your brakes examined by a professional mechanic.

Inspect Tire Pressure and Tread

Having a tire blow out while you are on your journey can be extremely dangerous and potentially fatal if you lose control of your vehicle , so tires are another area of your vehicle you won’t want to overlook.

First check the tread of your tires to determine if they need replacing. Keep in mind that all tires will not have equal wear, so check all of them.

You can consult with your mechanic or perform the simple quarter test to get a general idea. Take a quarter and insert it in the tread with the top of George Washington’s head facing the tire.  You should see the very top of George Washington’s head disappear into the tread. If most of the quarter is still exposed, it’s probably time for a new tire.

Don’t forget to check your tire pressure on all tires including the spare.  Consult with your owners manual to see what the correct PSI for the tires should be. You can also find this information on the inside of your driver door.

It’s important to check the pressure while the tires are cold, for example before you leave for work in the morning.

Make Sure All Lights Function Properly

Inspect all lights and replace burned out bulbs. This will enhance the safety of you and everyone else on the road. Plus the last thing you want during your summer excursion is to get pulled over for a burned out taillight.

So be sure to test running lights, turn signals, plate lights and brake lights to confirm they are working at full capacity.

Learn More Tips for a Safe Road Trip:

Taking a Road Trip? Warren Collision Shop Lists 5 Tips to Avoid Accidents

About Macomb County Collision Shop, Pole Position Auto Body

Pole Position Auto Body is a Macomb County auto body repair shop that has been serving the Metro Detroit area for over 30 years.

If you have a damaged or crashed vehicle, our highly qualified technicians will restore it to it’s pre-accident condition in the quickest turnaround time possible – almost 3 days quicker than the average repair facility.

Call Pole Position Auto Body: 586-775-4825 – Where Excellence is a Habit, Not an Act!