All posts tagged auto trip disasters

Road trips are a lot of fun, but they can wind up stressful and costly if the vehicle you’re taking isn’t up to snuff. Make sure to have your car inspected for these five common issues before you embark on your journey, or you may find your trip cut short.  Road trips are known for fun plot twists along the way, but a broken down car often makes things get a bit more melodramatic than anyone wants!

1. Coolant Leaks

If you ever notice drips under your car, get them checked out quickly. Lack of coolant can cause a vehicle to overheat astonishingly quickly. Without sufficient coolant, hot engine components burn oil, grind together, and can even fuse. The last thing you need is to be the car on the side of the highway, popping the hood and coughing through the smoke.

2. Flat Tires

A lot of things can go wrong with your tires before you notice, and unfortunately, when you do notice it’s usually because they’re beyond repair. Small nails can embed themselves in the tread, leaking air for weeks before you notice. Underinflated tires cause worse gas mileage. Bald tires reduce traction and make driving dangerous. Schedule a consultation or get tips from professionals like those at mcgeetire.com to ensure the only parts of your car that touch the road are road-worthy enough for a long trip.

3. Battery Failure

Car batteries are only rated to last around three or four years, but many people let them go for much longer without replacement. Any number of things can go wrong with a battery, and it’s better to replace it early than to go to get an early start for your day and find it dead. While you’re at it, check and clean the corrosion around the terminals to ensure proper conductivity.

4. Loose or Missing Gas Cap

A gas cap doesn’t seem that essential, but you’ll be surprised at how much it can affect your gas mileage. Whether you left it on the trunk after a fill, or it simply doesn’t fit snugly any more, it’s time to get a new one. Thankfully, a replacement gas cap is only a few dollars at any auto parts store, so you should have no trouble fixing this problem.

5. Faltering Spark Plugs

Every driver has likely heard of a spark plug before, but few people know where to find one or what happens when they fail. Misfiring spark plugs can cascade into dozens of different ailments for a car—from faltering engines to broken catalytic converters.

Once you’ve thoroughly checked out these features of your car, (and thrown in an emergency kit, just in case) you can hit the road a little more assured that you’ll have a memorable road trip—but for good reasons. 

About Author: Rianne Hunter is a wife, mother of three, and lover of all things travel and transportation. She often writes about cars, fuel economy, and tires. Regarding tires in Tampa FL or Seattle WA (wherever you may be) she always recommends checking them before leaving on prolonged road trips.