Have you been planning a road trip with the family? If so, or even if not, it always makes sense to assess the condition of your vehicle. Whether you are driving across the country or across town, a few minutes spent now to check the condition of your car or truck can save lots of headaches, time, and money later. A mechanical problem in the middle of nowhere — or even in the middle of somewhere! — is no fun and can even be dangerous.
If you live where it snows, consider what ice, snow, salt, and loose gravel can do to your car. The radiator can corrode without you even knowing it, minor scratches and nicks can turn rusty, and the windshield is subjected to the extremes of interior heat and exterior cold. These factors, and others, affect your vehicle when the weather changes from winter cold to summer hot.
A windshield that has a rock chip or ding at the end of winter needs to be repaired before thermal shock causes the minor ding to become a major crack. Thermal shock can also happen when cold air from air conditioning blows directly on a windshield that is very hot from summer sun exposure.
To repair a small windshield ding, it can cost as little as $50 to $60. Auto glass windshield replacement can cost hundreds of dollars. It may cost even more for certain cars. Once a ding or star (star-shaped ding with points spreading out) expands, replacing the windshield may be the only choice. That’s why it’s very important to get windshield glass repair work done quickly. It is vital to have the repair performed before dirt gets into the break. If you can’t get to the repair shop right away, get a windshield saver patch. Such a patch covers the break until it can repaired, and does not obscure driving vision.
It is ideal to repair a windshield, rather than replace it, whenever possible. Windshield glass repair [http://lasertargeted.com/glassrepair/windshield-repair.html] saves the windshield, and preserves the factory’s safety seal of windshield to auto body. Because passenger side air bags deploy off of the windshield, preserving the factory installation is an important safety consideration. It also helps to avoid air and water leaks.
Another way to take care of your vehicle and prevent performance problems is to check fluids. Checking fluids is the cheapest and most important proactive maintenance you can do for your car or truck. Oil should be changed frequently — every 3,000 to 5,000 miles — if you haul heavy loads or drive in “stop and go” traffic.
Also, flush your radiator and change your engine coolant every two years. The summer season can be very hard on a vehicle’s cooling system so inspect your radiator for signs of leaking or corrosion. If you’re not sure, have your mechanic check the radiator core to make sure it is not plugged or at risk of imminent failure. Check and fill other fluids necessary for your vehicle’s performance, to recommended levels. These may include power steering, transmission, brake, radiator, and battery. Also, top off windshield wiper fluid. Don’t wait until you need it, to do that!
Heat in summer can also be bad for an older battery. A typical battery lives about 3.5 years. It’s probably time to replace yours if it’s nearing that age, or older. It’s a good idea to have a mechanic check the battery and cables to make sure the car starts quickly and reliably.
Check your tires to see if they are worn, badly aligned or balanced, or out of pressure. Tire pressure increases 1 pound per 10 degree (Fahrenheit) increase in temperature. If your tires are inflated to the maximum pressure indicated on the tire sidewall, you risk tire failure from over inflation, especially if the tire is damaged or worn. If you are traveling in remote areas, it may be wise to carry a full-sized spare tire instead of a temporary emergency spare. Temporary emergency spares typically have only a 50 or 100 mile life expectancy which may be inadequate for longer trips.
