A look-over before a long drive
A long trip asks a lot of a car in a short span: hours at speed, a full load of people and bags, and stops far from the shop that knows it. Before you set out from Manhattan, you can ask a repair shop to give the car a look-over. Done with some care, that visit can turn up a worn part while there is still time to deal with it at home, and it gives you a written snapshot of the car's condition on the day you leave.
Timing the visit
Bring the car in with enough room on the calendar to act on what the shop finds. A visit the afternoon before you leave can leave no time to order a part or to get a second opinion. When you call, say plainly that you want an inspection before a trip, not a repair, and ask:
- What does the look-over include, and how is it charged?
- Will someone call me before any work is done beyond the inspection?
- Can I have the findings in writing, by email or text, the same day?
Systems worth asking about
A shop may have its own checklist for this, so ask what is on it and whether you can add items. A sensible list for a road trip covers:
- Tires, including the spare: tread depth on each one, pressure, signs of uneven wear, cracks or bulges in the sidewall, and the age printed on the tire.
- Brakes: pad and shoe thickness, the condition of rotors or drums, and the level and look of the fluid.
- Steering and suspension: play in the steering, worn joints or bushings, leaking shocks or struts.
- Belts and hoses: cracks, glazing, soft spots or bulges.
- Battery and charging: a load test, the condition of the terminals, and what the charging system reads with the engine running.
- Fluids: engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid, power steering fluid and washer fluid, each checked for level and condition.
- Lights and wipers: headlights, brake lights, turn signals and hazards, and blades that clear the glass without streaks.
- Leaks: anything dripping or seeping underneath, and where it seems to start.
If the car has a warning light on, or a noise you have grown used to, mention it at drop-off. A look-over can miss a fault that only appears at highway speed unless someone knows to listen for it.
Findings in writing
Ask the shop to write down what it measured or saw for each item, not just a check mark. A line such as "front pads low" is harder to act on than one that gives the reading and the maker's limit. Ask for photos of anything flagged. With the readings on paper, you can compare them with the next inspection, or show them to another shop if you want a second view.
Before the trip, or after it
When the shop calls with its findings, ask it to sort each item into three groups:
- Before you leave: needed before the car goes on a long drive.
- After you are back: worth doing soon, but able to wait.
- Watch: something to keep an eye on.
For anything in the first group, ask for a written estimate, ask how long parts will take to arrive, and ask what the shop would advise if the part cannot arrive before you leave. For the second group, ask what signs on the road would tell you it has become urgent.
Loads, racks and towing
A car packed to the roof, carrying a roof box or bike rack, or pulling a small trailer can be working harder than it does on a daily drive. Check the owner's manual for the maker's limits on load and towing. If you plan to carry or pull more than usual, tell the shop and ask:
- Does the loaded car call for different tire pressures, and where are they listed?
- Is the hitch, wiring and lighting for a trailer in good order?
- Are the rear springs, shocks or struts in a condition to carry the extra weight?
A drinking-water note
The design capacity of the city's Water Treatment Plant is 30 million gallons per day. It is a lime softening plant, and it is in operation 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Questions about the shop
Before you approve repairs from the look-over, ask:
- What state license or registration, if any, covers this work, and what is the number?
- Who will do the work, and do you see this make often?
- Which kind of part will you use for each repair: new from the vehicle's maker, new from another maker, rebuilt, remanufactured or used?
- What written warranty comes with the parts and labor, and can it be honored at another shop if something fails while I am away?
That last question can matter on a trip. Ask for the warranty terms on paper and pack them.
Coverage while the car is there
Ask the shop for proof of its liability coverage while your car is in its care. If you want to know what your own policy covers on the road, including towing and a rental if the car breaks down far from home, call your insurer before you leave.
What rides in the glove box
- The written findings from the look-over and the invoice for any repairs.
- The warranty terms for parts and labor.
- Your registration and proof of insurance.
- Your roadside assistance number and your insurer's claims number.
- The number of your usual shop, so a shop elsewhere can call it with questions.
When you get home, add a note of anything the car did on the road, such as a new noise, a light that came and went, or a pull to one side, and bring it to the next visit.