Six Essential Car Parts to Check Before A Long Trip

With warmer weather on the horizon, many of us are starting to plan and prepare for holidays and long weekends away.

If your next break begins with a road trip, remember to add these 6 simple car parts checks to your holiday to-do list before setting off.

6 Essential Car Parts To Check

Light bulbs

Sometimes your car light bulbs can go without you even realising, especially if you don’t often drive around when it’s dark.  Before setting off on your trip, you should check that all your lights are working and replace any bulbs where necessary.

Windscreen wipers and wash

Although we’ve got our fingers crossed that the sun will be blazing for your holiday, if you’re staying close to home let’s be realistic, there’s a good chance you’ll be needing your windscreen wipers at some point!

Windscreen wipers are one of the essential car parts to check before long travel. It’s important to check that your wipers are in full working order and don’t have any splits or cracks that could cause your visibility to be obscured by grease and grime during your travels.  Don’t forget to top up your windscreen wash before setting off too.

Engine oil

Setting off without enough oil could land you in trouble during your journey.  Engine oil is essential for keeping all your car’s moving parts working smoothly and cooling and cleaning them.  Driving around without enough oil can damage car parts and cause you to break down, which isn’t a very good start to a holiday!

To check your car’s oil levels, locate the dipstick under the bonnet and check that the level falls between the minimum and maximum markers before topping up if necessary.

Tyres

Damaged or excessively worn tyres can be very dangerous, so it’s important to check the condition of your tyres thoroughly.  Ensure all tyres are free from cracks and bulges and that the tread depth is legal and safe. Tyres are one of the essential car parts to check before long travel. Your tyres should have a minimum of 1.6mm tread across the central three-quarters of the tread around the entire circumference.  Finally, check your vehicle handbook to find out the recommended tyre pressure for your vehicle and top up the air at a local petrol station if needed.

Coolant

Overheated engines are one of the commonest causes of breakdowns, so save yourself a lot of stress and hassle by keeping your car’s coolant topped up between the minimum and maximum levels.  If you’re going away during the colder months your coolant will also help to protect your engine from cold temperatures.

Battery

At Number Plate Clinic, we recommend having your car battery and charging system checked every six months to ensure that any problems are identified before they become more serious. The battery is also one of the essential car parts to check before long travel. If you’ve got a long drive planned, this is the perfect time to ensure that your battery is in full working order.

Checking and maintaining these six essential car parts before setting off on a long journey can improve your vehicle’s performance and reduce the chance of breaking down. 

If you’re not confident performing any of the checks yourself, why not pop into Number Plate Clinic garage. We serve all car owners in Bolton, Bury, Wigan and Manchester.

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