ARE WE THERE YET?

By Brian Klaubert and Brian Warbington

The holidays are just around the corner and many people are making plans for traveling this holiday season. With these plans come lists of things to do and pack. While items like presents and clothes are important, our automobile checklists are equally important and often overlooked. With many people traveling by car this year, a properly prepared vehicle could be the difference between an enjoyable visit to Grandma’s or an unpleasant stay at the roadside inn. By making time to prepare your vehicle, you can better your odds at the first scenario.

There are a few things you can do yourself to help determine the condition of your automobile. Turn down the radio, turn off the heat or air, then listen for any abnormal noises while sitting still, and then also while driving down the road. By identifying any noises, you will get a good idea of what is going on, and help your repair facility find and fix those unwanted quirks that could lead to vehicle failure. You should listen for any chirps, whines, growls, ticking, or rattling noises.

Next, you will want to look for any vibrations, hesitations or jerking in the steering wheel or in your brake pedal. With cooler weather upon us, you will also want to evaluate belts, hoses, and the condition of your antifreeze. Most vehicle owner’s manuals will give you recommended intervals at which these and other maintenance items should be replaced. Check your mileage and compare it to your owner’s manual. This should give you a good idea of what items routinely require attention.

Tires are commonly overlooked and are very important parts necessary for having a safe journey. An unbalanced tire, for example, can cause a vibration that can be really annoying on that long highway trip. A tire with unusual bumps in it could cause a blow-out on a long highway drive. Tires should also be properly inflated. Having a tire low in air pressure can dramatically affect your fuel mileage, and cause extra pit stops. Incorrect tire pressure could also lead to dangerous tire blow-outs.

It may also be of benefit to inspect your vehicle's windshield wipers. Wiper blades don't get much attention until it is pouring down rain and you are trying to drive down the highway.

Most reputable automotive facilities offer a free courtesy check of your vehicle with every oil change, although it is important to make sure that there are trained individuals that know what things to check. By taking a little time out, listening, and having a knowledgeable technician look over your vehicle for safety issues, you can drive with more confidence on your holiday journey.

Brian Klaubert and Brian Warbington are available Monday – Friday at Christian Brothers Automotive – Hamilton Mill, in Dacula.