Jay Gaulard writes for a wide selection of websites on various topics. He is a veteran of the internet and has come to be respected in his many areas of expertise. This article was written on behalf of MyAutoMarket, a popular automotive parts and accessories website.
Before You Leave on That Road Trip: Making Sure Your Car is Ready
14
Jan/100
Jan/100
A big road trip is looming in the future. Can you be sure that your car is ready? Before you head out on the open road, there are some important safety checks you need to make. After all, nothing would ruin a vacation faster than serious car trouble on your way to your destination!
On Month Before Leaving
Preparing for a car trip starts long before you are ready to go. About a month before you are ready to leave, there are some steps you need to take. First, you need to complete any major repairs that are needed on the vehicle. Often repairs lead to the discovery of more problems, and you want to be sure that your car is in the best shape possible before you take a long trip.
If you are traveling in the summer or headed somewhere that is significantly warmer than your home, have your coolant checked. If you are traveling where it will be below freezing, make sure the coolant has the proper amount of antifreeze in it. Change the coolant if it needs to be changed.
This is also the time to check your tires. Do a tread check by placing a penny in the car’s tread, with President Lincoln’s head pointed down and facing you. If you can see the entire head, the tread is too worn and you need to replace your tires. While this might seem like a very big expense, worn tires can burst while driving, which can be a very dangerous situation. Also, make sure your spare is inflated and that you have the necessary tools to change a tire if needed, such as a jack and a wrench.
This is also a good time to spring for a brake inspection. Brakes that fail can cause serious accidents, and often something as simple as replacing the brake pads can keep your family much safer. It is better to know now that something is wrong with your brakes, rather than finding out as you are driving.
Finally, check the glove box for the car’s owner’s manual, insurance card, and registration. If any of these items are missing, request them. You can order a manual from the car’s manufacturer, or you may be able to download it online. If your insurance or registration is going to expire while you are on your trip, renew it before you leave.
The Week You Leave
When you are getting closer to the time of your departure, head to the mechanic to have an oil change done along with any other routine maintenance that is due on the vehicle. You may wish to schedule a full tune up. You want your car to be running as efficiently as possible before you head onto the open road. Check the pressure in the tires and double check the tread. Make sure the air filter is clean, because a dirty air filter will reduce your gas mileage. If the air filter has been in the car for 10,000 or more miles, go ahead and change it, even if you do not think it looks dirty.
Now you need to clean out the interior of your car. You need room for your luggage, and anything that you do not need simply adds weight to the vehicle, which cuts down on your gas mileage. Some things you should not remove, however, are your first aid kit and emergency supply stash. Make sure these are well stocked. However, if you are not going to be in cold weather, you can remove the winter emergency kit from the car, if you have one. Don’t get the car washed or vacuum the interior yet, however, because you still have a week to get it dirty again.
If you do not have an atlas, buy a good one. If you do have one and it is old, replace it. GPS systems and map printouts are great, but an atlas is one tool that you can rely on even if the electronics stop working. Also, you may be forced to take a detour, either due to construction or because you want to see some sights, and your printed maps or GPS may not help in this situation, as they are going to show you the shortest possible route to your destination.
The Day Before Departure
The day before you are scheduled to leave, you need to check the tire tread and the tire pressure again. Tires are not something to leave to chance, so make sure they are in good shape before you leave! Check the owner’s manual to see if your vehicle has separate tire pressure recommendations for heavy loads or high speeds, both of which probably apply to you as you prepare for your trip. If you need to make an adjustment, do so when you fill up, which is another thing you can do the night before you leave. Then you have one less thing to do on your way out of town the next day.
Packing up to Leave
On the day of departure, think carefully about where you pack your items in your vehicle. The heavier items should be placed as far forward as possible. Also, try to keep the load level. Make sure that you do not overload your vehicle. Remember, every vehicle has limits. These tips will help to increase your fuel economy as you drive. It will also keep your family safer if you should run into inclement weather along the way. A car that is packed unevenly is more prone to spinning off of the road and does not get good gas mileage.
With these tips, your family will be as safe as possible on your next road trip. Remember, you cannot plan for the unexpected, but you can be as prepared as possible for whatever comes your way. Preparing your car is not just a good idea, but it is also essential to enjoying your vacation free from worry and hassle.
