MADEXXXX
MADELIFE
condition of your brake pads without taking off
your tires. Luckily, there are other ways to tell if
you need brakes!
You can tell that you need brakes by using your
eyes! Locate your brake fluid reservoir or brake
fluid bottle. This reservoir holds the brake fluid
that is used to apply brakes to your wheels.
If this fluid is low, it's an indication you need
brakes.
Do you notice that you have to press down
harder on the brake pad in order for the brakes
to apply? That's an indication you need brakes.
too low or too high, add or remove air and
measure until each tire until it is at the correct
operating air pressure. There is dashboard
light that tells you if your tire pressure is too
low. I would still check this before a road
trip, even if the light is off. The light does not
come on if the tire pressure is too high. You
can find the correct tire pressure on your car's
tire sticker which is located on the driver's
door jamb. Average tire air pressure is 33 psi.
Check your battery age and
condition.
Batteries hate to start in the harsh temperatures
that some places see in the summer and winter.
The older the battery, the weaker the battery
until it slowly dies out and doesn't work at all.
You don't want to be stuck in a parking lot with
a dead battery seeking a jump. Most batteries
last about 4-5 years although some will last 7. If
you know your battery is at the 4-5 year mark,
take it to a mechanic to check it over. It may
need to be replaced soon, and I would do it
before a road trip.
Also, look at the battery posts on the battery.
Are they coated with a greenish-white residue?
Battery corrosion like this can cause a poor
connection and your battery may not charge
properly. Remove the residue by pouring Cola
(that's right, soda) over the corroded post.
Baking soda, water and a wire brush work as
well.
Make sure you don't need tires.
Having tires with minimal tire tread increase
your chance of a car crash because it increases
the amount of time it takes to stop the car.
Tires with minimal tread are more prone
to hydroplaning. Flash floods and storms
in the summer create perfect pockets for
hydroplaning. Make sure you check your tire
tread and have at least 4mm of tire tread left on
your tires.
Also, make sure you have the proper air
pressure in your tires, measuring it by using a
tire pressure gauge. Too low or too high of air
pressure in your tires makes you prone to blow
outs and uneven wear. If the air pressure is
Your windshield wipers should be
new.
I'm guilty of using flapping wipers. The ones
where the rubber wiper has peeled away
from the arm and is flailing about when the
wipers turn on and NOT moving water off
the windshield like it is suppose to do. Don't
get caught out like this in a summer rain
storm! Replace old wipers before any trip!
JUST IN CASE!
In case there is an emergency with your car,
make sure you have the following inside of
the car:
• Pen and pad to
write down important
info
• Cell phone and
charger
• Water
• Napkins/rags
• Small flashlight
• Small first aid kit
• Tire pressure gauge
to measure tire
pressure
• Owner's manual to
made-magazine.com |
10
look up information
about your car
• Spare tire and tools
needed to change
a tire (most people
don't know their cars
don't have a spare
or that the tools are
missing)
• Jumper cables or
portable jumper box
to jump start a battery
• Small triangle
reflector to aware
drivers if you are
pulled over on the
side of the road