Going on a Long Trip with your car? Before you leave, here’s a DIY of what to know to keep you safe on the road.
Hey there, Shecanic road tripper! Can you believe it's that time of the year again? Summer's winding down, and school is gearing up. But before we say goodbye to the sunshine, you might be itching for that one last road trip blast or maybe getting your or your college kid's wheels ready for the upcoming semester. Well, guess what? I've got your back! Here's my rundown on how to keep your four-wheeled companion cruising safely on the open road so you can focus on your playlist and the journey ahead.
You can learn to do all these things and more on your vehicle in a Girls Auto Clinic Car Care Workshop Plus, an interactive and immersive workshop that will boost your car know-how and critical tricks and tips to become a confident driver and smart consumer!
Test Drive Your Car
Start off with a test drive to rule out any weirdness. You know your car better than anyone, so if something's up – strange noises, funky smells, or odd behavior – it's time to pay attention. Test out brakes, steering, suspension, the engine, and the transmission, and keep an ear out for your engine's symphony. If something unusual is up, take it to your PCT (Primary Car Technician) for a check-up!
Brakes. Check the brakes for noise, pulling, or shaking when braking. Check if the brake pedal feels hard, spongy, or drops to the floor when braking.
Steering and Suspension. Feel for looseness or tightness in the steering wheel and unusual noises when turning, going over potholes and speed bumps, and driving on a smooth road.
On a straight road with no other cars around, drive straight and take your hands off the steering wheel for a few seconds. Does the car stay driving straight? If it immediately drifts to the right or left or jerks or pulls to the right or left, your vehicle will need an alignment and possibly some steering or suspension work.Transmission. Check for slipping or hard shifting when accelerating. Note any unusual noise in the transmission or operations shifter.
Engine. Note any unusual movement, smells, or sounds in the engine and exhaust. Make sure there is no check engine light on the dashboard.
Exterior Lights
Call your friend, co-worker, or family member to help ensure all your exterior lights shine bright. Driving around with bulbs out? Not on our watch! Brake lights, reverse lights, turn signals – you name it, check it. And your license plate has gotta shine, too – you need those tag lights to keep things legal. Your helper will be looking at the bulbs on the taillights and headlights. Have your helper stand behind the car to check the tail light assemblies while you are sitting in the driver’s seat. Turn the vehicle on, leave it in Park, and engage the parking brake. Turn your headlights all the way on (not just daytime running lights) and check the lights listed below.
Brake lights: Press on the brakes. Three red lights should light up in the rear of the car. One on the left side of the car tail light assembly, one on the right side of the car tail light assembly, and a third brake light in the rear window. The bulb must be replaced if any of these brake lights are out.
Turn Signals: With the car in Park and still on, turn the left turn signal on and then the right. There should be two yellow (something red) lights that illuminate. They should be blinking as well. One on the left side of the car tail light assembly and one on the right. The bulb must be replaced if these turn signal lights are out.
Reverse lights: Press the brakes with the parking brake still engaged. Slowing move the vehicle out of Park and into Reverse while pressing on the brakes. There should be two white lights that illuminate. One on the left side of the car tail light assembly and one on the right. The bulb must be replaced if any of these reverse lights are out. Put the vehicle back in Park.
Tag Lights: Your license plates must be legible and visible at night. The general rule of thumb is your plate must be visible 50 feet away. That is why you have lights placed above your license plate tag. They must both be working with the headlights on.
Now have your helper stand before the vehicle to check the headlight assemblies. While still in Park with the headlights on, check the lights listed below and replace any bulbs that are out or weak.
Left and Right turn signals
Headlights
High Beams
Wipers
These trusty pals are your visibility superheroes. Give 'em a run for their money – check for streaks, tears, and stutters. If they're not living up to their potential, it's time to upgrade. To test your wipers, turn on your vehicle and leave it in Park. Turn the wipers on high. Then, spray washer fluid on the front window for 2 seconds. The wipers should remove the washer fluid from the windshield and restore visibility with three swipes of the wiper blades. If you still cannot see out the windshield after three swipes of the wiper blades or if the wipers are torn, streaking, or stuttering, you’ll need new wipers! Repeat this process with the rear wiper if applicable to your vehicle. Do you know how often to replace your wipers? Watch this video.
