What auto maintainance is recommended prior to long trips?

Question

I will be driving my car on vacation this summer--about 1500 miles round trip. What inspections/tune-ups should I ask my mechanic to perform prior to the drive? I want to be in a position to ask for exactly what I want, in the hope that I won't get talked into a lot of services that I don't need. I drive a 2002 Kia Spectra, manual transmission, with about 105,000 miles, but otherwise in fairly good condition.

I appreciate your advice.

Answer 1

First: plan to do this before you leave, but not RIGHT before you leave -- a week or two should be fine. That way, if the mechanic doesn't tighten the bolt and the oil leaks out, you'll have time to rent a car before you leave on the trip. Also, if they install the fuel filter incorrectly, and your car won't keep running. And so on, and so on. It might even just be that they need to keep the car an extra day -- the point is, leave yourself a cushion.

Now, then.

1. Oil and filter change.

2. Fuel filter change wouldn't hurt, especially if the car spends most of its time sitting and being driven in stop-and-go traffic.

3. Have the various fluids checked and topped off, and a general look-see for leaks done. Don't forget the window washing fluid, and you should keep at least one spare gallon in the back (night driving in the middle of nowhere will cover your windsheild in dead moths every hour or so.) Include the belts in this inspection.

4. This is a great time to go get a free brake inspection at your local chain store. They might try to talk you into repairs that you don't need; this is why you leave yourself a cushion of time. Get a second opinion (don't tell them what the first shop said!) and remember that long distance trips don't use your brakes much, but when they do, it's either from high speeds or at the end of a steep hill -- or in an emergency.

5. Fill up the tires, *including the spare*, and make sure you have (a) a working jack that (b) you know how to use, (c) the wrench for the lug nuts, and (d) the tool to remove your "wheel lock" lug nuts (if you have them). Note: just before you leave, check the air pressures. If they were the same when you filled them up, and now one is noticeably different than the rest, you have a leak and will need to keep on top of it during the trip (daily checks.) Don't rely on the gas station's pressure meter; they're notorious for being inaccurate. Get a decent handheld one.

6. Keep some water in the trunk of the car, and a handful of energy bars in the glove box. Your car probably won't break down, but if it does, you'll appreciate having food and water while you wait for a ride or a tow truck. Warning: that water might be HOT, so be careful before you take a swig.

7. Make sure all the bulbs are functioning. If you only have one headlight, you don't want to be driving down a strange dark road when you lose the other one. Windshield wipers, too.

8. Get a magnetic key holder and hide a spare key on the car somewhere. You're going to be following an unfamiliar routine, so better safe than sorry. Don't forget to remove it once you're at your destination, and again when you get back.

9. Almost forgot: if you haven't had the timing belt replaced at some point in the past, you're likely way overdue. Find out when it should have been replaced last, and assuming you're past it, get it done. If your car has a timing chain instead of a belt, skip this step.

That should do it. Have a good trip.

Oh, one more bonus item: if you know the route you'll be travelling, map all the Kia dealers along the way. You probably won't need 'em, but won't it be nice to have if you do? Besides, half the fun of a driving trip is planning the route.

Answer 2

Check your owners manual to see what periodic maintenance would fall into your expected mileage. If you've had a recent tune up then you obviously don't need another one. 1500 miles is only about one or two months worth of driving for most cars. You should do a safety inspection of the brakes and tires. You might need things like an oil or transmission fluid and filter change. But if your car is running fine, then like I said, just look at your owners manual and make sure everything is up to date or not so close to being out of date that it would need service during the expected mileage of your trip.

Answer 3

Be sure to check all the fluid levels. Brake, Transmission, Radiator, Overflows and get an oil change. If it has been a long time since your last tune up you will get better gas mileage if you get another tune up. Have your brakes and tires checked. Other than that have a safe and happy trip, your car should be ready.

