When you travel it is helpful to make sure you have all of your maintenance done prior to the trip. I know this sounds pretty basic, but, I see a lot of people stranded because they did not check simple maintenance items before they drove off. Even if you have free towing with your insurance it still sucks to sit around waiting for a tow truck on a vacation day.
Here are a few things to always check: Air filter, oil, transmission fluid, brakes, tires. If you cannot remember when you last checked them, it is probably time to check them again. In fact, it is probably time to replace most of them before the trip. Your owners manual will give you the proper steps to check all these areas, so look it up there. Don’t have your manuals? How about a talk with your mechanic? Uh Oh! You don’t have a mechanic. That is OK. I would suggest you ask your friends who they trust and drive down to spend a few minutes with them. Any reputable shop will gladly show you how to check all this and help make sure you don’t have problems on your vacation. Depending on where you live, private shops will charge $40 to $120.00 per hour. The oil check etc. should be free but expect to pay for labor and parts that need to be replaced. Continue reading ‘Avoid Roadside Emergencies With a Few Simple Steps’ »