The festive season is upon us, which means road trips to holiday destinations.
Before you set off on your journey, you need to prepare your vehicle.
The following is a list of things that should be checked and rectified before setting off on a road trip:
1. Fluids (oil and coolant)
Check the fluid levels, including coolant and oil levels. Also check that your windscreen washer bottle has sufficient water in it. Make sure to also check the brake fluid, if this level is too low, your car is not safe to drive.
2. Lights
If your holiday involves driving at night or in misty conditions, you want to be sure that all of your car’s lights are working correctly – especially if you are in an unfamiliar region of the country. This is a simple but important test. Remember to also check your brake lights and indicator lights.
3. Wipers
The test is simple – are the wipers clearing the water from the windscreen, or are they leaving lines of water that impair your vision? Before setting out on your road trip, use the windscreen washers to spray your windscreen and then check if the wipers are doing their job.
4. Wheels and tyres
Tyres are perhaps the most important part of your vehicle. They are what connects your car to the road, and if you are driving for hours at a time, they need to be in tip-top shape.
Check the tread depth and the surface of the tyre for any damage or bubbles.
It is also important to check tyre pressure regularly, even if they are not on a road trip. If a tyre is over inflated, it will wear in the middle of the tyre, and if it is underinflated, it will wear on the sides and edges.
Remember to also check the tyres on trailers and caravans as these often stand for long periods of time.
5. Brake pads
Another important component to consider is your brake pad wear.
Brake pads are made up of a metal outer part and composite inner part. The inner part need to be above 5mm thick.
Also make sure the handbrake is working correctly.
6. Leaks
Following the under-the-hood checks of the fluid levels, it is a good idea to check for any leaks from various components and hoses underneath your car.
If you see some oil spots or coolant, which has a shiny texture and looks similar to oil, on the floor of your garage, have your vehicle checked by a technician.
7. Drive belts
While checking underneath your vehicle, examine the drive belt for any cracks.
If your drive belt is damaged or worn out, you may have a total engine shutdown.
If you are planning to be on the road for a long time, and if you have covered many kilometres since your last service, now is a good time to check.
8. Spare wheel
A simple yet essential check that you can do yourself before tackling any long journey is checking to see if your spare tyre, the jack, and spanner, are all present in your vehicle and if they are working properly.
You also want to make sure that your spare wheel has a properly inflated tyre on it.
Chances are you have not had to use it for a while, so check the pressure before setting off to avoid being stuck in the middle of the Karoo with a flat spare wheel.
9. Steering
Some tests can only be done under driving conditions.
Qualified technicians can pick up certain concerns that the everyday driver may miss. Things such as engine sounds, vibrations, and suspension.
