Road Trip Car Maintenance Checks

When you plan to take a road trip with your family, using either a high-mileage, old car or a newer one, so the chances of a car breakdown are reduced, make it a policy to have your car undergo first some simple, routine maintenance checks.

Get through to major repairs

Have your car be taken cared of by a car specialist to check if there is need to do some repairs or if there is a scheduled car maintenance coming up then allow plenty of time to prioritize this, at least a month before your scheduled road trip. If your car is a Honda, check on the warranty terms as all new Honda vehicles are cared for by a 3-year limited warranty service at 36,000 mileage. If you will be availing of the warranty terms, here is what a Honda mechanic will check on and do repairs, if needed, as covered by the maintenance schedule: air filter replacement, cabin air filter replacement, change oil and filter, rotate tires, check brake, steering and suspension system, and check drive belt.

Check on the car’s air filter

When the car’s air filter is dirty, it is, therefore, unable to keep dirt, dust, or debris from entering the engine and will result into the cylinders and oil being contaminated with dirt particles, which in turn will cause the wear and tear on the engine and further reducing the gas mileage and emissions. Since air filter cannot be repaired, a Honda mechanic will first check on the condition of the air filter before replacing it with a new one; however, if the air filter type in your Honda car is one that uses cotton, instead of paper, this type is reusable, so it can simply be washed, dried, and reinstalled.

Check on the cabin air filter

The cabin air filter prevents dirt, dust, pollen, debris from entering the passenger compartment through the climate control system of a Honda car, such that when it is clogged up with dirt particles, a musty or moldy odor is smelled from the vents as moisture is trapped from the inside part of the climate control system and duct. The cabin air filter is easily replaceable since it is in cartridge form, but before doing so, a Honda mechanic will usually conduct first a visual inspection of the cabin air filter for road debris and assess the climate control filter housing.

Important to check the brakes

When doing the maintenance check of the car brakes, a Honda mechanic will check on the following points: if there is a screeching sound when brakes are applied, the brake pads need replacing; when there is brake fluid leaking; and condition of brake rotors as they are vital in the dissipation of heat that comes from the brake pads.

Checking on the drive belt

Any signs of cracks or fraying at the edges of the drive belt are checked by a Honda mechanic during a maintenance schedule and uses an auto-tensioner to adjust the tension of the belt, such that the pointer should be in the proper range, according to the time and distance recommendations in the maintenance schedule, so that if the pointer is not within the range, it is time to replace the drive belt.