Have you ever thought about how much you rely on your car during Thanksgiving weekend? Even if you don’t drive through the woods to grandmother’s house, you probably hit every store that you can on Black Friday and commute around town to family and friend celebrations. Should you prepare your vehicle for the long weekend? Getz Automotive recommends that you do. Here are five things to take care of now, so you don’t run into trouble over Thanksgiving weekend.
1. Tire Check
Check the air pressure in your tires and inflate to the proper psi if necessary. Check the tires for signs of wear, tear, and damage. Make sure the tread is wearing down evenly and that you don’t see any bubbles or cracks on the sides. If it’s time to put a new set of tires on your car, do so now to prevent flats and blowouts over the holiday weekend.
2. Wiper Blade Check
Summer is hard on windshield wiper blades. The sun beating down on the rubber can crack and fray it. Even though we only get about 8 days of rain in November here in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, check your wiper blades now to make sure you can count on them if you need to. Use the wash option to make sure they clean the solution without streaks.
3. Battery Test
Visually inspect your battery to make sure you don’t see any warping or cracking on the case. Check the connections, too, so you can make sure your battery isn’t corroding the terminals. Look for a sticker on your battery with two numbers on it, e.g., 11/17. This means your battery was made in November of 2017. Batteries tend to lose their power after three years.
4. Fluid Check
Check all fluid levels to make sure nothing is low. If any of the automotive fluids are low or look dirty, have them flushed and replaced. Take a look at your owner’s manual and schedule any preventative maintenance services due, including an oil change and coolant flush if these are in order. Your engine relies on automobile fluids to protect it.
5 Vehicle Inspection
Finally, if it’s been a while, schedule a vehicle inspection to ensure there aren’t any hidden problems that would rear their ugly heads over Thanksgiving weekend. You don’t want to end up with a broken timing belt or electrical problem that will stop your car in an instant, not to mention cost a lot of money to repair. Better safe than sorry.
Getz Automotive in Fuquay-Varina, NC, would be happy to inspect and service your vehicle. Give us a call today to set up an appointment.