Under The Hood
Under the hood, it's a party of fluids, filters, batteries, and belts! Watch a video on what to check under the hood.
Engine Air Filter - When was the last time you replaced your engine air filter? The rule of thumb is once a year or every 15,000 miles. If you haven’t gotten it replaced in the last year, get it replaced before I go on a road trip. It will definitely save you money on gas! Does your car have boogies? Learn more in The Girls Auto Clinic Glove Box Guide.
Fluids - Check Brake, Power Steering, Coolant, and Washer Fluid in their respective reservoir or bottle.
Brake Fluid should be a golden white color like white wine, and the level should be as close to the “MAX” level on the brake fluid reservoir without going over the MAX line.
Power steering fluid is a golden yellow color, and sometimes it can be a pinkish color. The level should be as close to the “MAX” level on the power steering fluid reservoir or dipstick without going over the MAX line.
Coolant is normally neon green, orange, pink, or blue. The level in the coolant reservoir should be above the “MIN” and below the “MAX.”
Washer Fluid is a light blue color. It is not always possible to see if you have enough washer fluid in your reservoir. If you need fluid, add some to the reservoir until it reaches the top.
Belts - Can you see your serpentine or drive belt(s)? It is normally located on the right side of the engine and sometimes in front. Rubber belts break down over time from age, wear, and heat. You’ll see cracks in your belt along the corrugated side. You’ll need a flashlight to see your belt!
Battery - Does your battery have corrosion on the terminals? You’ll see greenish-white deposits build around the battery terminals, indicating the battery is getting old or may need to be serviced. You can clean up the corrosion with soda or a toothbrush and water with baking soda. However, if the battery is over three years old, you may want to consider replacing it. Especially if winter is near. Learn more about Batteries in The Girls Auto Clinic Glove Box Guide >
Tires
Tires should have the proper tire pressure and have good tread. Check each tire for the tread depth using the Lincoln Penny Test to ensure you can slow down and stop your car. Also, check your tire pressure and make sure your tire pressure light is not illuminated on the dashboard. The average tire pressure is 33 psi. You don’t want too much air in your tire as well. So make sure you don’t over-fill!
Any Maintenance Due?
Is your maintenance light on? Does your oil change sticker say you are due to be changed? Take your car into your PCT, and they’ll inspect your vehicle while doing the oil change.
How many miles are on our vehicle?
If your vehicle has less than 50,000 miles on it, take it to your PCT if you have any concerns or issues with the inspection below! Roll up those sleeves, Shecanic! You can check your vehicle out for a long road trip on your own. You don’t need to take it to your PCT (Primary Car Technician) unless something unusual is happening. At 50K miles on a vehicle, there isn’t much major work that needs to be done on the vehicle at this point. Mostly maintenance items need to be checked and replaced. Here is how to DIY your car for a long road trip with less than 50K.
If your car has over 50,000 miles on it and hasn’t been seen by your PCT in over five months - take it to your PCT for an inspection to ensure it is ready for the road.
If your car has over 100,00 miles on it and hasn’t been seen by our PCT in over three months - take it to your PCT for an inspection to ensure it is ready for the road.
Here’s a quick video that explains what to look for when going on long road trips.
So there you have it, road warrior! Time to hit the asphalt with confidence, and remember, it's all about you, your car, and the miles ahead. Safe travels, and enjoy that playlist! 🚗🛣️🎶
Did you find any issues during your road-ready home inspection? We have a 50% off the Road Ready Check all August long! Learn more here >
Ready to dive deeper into car wisdom?
Sign up for a Car Care Workshop - An interactive workshop to learn more about your car, how to talk to a mechanic, and what to do in an emergency.
Purchase the Girls Auto Clinic Glove Box Guide - a workshop on the go, plus more! Upgrade your car knowledge to the next level.
Watch Car Car Videos - Seeing is believing you can do it! Watch these videos for a few basic car care maintenance tasks, including changing a tire!