How do you prepare your car for a long road trip?

[HappyMommy2]

We're driving cross-country soon with both cars, which are in good shape but have about 80,000 miles each. We've had fairly regular maintenance done on them but it's been awhile since anything more than their regular 3000-mile oil changes.

What should I do? Take them into the shop and say, "Here's my car--can you see if anything needs to be done on it?"

Do you take your car in for a safety check before a long trip? Check things out at home? Just hit the road and hope for the best?



Janet

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

I don't have any high-mileage vehicles, but I'd take it in for a tune-up, and have all the fluids, belts, and brakes checked.

 

[liznboys]

I would just read your owner's manual and see if anything needs to be done. And you could take it to a Jiffy Lube so they can make sure everything is ok.

 

[Pop Daddy]

fill it up with gas

 

[aprilgail2]

I usually sell my cars by the time they have 60,000 and need a timing belt change- but when I drove to Florida I rought it in to my mechanic and he gave it a going over and replaced a fan belt that needed replacing, changed all the fluids and replaced the windshied wipers. Right now I have a new van and pretty new saturn so all I do is gas them up and go.

 

[NC Belle]

I check the tires for pressure and wear patterns along with getting oil change, fluids, checking the belts, look for fluid leaking, and checking the lights. I recommend looking at the spare to make sure that it is fully inflated and carrying an emergency kit. AAA or other companies like it is good to have on hand.

 

[katerkat]

I vaguely remember my oil change place having a "$10 Trip Prep Check" - they check everything that needs to be checked. Check you local Jiffy Lube or whatever!

 

[Margie J]

I'd consider the belts, brakes, tires, cooling system and transmission to be key for a long trip. If you have AC, check its charge. Bring along extra oil, water, coolant, flares, fix a flat, a gas can and a first aid kit too. I have a AAA Membership too which has come in handy several times.

Also, I'd be more likely to prep the car at a place other than a Jiffy Lube. I think they are fine for many everyday things but prepping an older car for a long distance trip may take more care. A big National chain that offers major services may be good if they offer warranty service if any of their work fails. I'm looking at a warranty statement from Midas right now that states "Warranty work will be performed at any Midas shop in the USA or Canada offering warranted product or service."

 

[Figment22]

All of the above are great suggestions.

Here's another small (but important) one. Get a bottle of RainX and coat your front windshield, rear windshield, front windows and mirrors with it. The stuff is amazing. If you're not familiar with this product, it's like a wax for your glass surfaces and if you drive into a rain storm, as can often happen on a long road trip, it just makes the rain glide right off your windshield. We've driven through some torrential rains when everyone else has the wipers on high speed and we're just cruisin' on through on intermittant. I highly recommend RainX at all times, but especially on a road trip.

 

[Jungle Skipper]

Here's another small (but important) one. Get a bottle of RainX and coat your front windshield, rear windshield, front windows and mirrors with it.

AMEN to that! This one is one of the best suggestions!

I always get an oil change and complete tuneup....check out my tires and the like..oh and replace the windshield wipers..because it never fails, it always rains when I go on a roadtrip....oh and if you can, have your headlights buffed...helps for night time driving.

Jungle Josh

 

[my3kids]

I took my high mileage car to a dealer. I explained I was driving on a very long trip and asked them to check it out. They happily did so.

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by Margie J
Also, I'd be more likely to prep the car at a place other than a Jiffy Lube. I think they are fine for many everyday things but prepping an older car for a long distance trip may take more care. A

I agree with that...Jiffy Lubes around here have a bunch of high school kids working at them..all they have to know how to do is change oil.

 

[WDWLVR]

Well I'm blessed with a DH who know a lot about cars. Before our road trip in May he changed all the fuids and filters. We bought new tires (had the same ones on since we bought the car in '99). He packed a car kit that had everything we could need including extra oil, belts, etc - luckily we never needed any of it.

The RainX suggestion is a good one - he always puts that on our cars. Really helped when we hit what little rain we did - it just rolled off the windshield!

 

[Serena]

LOL, I have to rent a car if I want to go out of town. My car refuses to go out of the city. It just breaks down.


I would tell a mechanic that you trust, that you are going on a long trip. Have him/her check everything.

 

[HappyMommy2]

Thanks for all the great suggestions!

I will take both cars in and get all their systems checked out. We have detailed maintenance records on both cars so I will dig those out first and that'll hopefully give me an idea of what should be done. Thanks for the Rain X suggestion, too--we used to use Rain X and it really does do wonders; I need to buy another bottle and apply it before our trip.

And Pop Daddy, I won't forget to put gas in!

Thanks again,
Janet

 

[Trish Bessette]

Good luck on your across country trip Janet.

Looks like your all set with the proper advise. Don't forget some good music to listen to and gum or candy to enjoy along the way.

Safe travels!

 

[minniepumpernickel]

I take the car in and let the professionals do it. One time I took a road trip along the Eastern shore and my radiator explded, and I had to stop every few miles and add water. Ever since then I get it checked.

 

[HollyJoy]

We just make sure that it's had it's scheduled maintenance, and all fluids are full.

 

[pjlla]

HONESTLY..... this is what I do (but of course, I really trust my mechanics).... I tell him.... "If your daughter/mother/girlfriend (depending on the mechanic's age of course) were going to drive this car xxx miles across the country, what would it need to get ready?" .....................P