A holiday trip is a great opportunity to check the technical condition of your car. We present what exactly should be checked and what tools to take to ensure that the journey goes without unpleasant surprises. The car can break down at any time, and when it happens depends primarily on its owner. If periodic maintenance is not supervised and the wear of individual components is not monitored, the car will fail faster than you might expect. It is not a problem if the car “stops” near the house: then someone we know or relate to will tow us quickly to the garage. This is no longer possible when the car refuses to obey far away on the road. Sometimes a trivial problem is enough for a forgetful driver to have his hands tied. I am talking, for example, about the typical “catching the gum”. Theoretically, replacing the wheel should be handled by every person sitting behind the wheel, but in practice, the situation is complicated by, for example, no jack, a suitable key or … no air in the spare wheel, not to mention the fact that not all drivers know how to start the replacement wheels. There are many more such situations, so thorough preparation for the trip will save us nerves later.
Below we present what to look for in the car before leaving and what items to take with you to get there safely and without nerves.
What to check (running gear): is there a spare wheel in the car? Are there any tools needed to change the wheel? Is the lowering of the suspended spare wheel working? Is it possible to loosen the bolts in the wheels? In what condition are the tires? Are the brakes “holding”? is the handbrake blocked? Is there any play in the suspension and bearings?
What to check (drive train): is the engine overheating? What is the engine oil level? Does the clutch slip? Are the wrists knocking? What is the condition of the accessory belt? How is the exhaust attached?
It is best to start preparing the car for the trip by checking everything related to the spare wheel, i.e. tire condition, pressure level, and even its presence (in many cars with LPG installation, its place is taken by a gas cylinder and the wheel is usually in the garage). Then you need to check if we can remove them. In many cars, the “reserve” is mounted under the boot floor, in a special basket. Over time, its lowering mechanism will rust, seriously obstructing access to the wheel. Before leaving, it is worth lubricating it and starting it.
It is best to start preparing the car for the trip by checking everything related to the spare wheel, i.e. tire condition, pressure level, and even its presence (in many cars with LPG installation, its place is taken by a gas cylinder and the wheel is usually in the garage). Then you need to check if we can remove them. In many cars, the “reserve” is mounted under the boot floor, in a special basket. Over time, its lowering mechanism will rust, seriously obstructing access to the wheel. Before leaving, it is worth lubricating it and starting it.
Then we have to make sure that, in the event of a puncture, the wheel should be unscrewed without any problems. The obvious condition is to take a jack (and a crank to it) and a wrench with the size matching the bolts (it is good to buy more solid than the factory one). If you have anti-theft bolts, don’t forget to take a lock nut with you, the so-called thieves. Before the trip, it is good to loosen the bolts of all wheels and tighten them back – then we will reduce the risk of jamming the bolts and we will not have to “struggle” on the road.
What to take with you on a long journey by car? In every car going on a long journey, there should be a so-called essential with the most necessary (not only for repairs) things. To have quick access to it, it is better not to put it deep in a packed trunk. The toolbox should contain the following items:
first-aid kit
toilet paper
template of the statement of the perpetrator of the accident
warning triangle
cloth (to be put under something)
gloves
fuses and bulbs
a piece of wire
zippers
reinforced tape
a knife
cockpit rinse aid (for emergency engine start )
a flashlight
phone charger (efficient operation of the 12V socket required)