Things to Ensure Before Taking Your Old Car on a Long Drive
Heading on a long drive with your friends and family? Great idea! But before you start your cruise, there are a few things you need to be consider. Have you checked yourcar’s health, the tires, the engine, the suspension and overall performance? Having a mechanically fit vehicle is imperative for the ultimate safety of your trip. No one likes the idea of unwanted car problems, especially if you are planning to have some fun on a long drive. It is a fact that people who neglect their cars are often the ones who fall victim to unwanted circumstances.
However, if you are here today, it’s quite obvious that you aren’t the kind of person who isn’t careful about his car’s safety. And if that’s the case then yes, you’ve landed just on the right article today.
Five Safety Tips of Taking Your Old Car on a Long Drive
Here are some important things to consider and ensure before you take your used car on a long driver;
Brakes And Clutch
Of course as you’ve bought a used car, the brakes and clutch won’t function like new and there are going to be issues with them which is fine as long as you are getting them fixed. Check all of this in the stationary state of your car and never make the mistake of traveling in a car that has problems with the brakes and the clutch even if it’s minor. Take it straightaway to the mechanic and ensure everything is fixed and safe before you leave for your long drive.
Steering
The next important thing to check is your used car’s steering.No matter what it is and no matter what you think, it’s always better to take your car to a technician and ensure that the steering is working just fine. The important things to focus on in this case are engine sounds, vibrations, in case you feel any and the suspensions too.
Spare Wheel
For starters, you should never travel without a spare wheel. It’s obvious that if you are going on a long drive, you are going to be on the road that’s somewhat far away from gas stations and your car technician’s workshop. In such a situation, a punctured tire can literally mess up your whole mood and the fun in your long drive. This is why you should keep a spare tire with you all the time and above everything, you are supposed to ensure that the tire you are carrying is up to date. Check the jack and the spanner in the car too and see if they need to be oiled etc.
Tire Pressure
Then comes the tire pressure which of course is extremely important and chances are that you already know this. Your tire’s should be properly inflated, it’s better to take them for a checkup before you take off for your long drive.This way, chances are that you won’t even require a spare wheel, on top of it all, you won’t have to stop midway on the road and change your tire! So, yes, it’s always better to be careful before time.
Lights
Most people overlook the lights of their used car which is wrong because here we are talking about getting each and everything of your car checked which includes the lights. You are thinking about going on a long drive which obviously means that you will be traveling during the night time too and if that’s true then you need the car’s lights to function properly to drive safely. So take it to your technician, get the lights and the battery checked and once you are sure that they are working fine, you can then leave for a long drive in the night easily.
Final Words
These are some important things to check and consider when you are taking your used car on a long drive. It’s not just what you should check in case of a used car, in fact, even if you’ve just bought a new one, it’s always great to take timely measures and ensure safety. Once all of the above mentioned things are fine, you can then set off on your journey and have all the fun in the world you want.