Saturday, December 10, 2011

Your Guide To Getting Ready For A Road Trip

Được đăng bởi Travel - Leisure
By Chris Scarborough


Even in these dolorous economic conditions, most Americans still want to "get away from it all", but this time most of them are eschewing foreign travel in favor of enjoying rugged family fun while traveling on their own vehicles.

If you're planning a getaway, remember that road trips can be tough on cars, and few things turn a vacation into a nightmare quicker than breaking down in the middle of nowhere. All right, hold it there with the barbecue grill and the book of sing-along songs for the road, you're not going anywhere until you are sure that car of yours is ready for a road trip!

You would want to do a pre-trip inspection as another facet of your overall vehicular maintenance to avoid expensive repair costs and stress on your part (and potential heart problems) upon seeing the bill.

Inspect and repair, if needed, the following.

Your car's cooling system and radiator, which encompasses parts such as your fan and water pump.

Brakes, brake pads and brake linings

Battery and cables

Belts and hoses

Oil levels and oil filter.

Check washer fluid levels and wiper blades in general.

Tire pressure and tire condition, which would include your spare tire.

Most importantly, don't leave on a long trip with your car's "Check Engine" light on.

You will see the Check Engine light flashing if there is a problem with your vehicle, as determined by the computerized OBD, or On-Board Diagnostics system. We have spoken to several Air Pollution Control Districts in different states, and they opined that the Check Engine light is there to minimize harmful emissions that could be a cause of, if not a harbinger of fuel waste, engine problems and eventual repair costs that could stick a fork in your meticulously planned budget.

If you see the light flashing, then don't panic - just go to your vehicle's service manual and you would normally be able to strategize and spot the problem.

Taking the vehicle to a mechanic may be costly - yes, the diagnostic tool they use to check on vehicles may look all neat, but such a service warrants charges of up to $100.

A new automotive tool, with a Web site, lets consumers run their own diagnosis, enabling them to verify the mechanic's assessment.

This tool is known as CarMD (tm), and it starts out by listing down all potential issues with the vehicle's electronic systems and emission control. This is a tool that anybody can learn how to use and fully operate, thus saving consumers money by using such a tool that shares a lot of similar technology with the stuff you would see at a mechanic's garage. A green light indicates that all systems are "go," a yellow light signals a possible problem and a red light means there is a current problem and service is required.

For more in-depth information, simply plug the tool into your personal computer and turn it on. This will provide you with all the information you need on your vehicle's condition by doing a health check - you are also shown estimated fixes and repair costs and any potential issues, and of course, the company's website.




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