There’s a particular kind of automotive repair nobody enjoys: the one that happens three states away.

If you’re about to put hundreds or thousands of miles on a vehicle, spending a little time looking it over beforehand is usually worthwhile.

Here’s where we’d start.

Tires

Look at all four tires—and the spare if the vehicle has one.

Check pressure when the tires are cold and use the pressure specified by the vehicle manufacturer, normally found on the driver’s door-jamb placard or in the owner’s manual.

Don’t use the maximum pressure molded into the tire sidewall as your target.

Look at tread condition and wear too.

A tire that’s already marginal isn’t going to improve after eight hours of interstate driving.

Oil

If an oil change is due or will become due during the trip, taking care of it before leaving makes sense.

More importantly, check the oil level.

If you know the engine consumes some oil between services, bring the correct oil with you and continue checking the level during a long trip.

Cooling System

Long drives and summer temperatures put the cooling system to work.

Check coolant level when appropriate and look for evidence of leaks.

If you’ve noticed the temperature gauge behaving differently, coolant disappearing or a sweet coolant smell, investigate before the trip.

Battery and Charging System

A battery doesn’t know you’re on vacation.

If starting has become sluggish or the battery has been giving you warning signs, this is a good time to test it.

Brakes

A long trip isn’t when you want to discover that the brake vibration you’ve been ignoring is getting worse.

If the brakes are grinding, the pedal feels unusual or you’ve been told they’re nearing the end of their service life, address that before leaving.

Wipers, Lights and Washer Fluid

These aren’t glamorous maintenance items until you’re driving through a thunderstorm at night.

Make sure the wipers clear the windshield properly. Check exterior lights. Fill the washer reservoir.

Small things become big annoyances on the road.

Don’t Forget the Spare-Tire Equipment

Some modern vehicles don’t have a conventional spare.

Know what your vehicle has before you need it.

If there is a spare, check its pressure and make sure the jack and tools are actually in the vehicle.

Check for Recalls

Before a long trip is also a good opportunity to check your vehicle’s VIN for open safety recalls through NHTSA.

Recall repairs are handled through the manufacturer’s dealer network.

Give Us Enough Time

If you’d like Automotive Services to inspect a vehicle before a trip, don’t wait until the afternoon before you’re leaving if you can avoid it.

If we find something that needs repair or a part has to be obtained, having a little time makes everybody’s life easier.

And remember: an inspection can’t guarantee that a mechanical component won’t fail tomorrow.

What it can do is identify conditions we can see today.

That’s worthwhile before pointing the car toward Florida, the mountains or wherever you’re headed next.

Have a good trip.

We’d rather see you at Automotive Services before you leave than hear from you while you’re sitting on the shoulder somewhere in another state.

Ready to schedule a pre-trip inspection? Call us at (770) 928-6126 before you hit the road.

Related reading: Services • Contact Us • Blog 3: Brakes • Blog 8: Georgia Heat • Blog 11: Overheating