The majority of breakdowns could be avoided. They are often due to pre-existing issues that exacerbated by a long highway drive, overloading your vehicle, or extreme summer heat. The good news is that many common failure issues can be identified before you hit the road, you just have to give your car a thorough check.
The Systems Most Likely To Fail Under Load
Highway driving is tough on your vehicle in ways that the day-to-day commute isn’t. And that means checking different parts before you hit the road.
Engine cooling is a good place to start. Sure, check the coolant level in the overflow tank, but while you’re under the hood, give the upper radiator hose a good squeeze (when the engine’s cold!). It should feel firm but pliant. Same with the lower hose. Do you feel any softness? Notice any cracks in the rubber? These are early warnings of a cooling system failure. And while you’re standing there, start the engine and wait for it to reach operating temperature. The cooling fan should come on. If it doesn’t come on and your vehicle overheats in 5mph bumper-to-bumper traffic halfway through your vacation, at least now you’ll know why.
Transmission fluid is another check that most people never think of, because it hardly goes low or bad in the everyday driving we do. But when you face a mountain range or two hours of 80mph driving, you’re likely to find out real quick if your fluid is too low or too old to take the heat. Pick up a transmission dipstick or make a mental note to check your level in any way your vehicle demands. The fluid should be a cherry red and smell sweet. If it’s dark and smells burnt, change it before you leave, not after.
Your serpentine belt deserves a close look too. Run your finger along the underside and check for fraying, cracking, or glazing. A belt that’s been fine for your daily 15-minute commute can snap under the continuous load of highway driving, taking your alternator and power steering with it.
Tires Are More Than Just Pressure
Check your tire pressure, yes – but PSI alone doesn’t tell the full story. This is why scheduled car servicing and regular visual checks of your tires matter so much. Here’s what you can do:
Run your hand across the surface of each tire – feel for any flat spots or uneven wear patterns along the tread, which could indicate a larger issue. Inspect the sidewalls of your tires for any visible cuts or bulges. A sidewall bulge could mean that the tire is damaged and needs to be replaced immediately. Use the penny tire test to check your tire’s tread depth. Simply insert a penny into the tread groove with Lincoln’s head upside down. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, your tire’s tread depth is too low for safe highway driving.
Pull the spare out of the boot too. It’s not actually a spare if it’s flat or cracked from sitting in the heat for three years.
Battery And Electrical Checks
Battery failure is one of the top reasons people get stranded. AAA receives more than 30 million calls for roadside assistance each year. Battery failure, flat tires, and cooling system problems are the most frequently cited reasons; all can be caught early with a pre-trip inspection.
A battery that’s more than three years old should be tested with a multimeter, not just inspected. Have your cold cranking amps tested, and verify that it meets the specs on your owner’s manual. Sustained high-speed driving produces constant vibration that can shake loose an internal plate on an old battery, even if it’s been starting your car without issue every day.
Don’t stop there: walk around the car and check every external light – brake, turn signals, reverse, and headlights. You don’t stress your lights very much when just driving around town at night.
What A Professional Inspection Catches That You Won’t
Do-it-yourself checks are really good. They catch obvious stuff and leave you with a practical understanding of your vehicle’s health. But there are wear and failure points that simply won’t present themselves during any visual check – micro-cracks in a brake rotor, wear in a suspension bush or link that only becomes obvious when under hoist load, or brake pad thickness that while visually okay is closer to the wear indicator than you’d probably choose for a long trip.
This is why a service before a long trip is worth the time and cost. Your mechanic will check brake pad and rotor wear under load, shock performance, measure the bushes for wear, and check for fluid contamination that can’t be quantified by a color check on the dipstick. If you’re going somewhere where you’re leaning heavily on the vehicle to perform in a capacity that isn’t familiar to you, this level of inspection isn’t over the top. It’s the minimum standard.
Your Roadside Kit Needs An Audit Too
Simple items like blankets, bottled water, and high-energy snacks can be lifesavers in the event you slide into a snowy ditch 16 miles from nowhere and have to wait eight hours for rescue. And we’d add a length of 1×12 to spread the jack’s load on soft ground, a tire pressure gauge, and a roll of duct tape. Maybe even a pencil and notebook because cell service is notoriously spotty in the middle of nowhere.
The Breakdown You Prevent Costs Nothing
Spending a couple of hours ensuring your car is ready for a long drive is a lot less costly than a tow, a rushed repair, and short an afternoon of vacation or family time. Have a pro check the parts that are easy to miss and often fail when over-stressed, and the systems that hide in the background doing their job. Then hit the road knowing your car can handle what you’re about to put it through.
