The Pre-Road-Trip Inspection: What We Actually Check

Before you point the car at Vegas or the Grapevine, twenty minutes of checks prevent most breakdowns.

The short list that catches most failures

Coolant level and hose condition, belt condition, tire tread and pressure including the spare, brake pad thickness, battery health, and every fluid on the dipstick side of the engine. Most road-trip breakdowns — overheating, blowouts, dead charging systems — announce themselves in one of those checks a week before the trip.

Quick tips

Check tire pressure cold, including the spare you forgot exists
Top off coolant only with the correct type for your engine
A wobble or pull at 70 mph is a reason to delay the trip, not push through

Need hands on the car instead of more reading? VIPCANIC comes to your driveway anywhere in the South Bay, 24 hours a day — call (310) 340-6775.

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The Pre-Road-Trip Inspection: What We Actually Check

The short list that catches most failures

Quick tips

Stranded, stuck, or just done with repair shops?