Those who neglect doing a quick mechanical check-over – even of newer cars – before taking to the highway are begging to be stranded. We’re not talking about rebuilding the cylinder head or performing a line-bore on the crankshaft mains. Below are just a few reminders that may slip your mental checklist in the rush to get bags packed and kids fed. The technicians at Limberlost Automotive can conduct a trip inspection for you. Our technicians will ensure your vehicle is serviceable before you start off on your trip.
Engine oil: We’ll check your oil levels and the date you’re due for an oil change. If you’re close to the manufacturer-recommended oil-change interval listed in your manual, we can change it.
If you’ll be going long distances, consider opting for a synthetic motor oil. If you’re traveling in hot weather or pulling a trailer, a fully synthetic engine oil can give you the extra protection against thermal breakdowns that you need.
Transmission and differential fluids: Did you forget about the other oil reservoirs in your car? Both your transmission and drive axle have their own lubricant supply. Our certified technicians can handle the greasy job of changing manual transmission oil and the differential oil. While we have your vehicle on the lift, we can check the drive-shaft U-joints and any other grease points.
Hoses: Rubber hoses would last 10 years if all they did were sit on a shelf. In a car, they are regularly exposed to temperatures around the 212-degree boiling point. At high temps, the plasticizers that make rubber squishy leach out at a faster rate. Once a hose gets hard, it cracks and hot water spurts out. At Limberlost Automotive we check both the input and output radiator hoses to ensure they are serviceable. We’ll also check your heater hoses, which run from the engine (usually near the thermostat housing) into the firewall and back. If we see signs of bulges or blisters, which indicate a weakness in the hose wall we’ll recommend a fix.
Belts: We’ll check the engine belts. If they’re at all ragged, torn, cracked or showing the fiber cords, we’ll replace them.
Engine coolant: New vehicles come equipped with engine coolant designed to go 100,000 to 150,000 miles. If your car is less than four years old, we’ll check to see the coolant reservoir is topped up.
Tire pressure and tread: Tires are your contact with the road, and since losing contact generally results in the remains of your vehicle being vacuumed up, we’ll check ’em out. If we notice excessive wear, we’ll recommend you get new tires. We’ll ensure that your tires are properly aired based on the information for your specific vehicle.
Brake system: Brake fluid is needed for the proper operation of your brakes. We will check to see that the brake fluid is not in need to flushing and that the proper amount of fluid is in the reservoir.
Battery: We can test the battery to ensure that it’s maintaining a proper charge. If it’s not, we’ll recommend a replacement specific for your vehicle.
Road test the car: Do we hear grinding or moaning from the wheels? That could be a bad wheel bearing or a worn CV joint. Does the car pull? We’ll check for alignment problems or worn tires. Did it shimmy or squeal under braking? Might be warped rotors or worn pads. Do the brake pedal feel soft? Might mean worn pads or bad fluid. Do the headlights flicker at idle? It’s probably a loose alternator belt, a dying alternator or corroded battery terminals. Our certified technicians know how to pinpoint any issue and can recommend any needed repairs.
Contact us and we will schedule a trip inspection so you can feel confident taking your family on the road.