Car Problems To Check Before Trips

Safety is the most important factor when driving in traffic. Especially for long distances, from 300km or 3 hours or more, it is easily affected by many factors (vehicle, mental health, health...).

So what to prepare if you have to drive long distances? Experiences need to know to be able to move smoothly - safely - effectively? Together Thanh Phong Auto Check out the article below!

Why Should You Check Your Car Before Going Far?

Here are some important reasons why you need to check your car before going away:

• Driving safety: Periodic checks of important systems such as brakes, tires, suspension, steering, lights, etc. are essential to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers when traveling, especially especially on long distance trips.
• Incident prevention: Timely detection and correction of technical problems can prevent unexpected incidents from occurring on the road, avoiding risks that can lead to accidents or more serious damage to the vehicle. .
• Cost savings: Regular inspection and maintenance helps prolong the life of components, minimize future major repair costs, and improve performance and fuel economy.
• Ensuring reliability: Checking before going away will help determine the current condition of the vehicle, thereby planning appropriate travel and responding to unexpected situations proactively.
• Comply with legal regulations: In many countries, periodic vehicle inspections, especially before going on long trips, are mandatory according to traffic safety regulations.

Therefore, the habit of thoroughly checking the car before going away not only helps increase safety but is also an important preventive measure, bringing many benefits to car owners.

What to prepare for the long journey by car?

1. Check lubricating oil and coolant

When the car operates continuously on long distances, it often consumes cooling water and lubricating oil because the engine is hotter. If you do not check the car before you go, it is very likely that there is a problem due to a lack of lubricating oil or coolant.

To measure the correct engine oil level, drive the car to a flat area and wait for the engine to cool down (after 5-10 minutes, turn off the engine). If the oil is black, the oil should be changed.

As for the cooling water, if it is lacking, it will cause overheating, damaging the engine, breaking the engine and related details. Just enough coolant level is located between the Min (low) and Max (high) lines.

2. Check the gear oil

With transmission oil, it is necessary to warm up the engine before checking, automatic transmission cars need to shift to P gear and let the engine operate in a moderate manner. Next, pull out the transmission oil level test strip, clean it, and plug it back in and then pull it out to check the oil level. Gear oil is red or rose red when new, if it turns brown or black, it's time to change the oil.

3. Check the battery

The battery is the place that provides power for many parts of the vehicle, with a lifespan of 2-4 years. If the battery has been used for almost as long as the above time, you should replace it before going away. If there is acid spill, cracked or broken battery cover, you also need to replace it immediately. In addition, it is necessary to brush / wash the connecting lines, the negative - positive contacts for the battery to work better.

4. Suspension and steering

When traveling long distances, the car depends a lot on the suspension and steering. To check these parts correctly, it is necessary to take the car to the garage. However, if there is any damage, it can still be recognized through signs such as the car shaking, strange noises, rattling sounds when going through a bump...

If the shock absorbers lack oil, the ride feels like riding a horse. At this point, check the shock absorbers near the wheel for any oil leaks. If traveling on the highway, the car swerves from one side to the other, it is because the car is out of control and needs to be adjusted.

Other necessary parts also need to be checked such as horn, wipers, all lights. If the wipers do not clean the glass, it should be replaced. If it is the type of zin according to the car, just change the new rubber layer.

5. Check the brake system

If the brake pedal is too worn, it should be replaced immediately to ensure that the brakes do not slip. Should test drive 1 lap to see if the brake has a problem or not; Pull the handbrake firmly and release it slowly for signs of squeezing or squealing. If there is a strange noise, the brake pedal is too heavy or too light when pedaling, you need to bring the car to the garage for inspection and maintenance ...

6. Check other parts

In addition to lubricating oil, coolant, gear oil, etc., you need to pay attention to the following parts:

• Check the transmission belts, belts ... when cracked or broken, immediately replace with new ones.
• Check more brake fluid, steering wheel oil and windshield washer fluid tank is full or not.
• Check the air filter, if it is dirty, it needs to be replaced so as not to reduce engine power and eat gas.
• Have you checked your tires for the correct air pressure? Are there any cracks or fissures? is it worn out?
• Check wheel alignment.
• Test the brightness of the headlights and taillights, so bring a few "small" bulbs on the car to replace when the lights burn out.
• Check the car horn by pressing continuously and stretching to see if there is enough reverberation or not…
• Check the air conditioner, heater and rearview mirror.

7. Prepare necessary items

Before long trips, you need to prepare items such as: mini air pump, self-patching glue set or wheel changing tools such as wrenches and wrenches. A flashlight is needed to repair your vehicle in the dark and can be used to signal to other vehicles that your vehicle is having trouble.

A large parachute cord can help you ask another vehicle to pull when the engine stops; tire pressure gauge; mini fire extinguisher; map; some fuses, replacement headlight bulbs…

Long Distance Driving Experience

1. Drive calmly and slowly

In the process of participating in traffic, you need to give way actively when necessary, especially with large trucks, many passenger cars ...

With the part of the road without a two-way divider, observe both vehicles traveling in two lanes to avoid sudden lane crossings. As for road sections with median strips, limit going too close to the median. Ideally, maintain a distance of 0.5 - 1m in case there are vehicles and pedestrians crossing the street in open sections.

