With beautiful weather and a long holiday weekend ahead, many of us are heading out of town to celebrate the start of the summer season. But there’s nothing like car trouble to bring the fun to a grinding halt.

While you can’t always avoid problems, you can take steps to reduce the probability of getting sidelined during your travels. The most important step is a pre-trip inspection to prepare your vehicle for your big adventure. A lot of our clients prefer to go through this exercise with their Star Auto Authority service advisor to make sure they haven’t left anything out. But if you prefer to go it on your own, here’s a pre-trip checklist for you:

• Tires: A great place to start is with the tires. Inspect them for tread wear and proper inflation. Is it time to rotate your tires? Replace them? Are they up to the job?
• Shocks and Struts: also play a major role in both driving comfort and safety. If they need to be replaced, you’ll really be glad you did once you hit the road. Is it time for a wheel alignment? Fighting a car that’s pulling to one side all day can be tiring and dangerous. (As we all know, winter wreaks havoc on Chicago roads, and one run-in with deep pothole can knock out your alignment or even damage a shock or strut. Here are 11 ways to know if your car has sustained pothole damage.)
• Brakes: Any strange noises, grabbing, soft or hard pedal feel? If there is any doubt, we highly recommend a brake inspection before you leave.
• Belts and Hoses: Moving under the hood, have your belts and hoses inspected. If something is excessively worn or near failure, the stress of a long road trip might just be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
• Air Filter: Your engine air filter will also be important. For every gallon of gas you burn, your car will filter and use 12,000 gallons of air. If the filter needs to be changed, you’ll notice the fuel savings (or loss) on your trip.
• Preventive Maintenance: How close are you to your next oil change? Will you be able to complete your trip before it’s due? If not, have it taken care of before you go. A full service oil change is a great idea because we will top off all your fluids and check to see if any other maintenance items are due, such as transmission or cooling system service. (At Star Auto Authority, we’ll also inspect most of the items on this checklist during an oil change.) Also, be sure to test your wiper blades. Are they worn or working well? They’re an easy item to forget until you’re driving down a dark road on a rainy night. Headlamps are also easy to overlook. Make sure your high and low beams work, as well as your turn signals and brake lamps.
• Warning Signs: Do you notice any unusual odors in your vehicle? If so, it could as harmless as a dirty cabin air filter. But if it’s an exhaust leak it could be fatal on a long trip. Of course you’ll want to be comfortable, so consider A/C diagnostics or service if your system was not outputting cold air at the end of last summer.

All the items mentioned in this checklist are part of any good maintenance plan, and we will always advise you of your upcoming maintenance and repair needs. But if you haven’t been to see us for more than three months or 3,000 miles, consider scheduling a pre-trip inspection this week for added peace of mind as you embark on your trip. Happy trails!

With light snow in this weekend’s forecast, it’s a good time to think about preparing your vehicles for winter. The process doesn’t have to be expensive, and it could save you time and headaches when the heavy flakes begin to fall.

For starters, consider using snow tires for navigating those snow-laden side streets that don’t get cleared as quickly as major thoroughfares. If snow tires are not in the budget, at least check your tires’ air pressure and make sure all tires have adequate tread depth. Also, be sure your vehicle’s four-wheel drive system is working properly after not being used in summer months.

While you’re under the hood, check to make sure the transmission and gear oil levels are correct. Then, change the engine oil and adjust the viscosity grade for wintertime driving. Be sure to inspect the belts and hoses for problems because cold weather can exacerbate any issues that might be festering. Next, inspect the wipers to make sure they can stand up to freezing rain and snow, and replenish wiper fluid if necessary.

Be sure to check the vehicle’s battery because cold temperatures can reduce battery power by up to 50 percent. If the battery is older than three years, we can test it for you to make sure it’s ready to handle the rigors of winter.

Next, check the antifreeze mixture using an antifreeze tester. The ideal mixture of antifreeze and water inside your vehicle’s radiator is 50:50. If the mixture deviates from this, then hot- and cold-weather performance can be compromised.

Finally, it’s always best to be prepared for any situation by carrying an emergency kit inside the car. If you don’t already carry these items, consider putting together a package that includes the
following:

• A flashlight, flares and a first-aid kit.
• Jumper cables, a tool kit and tire chains.
• A blanket, warm clothes and gloves.
• Paper towels.
• A bag of abrasive material, such as sand, salt or non-clumping kitty litter for when tires are stuck in snow.
• A snow brush, ice scraper and snow shovel.
• Extra washer fluid.
• Extra food and water.

Don’t wait until the thermometer drops below freezing to make sure your vehicle is prepared! As always, we are standing by to help with your wintertime preparations.

Source: Edmunds.com