Answer 4

ok here it goes. first of all u need to change the engine oil and oil filter (a high quality one would last longer) something like a semi-sythetic 05-40w oil. u must also change the air filter (better fuel consumption and also better performance). ask ur mechanic to check that all the belts are correctly tightened and visible belts are free from cracks. If in doubt ask him to change it. a fan belt would cost 10-15 pounds ($20-25usd). make sure that they flash and refill the radiator mixture (part water-part summer coolant). and ask them to check the level for the hydraulic fluid and top it up if it needs it. and (u can do this) check that the tyres (incl spare) are at their right pressure and there is enough water in the washer for ur windscreen. this should suffice. something like this in an independant garage in the uk would cost around 100-150 pounds. so im assuming in the states it should be around 180-250 usd

Answer 5

You should go to your mechanic and request a major or minor tune-up if you can afford to and also an oil change. Then you can ask them to make sure that none of the fluids are low in the car. You also may as well have them check your brakes too. The first to things are the major ones though.

Answer 6

First, checks that YOU can do yourself.
1. check your tires- when cold (parked, early morning for example) check the pressure- it is listed on the tires- usually about 30 p.s.i.- check the tread depth (if you put a cent-lincolns head toward the bottom of the tread groove-the tread should be deeper than lincolns hair at minumum) and should be solid rubber- no "cords" or metal wires showing- and no bulges that look like a balloon bulging from the tire surface.

2. check with a flashlight to see if you have any leaks on the back of the wheels- look for anything "wet" on the back of your wheels and tires.

3. look for any leaks under your hood- if there is a large damp area anywhere have it checked.

have a tune up- in the case of your car that would be spark plugs replaced, oil change, oil filter change, air filter change.
If your mechanic recomends other small parts (PCV valves, etc. not more than about 30 bucks in parts and about that or less in labor- you may want to have him change them).

have your brakes checked- if the pads are very thin (discs on the front) they are cheap for the hassle they can save- shoes on the back same deal- if the mechanic recomends rotors or drums, have him show 'em to you and have him show you the measurement on them - drums have a measurement cast into them, discs may have to be looked up in a manual for measurement- if they are under spec (too thin/too worn) let him replace them- if they measure ok, then they should have obvious grooves if they are bad (not just mild lines and slight roughness, but grooves you can actually see.

Answer 7

if you haven't had a tune-up yet, now is the time to get one.
get an oil change for sure. ask to have the suspension checked (i.e. shocks, struts, rack, joints). all fluids checked including manual transmission oil, power steering. if transmission fluid has never been changed, now is the time.
Check the timing belt, if it has never been changed, now is definetely the time.
Cooling system has to be checked, all hoses, (and belts). replace any hose that might be a hint suspicious.
of course, tire pressure.
Everything should be good from there.

Answer 8

1. Oil and filter Change

2. spark plugs and wires

3. Flush and install new coolant in the radiator

4. windshield wiper blades

5. check brakes, and tires, replace if needed

6. air filter change

7. check all fluids, brakes, trasnmission, etc.. ( in fact, I reccomend you do this every morning before starting out again while on your trip )

8. have him check the whole vehicle over to make sure it is in top shape, that way you don't have any breakdowns

9: Change the thermostat

10: Make sure you tak some extra bottles of windshield washer, and water with you, the water is to be used if the car overheats

11: Check the seatbelts to make sure they are in good working order

12: get a lube job

and most importantly, have fun, be safe, buckle up, and enjoy your trip

Answer 9

I took a trip from Pensacola, Florida to Seattle, Washington with my family. It was a 5 day trip and about 4,500 miles. I think. We drove through beautiful country. If you want to see beauty, that would be the trip to take. But it might be different though because of all the lumber yards and cities that have been built. I hate it when people destroy beautiful land just to make a few bucks. And all those poor animals thaat migrated and died because greedy people wanted money.

Answer 10

I would just go with the basics. Belts, tires, spare, jack, make sure the radiator has anti-freeze. Maybe an oil change depending on how long it has been since the last one.