2. Be careful when passing vehicles

Overtaking is restricted in the following cases:

• Sections with signs prohibiting overtaking.
• Location with a solid divider.
• Pedestrian tunnel.
• On the bridge.
• The bend is out of sight.

During overtaking, you need to maintain an appropriate distance from the vehicle in front to fully observe the situation before passing. Limit overtaking vehicles that signal that they are about to pass another vehicle because it is difficult to react in time if an incident occurs.

3. Decelerate – accelerate at the right time

If you want to increase speed, you need to ensure that the road is empty and the roadside is clear. As for a densely populated area, you need to drive at a low speed to be safe because this place will have many children, vehicles, and animals crossing the road.

4. Pay attention to car lights

From dusk to dawn, turn on the headlights of both the front and rear cars. This both helps you to see better and also avoids being fined by the traffic police.

For foggy weather, the driver's visibility is more or less limited. At this time, turning on car headlights will help other vehicle owners know your car's existence. At the same time, go at a moderate speed for safety.

5. When going downhill, do not apply the brakes continuously

It is very dangerous to constantly check the brakes when going downhill because the heat generated by the brake pads will propagate back and cause the brake fluid to boil. At this time, it is easy to lose the brake at the end of the slope, causing danger.

6. Do not text, call, or use the vehicle's function screen

Many drivers have a habit of using phones and functional screens while driving. This disrupts, distracts when participating in traffic control and easily causes accidents.

7. Avoid running parallel to trucks and containers

On a one-way street with two or more lanes, you should not drive parallel to a truck or container, because doing so reduces your visibility and causes a collision. Therefore, when you see an empty road, you need to pass the vehicle to ensure safety.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How should I check my tires before a long trip?

Check tire pressure (usually 30-35 PSI), tread wear (minimum 1.6mm), crack/cracking condition, and make sure the spare tire is in good condition. Tires should be rotated every 10,000km to ensure even wear.

2. What repair tools should be brought on the car?

A basic tool kit should include: jack, wrench, screwdriver, pliers, electrical tape, tow cable, mini fire extinguisher, and emergency tire repair kit.

3. How to avoid drowsiness when driving long distances?

Ways to avoid drowsiness when driving long distances:

• Get enough sleep before the trip (7-8 hours)
• Stop every 2 hours or 200km
• Drink coffee or drinks with caffeine
• Open windows to let air circulate
• Listen to upbeat music or podcasts

4. What should you prepare to deal with a situation where your car breaks down in the middle of the road?

How to handle a situation where your car breaks down in the middle of the road:

• Traffic rescue phone number
• GPS navigation application
• Triangular warning sign
• Reflective clothing
• Backup battery for phone
• Drinks and snacks

5. How to save fuel when driving long distances?

Ways to save fuel when driving long distances:

• Maintain a steady speed (about 80-90km/h on the highway)
• Use cruise control if available
• Avoid sudden acceleration and braking
• Check the correct tire pressure
• Turn off the air conditioner when not needed
• Remove unnecessary luggage to reduce vehicle weight

6. How should we handle brake problems on the road?

When your car brakes have problems, you need to:

• Shift to low gear to slow down
• Pump the brakes continuously instead of stepping hard at once
• Pull the parking brake slowly if necessary
• Find a safe way to drive to the side of the road
• Turn on hazard warning lights

Read more articles: These damage to the car brake system & the safest and most effective treatment methods are shared on the website.

7. How to avoid being dazzled when driving at night?

How to keep your eyes from being dazzled when driving at night:

• Adjust the rearview mirror to anti-glare mode
• Look towards the right curb instead of looking straight at the headlights of the car on the other side
• Keep the windshield clean
• Use anti-glare driving glasses if necessary

8. What should you do when your car's tire blows out while driving?

How to handle the situation The car's tire blew out while driving:

• Do not apply the brakes suddenly
• Hold the steering wheel tightly and decelerate slowly
• Turn on hazard warning lights
• Move the vehicle to the side of the road safely
• Replace the spare tire or call for help

9. How to prepare for driving through steep passes?

When driving through steep passes, you need to:

• Carefully check the brake and cooling systems
• Fill with fuel and coolant
• Use low gear when going downhill
• Avoid constant braking, use engine braking instead
• Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front

10. What should you do when you encounter bad weather such as heavy rain or dense fog?

When encountering bad weather such as heavy rain or fog, you need to:

• Reduce speed to a safe level (usually below 60km/h)
• Turn on headlights and fog lights
• Increase your distance from the vehicle in front (at least 4 seconds)
• Use wipers at the appropriate speed
• If it's too dangerous, find a safe place to stop

See more Car driving skills in the rainy season, handling instructions & safety notes shared by many drivers.

11. How to reduce eye strain when driving long distances?

How to reduce eye strain when driving long distances:

• Use good quality sunglasses
• Adjust the panel brightness moderately
• Do eye exercises every time you stop (look far away for 20 seconds, then look close for 20 seconds)
• Drink enough water to keep your eyes moist
• Use artificial tears if needed

The article summarizes the long distance car driving experience which any driver should not ignore. Refer and apply for safe trips! And see more specifically about the experience, the problems of the car need to be carefully checked before the trips under the sharing of Thanh Phong Auto.