Holiday Travel Checklist: Check These Service Points On Your Vehicle Before You Travel This Thanksgiving Weekend

Thursday marks the official kickoff to the holidays, which means lots of traveling to and from friends and relatives for the next month and change.  No matter if you’re traveling one mile or one hundred miles, we’ve put together a handy checklist of things to check before you hit the road.  These basic service tips are vital safety checks on your vehicle to prevent accidents from early frosts, wet leaves, and blustery conditions.  If you need any of these items replaced or serviced, please do so before embarking on your holiday journeys.  We want to know our customers and clients will arrive safely at their destination to enjoy their turkey dinners!

Holiday Road Trip Pre-Travel Checklist:

• Check your front and rear brakes, emergency brake, and brake light system.  Do not skimp on this checkpoint. A  good solid set of brakes and quality rotors can be the difference between a safe stop and total decimation of your vehicle and serious injuries.  It is important to make sure that your braking system and brake light are in perfect working order before you’re faced with a split second decision to swerve, stop short, or avoid dangerous snowbanks or black ice.  You want to drive with confidence knowing your vehicle will keep you safe in the event of potential accidents!  

• Check your tires.  Check your tire pressure and make sure the PSI matches the manufacturer requirements (can be located in your manual or on a label on the side door pockets or frame.)  Look for signs of wear and tear such as bulges and bubbles, cracks or small tears, or significant tread wear leaving bald spots.  Consider rotating your tires if you’ve not done it in awhile.  Any damaged tires should be replaced, and any summer tires swapped out for all-weather or winter tires should be considered if you live in an area that gets particularly rough winter weather!

• Inspect your wiper blades, defroster, and heater.  As the weather gets colder, it’s vital to your safety that you have properly working wiper blades to clear away frost and snow or other inclement weather.  It’s also important to check the defroster and heat blower functionality, as these two elements must be functioning properly to ensure wiper efficiency.  Before it gets too cold out, consider applying a thorough application of a water-repellant such as RainX to the glass surfaces on your vehicle to aid in visibility during storms.

• Check your car battery.  Colder months mean we’re more apt to leave our car running to “warm it up” so we don’t shiver on our morning commutes.  This also means a higher potential for draining the battery through accidental means.  Be prepared in the event of human error or issues at start-up by always keeping an emergency car kit in your trunk.  This kit should include flares, warning signs, as well as a good set of jumper cables (long and short!) and a portable battery charger to jump-start in the event you’re stranded with no one around, or in a space where no one can reach your vehicle.  If a vehicle is going into or coming out of storage, the battery should definitely be checked and replaced as they do lose charge while sitting.

• Clean your headlights and replace any dim or broken bulbs.  There is nothing more frightening than encountering a blustery thunderstorm ,white-out snowstorm, or horizontal icy rains and not being able to see more than 2 feet ahead of you.  Having bright, clear headlights is going to make all the difference in getting where you’re going safely and in one piece.  Be sure to apply a headlight cleaner and swap out your bulbs for bright clear ones if yours are not up to par.

If you’ve got any questions about vehicle maintenance or wish to schedule a service appointment, please reach out to our representatives.  We would be happy to get your vehicle winter-weather ready!

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