Trip Inspection at Advantage Auto Repair & Transmisson in Tucson
Tucson area drivers love their vehicles. And one of the most enjoyable things about them is taking a road trip. Freedom from daily schedules, new sights and the open road – it’s great! But there’s nothing like vehicle trouble to bring the fun to a grinding halt.
Now Tucson drivers can’t always avoid problems, but you can take steps to reduce the probability of getting sidelined on your trip. The first step is to look at your trip plan from your vehicle’s perspective. What kind of roads will you be traveling – winding AZ byways? Purple mountain majesties or fruited plains? What weather conditions are you likely to encounter? How far will you travel each day? How much weight will you be hauling – passengers and luggage? Pulling a trailer, roof top carrier or ATVs? Will it be dusty?
A great place for Tucson drivers 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? You wouldn’t want to drive regular highway tires on a muddy off-road adventure on AZ rock-crawling trails.
Shocks and struts 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.
Your engine air filter will be inspected. Your car’s air filter will process 12,000 times as much air as the fuel burned by the engine. If the filter needs to be changed, you’ll notice improvements on your trip.
Do you notice any unusual odors in your vehicle? If so, it could be as harmless as a dirty cabin air filter. But if it’s an exhaust leak, it could be fatal for Tucson drivers and their passengers on a long trip. Of course you’ll want to be comfortable, so get an air conditioning service if you aren’t getting the cold air you’re used to.
Are your wiper blades still working well? If not, that is a quick and inexpensive fix for Tucson drivers. Headlamps are often overlooked when planning for a trip. If you haven’t changed the bulb in six months or so, replacement bulbs will really light up the night on your trip and provide the necessary after-sundown visibility.
All the items mentioned are part of any good vehicle maintenance plan. These are things that you want to take care of anyway, but they all become more important as you plan for your trip.
They will always save you money in the long run and may prevent inconvenient stops and delays on your trip. After all, you wouldn’t want to miss the world’s largest ball of string, would you?