Auto Repair: Preparing For Your Next Summer Road Trip | Keller, TX

Photo By Monkey Business Images at Shutterstock

There’s no better feeling than getting out on the open road on a bright sunny day, especially in Keller, TX. However, you need to make sure your car is properly prepared if you’re planning on taking a road trip. Not only do you have to take your car to an auto repair shop, you need to make sure you have the right stuff in your car in case of an emergency. If you’re planning on embarking on a road trip soon, here’s how you can prepare for the trip with the help of a good repair expert.

REPLACE YOUR BATTERY

Unless you purchased a battery very recently, now is a great time to replace your battery so you have a fresh one for the road trip. The last thing you want is to end up stranded in a parking lot far from home, especially if there’s nobody around to give you a jump. Fortunately, your new car battery should be good for about 3 years.

If your battery isn’t particularly old but you didn’t buy it recently, you should at least have it tested at an auto repair shop. A battery test tells you whether or not your battery is putting out enough juice to power your car. If you’re not getting the right amount of voltage, buy a new battery now so you don’t end up having to replace yours in the middle of what’s supposed to be a fun road trip.

CHECK YOUR TIRES

When you take a long road trip, you’re putting a lot of stress on your car’s tires. This problem is compounded when you have a lot of people in the car or when you’re driving on hot asphalt. Before you start your journey to wherever you’re going, take your car to an auto repair shop and have them inspect your tires to make sure they can withstand the drive.

Tread is the most important thing to look at when it comes to your tires. Not only does this tread provide the grip you need, tread wear is a great way to keep an eye on the overall health of your tires. However, it’s important to take your car to an auto repair shop where they can fully inspect your tires to make sure there are no cracks or punctures that could cause big problems in the future.

FILL UP ON FLUIDS

In order for all the parts in your car to work properly for years or even decades, you need to keep all your fluids filled up. Everybody knows about having their oil changed regularly to keep moving parts lubricated, but that’s as far as a lot of people go. If you want to make sure you’re totally prepared for your next road trip, you should have all your fluids checked by an auto repair expert and replaced or topped off if need be.

For starters, you should have your oil changed before every road trip; this includes having your oil filter replaced. Next, you should have your coolant mixture and your transmission fluid checked. Since these fluids don’t need to be replaced nearly as often as others, chances are they will be just fine. Additionally, your auto repair professional should check your brake fluid.

You should also make sure you have plenty of wiper fluid to keep your windshield clean. The good news about that is wiper fluid is very affordable and takes seconds to put in your car.

TUNE UP

If you want to make sure your car is running smoothly for the entirety of your road trip, you can never go wrong by having it tuned up now. Most people don’t take their car in for a tune up very often, but it’s an integral part of keeping everything working.

During a tune up, an auto repair shop will do things like replace your spark plugs and spark plug wires, fuel filter and oxygen sensor. If you have an older vehicle, the rotor and distributor cap may also be changed. This is also a good time to bring up any strange behavior or sounds you may have noticed coming from your car.

CREATE AN EMERGENCY KIT

For the most part, people have access to cell phones in case of an emergency. However, that’s not the case if your phone dies or you’re in a rural area with no cell service. Whether you’re planning on driving a few hours from Keller, TX, or taking a long road trip, make sure you have an emergency kit in case you end up stranded.

The most important thing to have in a summer car emergency kit is fresh water to drink. You can go quite a while with no food, but water is crucial to human survival. You should also have some snacks handy (granola bars, nuts and other non-perishable foods) in case you or a family member needs something to eat.

For other parts of your summer car emergency kit, you should swing by an auto repair shop to pick a few things up. At the very least, you should have a set of jumper cables in your car. However, you should also have a flare or two, a work light and the tools to change a tire if you end up having to do it on the side of the road.

READY, SET, DRIVE

When it comes to celebrating the sunny weather and enjoying times with friends or family, it’s hard to beat a good road trip. However, it’s important to make sure you’re prepared for everything the road throws at you.

Preparing for a road trip starts with making sure your car is in good shape. At Import Car Center we specialize in auto repair and maintenance for European cars such as Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. If you need help getting your European beauty ready for a road trip this summer, call us at (817) 481-5665.