The holiday season is right around the corner again, and it’s time to make travel plans. That means you’ll want to take care of the essentials, including transportation. We’re here to help you pre-empt any difficulties by prepping your car, or SUV for short or long-distance traveling this winter season.
Below is a basic checklist you can use to make sure your ride is ready for the tougher cold weather before hitting the roads and highways.
The Must-Have Pre-Travel Seasonal Checklist
- Address Whatever’s Broken – The first thing you should do is take care of any dashboard lights or obvious mechanical issues (if applicable). You don’t have to play guessing games if you have a “check engine” light or something else you don’t know how to handle. Vic Auto Service can help you with repairs and preventative maintenance before you take a thousand-mile trip across the country.
- Ensure Adequate Fluid Levels – This includes oil, brake fluid, power-steering fluid, transmission fluid, and coolant. Once again, if you don’t have time, and want to do this quickly, consider visiting us for an oil change. One of our guys can check and refill all the essentials for you.
- Make Sure You Have Heat – We’ve seen record-low temperatures over the last couple of years in Texas. So, whether you’re driving to New England or some place local, it’s important to make sure your car heater is operating properly. Test this before you go anywhere far, and bring it to us if you find a problem.
- Adjust the Washer Fluid – There are different windshield washer fluids, depending on the season and conditions. Some drivers prefer the “all-season” variety, but you can also switch the special winter fluid to accommodate freezing temperatures (if you expect exceptionally cold weather where you’re traveling).
- Check Your Tires – You want to make sure your tires have enough tread for enduring all the debris and potholes on the highway. This is also the time of year to add more air to your tires. Consult your owner’s manual to see what PSI level works best for winter driving. It’s usually about four PSI higher than summer recommendations.
- Pack Plenty of Cold Weather Items – Think about all the stuff you’ll need in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Drivers should always have first-aid gear, but it’s also smart to gather other useful items like blankets, gloves, ice scrapers, and flashlights. You might also bring extra water, snacks, phone chargers, and back-up batteries.
Those are the simple necessities of preparing for a winter road trip this holiday season. If you cover these important items, you should be in good shape.
For anything more advanced, you can count on Vic Auto Service for detailed assistance. We’re an award-winning automotive repair and paint shop in Spring, Texas. If you’d like to know more about what we do, or schedule service, then contact us today at 281-370-0101.
