The sun, the freedom and the world without borders – the time of summer vacation allures to go on exciting trips. While the fastest way to get to any point on the map is by plane, many choose the convenience of the car.
The sun, the freedom and the world without borders – the time of summer vacation allures to go on exciting trips. While the fastest way to get to any point on the map is by plane, many choose the convenience of the car.
Traveling in the car allows to plan time and route freely, not to worry about the size of the luggage and to stay longer in favourite places. Vacation trips can often be even thousands of kilometres long, so Ainars Straume, the head of Domenikss car service, recalls what it is important to make sure of when checking the technical condition of the car before the trip and how to prepare to bring everything necessary for solving small problems.
“When planning a trip, people think about how to dress, what to put in a bag, what snacks to take with them, but often forget to check the car's technical condition. It can cause unnecessary stress while traveling and even compromise the safety of travellers, so it would be advisable to make sure you are ready for the long road in a timely manner and equip your car with everything you need for self-help – especially, if you are not using authorized mobile support programs. The deal itself can prove to be not only complicated but also expensive, so it is better to make sure that problems do not occur”, says Ainars Straume, car service manager of Daimler AG General Representative in Latvia SIA Domenikss.
If you are not sure if your car will deal with the planned and possibly unplanned kilometres, Ainars Straume recommends going to a car service before going on a trip and allowing professionals to prepare the car for a summer adventure. Here are some things you should definitely pay attention to.
Brakes, wheels, tires
The painful feet do not go far – it also applies to cars. Therefore, make sure the wheels, tires and brakes are up and running before you go. “The spare wheel, the wheel lock and the jack are the “absolute minimum” to make sure that you do not have to look for a car service because of a damaged tire. It should be remembered that wheels and brakes in good technical condition are also a safety issue for car occupants and should therefore be treated very seriously. If before the trip, the workshop master recommends replacing the tire – do so to avoid unnecessary troubles”, says Ainars Straume.
Engine oil and other liquids
Oil, coolant, brake, power steering, window washer fluid – they are all essential for the proper operation of the car, and would be unpleasant if, at the most unattractive moment of the trip, one of them ran out. Therefore, it would be a reasonable to secure the reserves of each liquid. Changing them in a foreign car service station can often prove to be quite expensive, and you will not be able to check the quality of these liquids, especially of the engine oil. It is important to remember to check the oil level every 1000 kilometres during the trip.
Battery
It would be wise to check the battery and make sure you have new, especially if yours has been in use for a while – an old battery can cause unpleasant surprises. If the battery is gets completely damaged during the trip, it is likely that it will be expensive to replace, and you will not have much choice.
First aid kit and additional equipment
First aid kit, fire extinguisher, emergency triangle, reflective vest, lamp, cable – these are the things that are mandatory when traveling. Ainars Straume recommends to find out before going to further countries, especially outside Europe, if there are any other things that are mandatory according to the local law. It is not too bad to take along a map and a list of authorized services on your chosen route. “Firstly, it is not guaranteed that the Internet will be available throughout your travel route. Secondly, you should look for help in unknown services only in cases of total despair – if possible, turn to authorized services, where your car will be provided with appropriate maintenance as required by its manufacturer”, calls Ainars Straume.