THE POWER OF POWER: KEEPING YOUR CAR READY TO REV
19
Dec/090
Dec/090
With today’s highly accessorized automobiles, there is a constant drain on our batteries even when the car is not in use. That, combined with cold weather and regular wear and tear on your battery, you may find many mornings that you go out to the car, crank it, and then hear that dreaded sound of your battery struggling to provide enough power to get your engine going. The longer it takes to get your engine started, the more drain there will be on the battery. Without the benefit of the alternator, it will not take long before your battery loses all power and starting your car will be impossible without a boost.
WHAT FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO A BATTERY LOSING POWER?
While cold weather is certainly a strong contributor to power loss in batteries, there are many other factors that exist in all kinds of weather and all kinds of situations that could cause you to be suddenly stranded. An inside light may have been left on for an extended period of time. There may be electronic accessories left plugged into charging ports (a.k.a. cigarette lighters). Many cars have electronics and accessories that constantly use power while the car in a parked position. Sometimes, you may even be sitting in the car long after it has stopped listening to the radio, talking on the phone, or waiting for an appointed time to arrive and inadvertently leave your foot rested on the brake pedal, causing a drain on the battery as the brake lights are illuminated.
Something to take into consideration is that, even if your battery is able to start your vehicle every time, a battery that sits without a full charge will tend to reduce the battery’s life span. This is especially true of a vehicle that is not used on a daily basis.
WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS SHORT OF KEEPING A SPARE FULLY CHARGED BATTERY IN THE TRUNK?
There are devices that are widely available called battery maintainers that specifically address these kinds of situations. There are various types of battery maintainers. Trickle chargers (a.k.a. Taper chargers), full electronic chargers, and solar panel chargers are the main options you would consider.
TELL ME ABOUT TRICKLE CHARGERS.
A trickle charger is a device that, when plugged in, will put one to two amps of current into your 12V battery. As the battery becomes fully charged, the charge rate reduces or tapers off. A potential problem with this form of battery maintainer is that current continues to flow into the battery even after the battery is fully charged. This can cause the battery to overheat, reducing the life of the battery. Some companies have started to acknowledge this flaw and have engineered measures into the device to prevent overcharging.
SOLAR PANEL MAINTAINERS SOUND ECOFRIENDLY; WHAT ABOUT THEM?
Solar panel maintainers actually harness the energy of the sun and keep your battery charged at optimal level. The obvious requirement for this type of maintainer is that you have access to the sun. This type of device will not work for a car that is parked in a garage, under a carport, or in any other area where access to direct sunlight will be restricted. That also means that nighttime maintenance will be limited to stored energy. If those constraints are not a problem, then this is a great option for battery maintenance, as the energy available from the sun is a sure thing!
These devices include a small solar panel that sits on your dashboard or any other place in your car with sunlight access. Look for models that have both a cigarette lighter charging option and alligator slips that connect directly to your battery. This will prevent problems if you use it in a vehicle whose cigarette lighter adapter only works when the vehicle is turned on.
HOW DO ELECTRONIC MAINTAINERS WORK?
This form of battery maintainer uses electronics that are in the actual unit to monitor the battery’s voltage. As the voltage reduces, the maintainer will usually apply a charge of 14 volts to bring the battery to a full charge. It will then reduce the charging voltage to a charge maintenance level of approximately 12.8 tp 13.2 volts. The additional voltage maintained in the charged battery will help the maintainer device to overcome any resistance between the device ant the battery and keep the battery in a fully charged and active state without overheating and the resultant loss of battery life.
WHERE SHOULD I USE A MAINTAINER?
Any battery will discharge while not in use. A lead in a battery that is fully discharged for twelve hours will begin to sulphate. Eventually the sulfates will crystallize, preventing recharge. A battery that discharges completely WILL LOSE LONGEVITY. If you have a boat, motorcycle, classic collector car, an infrequently used car, a recreational vehicle, or a battery powered lawn mower, the use of a maintainer will help your battery to last the seven years or so that it was intended to last. Remember that it takes at least fifteen minutes for the typical alternator to fully charge a battery, so a quick crank every now and then is not going to be sufficient.
These inexpensive devices are easy to use and will pay for themselves over and over in reduced frustration, peace of mind, and the prevention of replacement costs. Everyone in your family should have one for every vehicle they own. I think I just heard someone say, “I just finished my Christmas shopping!” Happy motoring!
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