Pre-Road trip car inspection: Get ready for long drives

Summer is the most packed time of the year when people get out of their homes and plan road trips. These trips include hill stations to seek refuge from the scorching heat of the plains. However, cars need proper upkeep before planning a long road trip to ensure the journey goes smoothly. You can prevent any kind of unexpected breakdowns by getting a thorough pre-road trip car inspection done.

Pre-road trip car inspection: Complete checklist

The complete checklist for pre-road trip inspection includes a thorough inspection of all the fluids, battery, tyres, brakes, lights, wipers, pipes and hoses, etc. Below are the complete details of each of them. You can choose to inspect the vehicle on your own or take the help of a professional auto mechanic.

Fluid levels

Cars rely on various fluids such as brake fluid, coolant, clutch fluid, wiper washer fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid in the case of hydraulic power steering equipped cars, and last but not least, engine oil. All these fluids need to be checked for optimum performance. Allowing these fluid levels to fall below the minimum recommendation can lead to loss of safety, significant damage and expensive repairs.

Ensure proper tyre pressure and treads

Tyres play a vital role, and ignoring them can be fatal on long trips. Inadequately inflated tyres tend to reduce fuel efficiency and tyre life, while overinflated tyres decrease grip and increase the risk of a tyre burst. Check your car’s tyre pressure on the tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) in the dashboard (if equipped), or get it checked at a fuel station. If it's been a while since your last tyre rotation, getting it done before a road trip will ensure a longer tyre life.

Also, ensure that your tyres have sufficiently deep treads to provide optimum grip on the road in all conditions.

Ensure battery health

It is essential to check your battery’s performance by analysing the time taken to start your car, the corrosion on the battery terminals, and the battery warning light on the dashboard. If your car is taking longer than usual to start or if the battery warning light is flashing on the dashboard, get your battery replaced, especially before a road trip.

Check all the brakes

Brakes are crucial for your safety, especially on long road trips. Therefore, check the braking performance, and brake pedal operation and look out for any unusual noises like squeaking or grinding. As an owner, you can only check for these things and if anything seems off, it would be the best time to have your car’s brakes repaired by an expert car mechanic near you.

Inspect the lighting system

Inspect your car’s headlights, tail lights, turn indicators and fog lights before starting a road trip. Lights are essential for proper visibility during rain, fog or night driving. If any light seems faint or indicators are not working properly, have the lighting system inspected professionally.

Belts and hoses

All the drive belts inside the engine bay operate various auxiliary components such as the AC compressor, alternator, and coolant water pump. It is important to visually inspect all the belts for signs of cracks and wear. Any squeaking noise from the engine is caused by a worn-out belt that needs to be replaced.

Also, check the hoses for any leaks as this might lead to drainage of essential fluid leaving you stranded on your trip. If you need experienced mechanics to spot issues in any of these vital components, schedule a professional car inspection at Fourdoor.

Wipers and windshield

Dust, dirt, muck, or rain can hinder your visibility while you are enjoying your road trip. Here, wipers and washer fluid come to your rescue by cleaning your windshield at the touch of a switch. Hence, it is essential to check the condition of your wiper blades, the level of washer fluid and the condition of the windshield. Check for any cracks on the windshield and all other glasses, including windows and rear windshield.

Emergency kit

Despite all the general checkups of cars, it is always best practice to be prepared for any kind of emergency. Therefore, you should have an emergency kit in your car with the following essentials:

• First-aid kit
• Tyre pressure gauge, puncture repair kit and tyre inflator
• Jumper cables
• Emergency contacts - Roadside assistance, car insurance, etc.
• Powerbank for mobile phones

Test drive your car

A couple of days before your onset of the long road trip, test drive your car and finally check all the components and systems. It is done to ensure that your car is performing normally. Go for a professional pre-road trip car inspection if any issue is found in the last moments.

Final preparations for road trip

After inspecting everything on your car, it is time for the final preparations before hitting the road:

• Ensure that you are carrying all the necessary documents, such as your driver's licence, vehicle registration certificate, insurance policy, PUCC, maintenance booklet, etc.
• For a comfortable journey, only use the boot space to load the luggage, and keep as little luggage as possible inside the cabin.
• Use GPS navigation as much as possible, and remember to check routes with the locals of other cities and towns to avoid getting stuck due to inaccurate GPS data on certain remote routes.

Conclusion

As you follow all these points regarding general car inspection before a road trip, you will feel confident and stress-free on your journey. It will only help you save your time, money, and unwanted hassles on your adventure.

FAQs

Q. How to make sure your car is ready for a long trip?
You can ensure that your car is ready for a long trip by performing a pre-road trip inspection. Check fluid levels, tyres, battery, brakes, lights, belts & hoses, wipers, etc.

Q. What to check in a car before going on a road trip?
Check fluid levels, tyres, battery, brakes, lights, belts & hoses, wipers, etc, before going on a road trip.

Q. How to prepare for a road trip?
Prepare for a road trip by following all these points.

• Do a pre-road trip car inspection
• Plan your route with rest stops
• Pack all the essentials and avoid overloading
• Plan your budget for fuel, stay, food, and entertainment
• Have a list of emergency contacts.

Q. How to take care of a car on a long road trip?
Take care of your car on a long road trip by adhering to the following:

• Take breaks every 2-3 hours to avoid fatigue
• Keep an eye on engine temperature, especially in summer
• Check tyres during rest stops
• Check for warning lights on your dashboard.

Q. How do I protect my car on a long drive?
You can protect your car on a long drive by:

• Performing a pre-road trip inspection and addressing any issues
• Avoid overloading your car
• Do not exceed speed limits on the highways
• Protect your paint by parking in the shade
• Drive according to the road conditions.

Q. How to plan a long-distance road trip?
You can plan your road trip by choosing the destination of your choice and potential rest stops based on interests and travel time. Map your route with GPS maps and navigation. Ensure to get a pre-road trip inspection for your car.