Chances are your summer vacation will include a long drive, and chances are you would prefer all the excitement to come at the end of that drive.
Geysers are fun when they result from geothermal eruptions in Yellowstone National Park. They are depressing when they result from a radiator rupture that leaves you and yours stranded.
Dangerous and exasperating breakdowns are common on vacation drives because of the extra stresses placed on automobiles by higher summer temperatures and sustained highway cruising.
So, let’s take a look at the checks you or your mechanic can make to head off these hot-weather breakdowns.
We’ll begin with the items that affect safety and convenience:
– Tires. Examine each tire for excessive wear. Also be on the lookout for uneven wear, which can take three forms: Harder wear on the outboard portions of the tread (a sign of under-inflation), harder wear on the center of the tread (a sign of over-inflation) and “cupping.” The latter is a scalloped effect, usually found on the front tires and usually caused by poor front-wheel alignment. Treads also should be checked for dry-rot, which usually manifests itself as cracks between the raised portions of the tread design.
Tires showing heavy normal wear should be replaced, as should those with pronounced uneven wear. Dry-rotted tires should be replaced regardless of tread wear. The tires’ sidewalls also should be examined. This could be a cut or break or a bubble created by air escaping through a subsurface break in the tire carcass. Such sidewall damage cannot be repaired. The tire must be replaced.
Finally, keep tabs on your tire pressure, making sure to check it again right before the trip. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that improper tire inflation causes 250,000 accidents each year.
Your tires should be kept at the pressure recommended by the automaker in normal driving situations. However, that pressure should be increased, up to 4 psi, when you are heavily loading the vehicle for a vacation. A Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. official said that overloading your tires without a compensating increase in pressure can cause a destructive heat buildup in the tire, particularly in highway cruising.
Tire life decreases 10 percent for every 10 percent reduction in pressure from the proper level. Under-inflation also reduces gas mileage by increasing the tires’ rolling resistance.
– Brakes. If your brakes haven’t been checked in the last 15,000 to 20,000 miles, they should be scrutinized before your trip. Brake linings and pads should be checked for wear, and the hydraulic system that actuates them should be examined for leaks. Checking for leaks is urgent if you have noticed a sponginess in the brake pedal or if the car pulls to either side when you brake. The pulling could mean a leaky wheel cylinder, and the soft pedal could signal a leaking master cylinder.
Low brake fluid in the reservoir is another flag for possible system leakage. Top off the fluid, then check it frequently. If the level drops dramatically, have the system checked at once.
– Suspension. This system should be checked for component damage and front-end misalignment, especially if you’ve noticed tire cupping or steering abnormalities. Loppy tread wear usually means alignment woes, as does steering pull to the side, poor steering-wheel returnability or a steering wheel that is turned slightly even when you are driving in a straight line.
– Cooling system. This is a real treasure trove of potential vacation breakdowns. Examine the radiator for leaks, and the radiator and heater hoses for signs of leakage and/or deterioration. The latter includes cracks, softness and swelling.
If you find any of these signs of weakness, replace the hose. Keep in mind that hoses are relatively cheap, but can cost you more money and time if they burst while you’re on the road.
It’s also worthwhile to run a pressure check on your car’s radiator cap to make sure it is properly relieving the pressure buildup in the cooling system.
If your antifreeze has reached its recommended maximum age or is discolored replace it. This is a good idea, even in summer, because the rust inhibitors and anti-foaming agents in antifreeze lose their potency over time.
– Engine drive belts. These belts should be checked for condition and proper tension. If they slip or break, you end up with a breakdown and/or no air conditioning. Happily, most modern cars have automatic tensioning devices. Earlier ones, however, require belt-tension checks and adjustments. Engine belts also should be examined for signs of deterioration. These include cracks, glazing, fraying and uneven wear. Belts, like hoses, aren’t real expensive.
– Battery. Test the battery with a cell tester, especially if it is near the end of its warranty. If it has lost significant power, replace it. It will be cheaper now than when you are on the road–and have to factor in a service call and tow.
– Automatic transmission. Have your transmission checked out, especially if it is behaving suspiciously. Sluggish and clunky shifting are signs of gearbox problems. So is excessive engine revving between shifts or when starting out.
