Hitting the road this holiday season? How to make sure your car is ready for the trip

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest holidays on the highway. Whether you’re heading north to Wisconsin or west to Iowa, make sure your car is up to the task. Nothing puts a damper on a holiday trip like an unexpected breakdown.

Practical Items First – Scheduling

For your own benefit, we recommend scheduling your pre-trip inspection one to two weeks in advance. Why?

• You’ll avoid the holiday rush, and we’ll be able to schedule your appointment at your convenience.
• You’ll ensure there’s plenty of time for any repairs to be completed before you need to leave on your trip.
• You’ll avoid stress related to any parts delays. In most cases, we can get the parts we need the same day. But every once in awhile, a part has to be ordered and is 1-2 days away.
• You’ll have time to drive the vehicle locally for a few days to ensure everything is A-OK.

The Pre-Trip Checklist

When you ask Hong Kong Auto Service to inspect your vehicle before you head out on your trip, we’ll give it the preemptive physical it needs for safe and worry-free travels. Here’s a list of what we evaluate for you:

• Air Filter: Your engine air filter also is important because it saves you money on gas. For every gallon of gas you burn, your car will filter and use 12,000 gallons of air. If the filter needs to be changed, you’ll notice the fuel savings (or loss) on your trip.
• Belts and Hoses: The stress of a long road trip and traveling a few hundred miles can push weak or worn belts and hoses past their breaking point. Are your belts and hoses cracked or loose? Do you hear any whining from the car when you first start it? We’ll inspect your belts and hosts for any warning signs of trouble ahead.
• Brakes: We highly recommend a brake inspection to make sure there’s plenty of brake pads/shoes left and that the vehicle is ready to stop on a dime. Are you hearing any squeaking or grinding from the brakes? Is there excessive brake dust? Is the pedal too soft or too hard? Is the brake fluid low?
• Lighting: We’ll check your vehicle lighting to make sure there are no burned out bulbs you’re not aware of – headlights, taillights, brake lights, license plate lights and turn signals.
• Oil Change: When is your next oil change due? Will you be able to complete your trip before it’s due? If not, have it taken care of before you go.
• Tires: We’ll evaluate your tires for tread wear, proper inflation and overall condition. Is it time to rotate your tires or balance the wheels? Is there enough tread, and is it wearing evenly? Is there any evidence of dry-rotting or cracking?
• Wheel Alignment, Shocks & Struts: Your steering and suspension are key to vehicle comfort and safety. Does you car pull to one side when driving? Does the car dip when you brake? Does it handle bumps and potholes well, or does it bounce all over the road?
• Wiper Blades: It’s easy to forget about wiper blades until a rainy or snowy day, when we’re driving down the highway and trying to see through streaks on the windshield or withstand the scraping of a wiper blade well past its prime. We’ll check the condition of your blades for you and make sure you’re ready for everything from a sprinkle to a snowstorm.

If you haven’t been to see us for more than three months or 3,000 miles, contact us to schedule that pre-trip inspection this week. Happy Thanksgiving!