10 Car Maintenance Tips for Summer Road Trips

 ​3. Test the brakes​

 ​O’Dell suggests giving your brake pedal a good pump to test for responsiveness. If it feels spongy, you might need new brakes. Brake pads, which supply the friction required to slow and stop your car, wear away over time. So if you hear a screechy or squealing noise, your pads need replacing.​

 ​4. Check the tires​

 ​Tires are critical for car safety and fuel efficiency, so make sure yours are in road-worthy shape by inspecting for signs of wear on the side walls. Check that you have enough tread depth and enough tire pressure. You can find out how much air your tires need on the sticker located inside the driver’s door, or in your owner’s manual.​

 ​5. Top up fluids​

 ​In order to run properly, your car’s six essential fluids — oil, radiator fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, transmission fluid and windshield fluid — must be checked and topped up regularly. Have your oil changed every three months or every 5,000 to 7,500 miles, and check it every time you fill up with gas during your road trip.​

 ​6. Replace the filters​

 ​Air filters prevent dirt, dust and insects from infiltrating the engine and the inside of your car. Clogged air filters decrease your engine’s performance, gas mileage and interior air quality, so it’s important to swap them out for clean ones at least once a year or every 10,000 miles. Cabin filters should be replaced every 12,000 miles.​

 ​7. Check belts and hoses​

 ​If you look under the hood and see significant damage on your serpentine belt — located beside your engine — it will need to be replaced, O’Dell says.​

 ​“Start checking the belt when the car is at 30,000 to 40,000 miles,” he says. “You’ll start to see little cracks in the rubber. And when you see enough of those cracks within an inch or so, I would replace it.”​

 ​Check your hoses; if you see any fluid leaks, get them verified by a mechanic. Having a belt or a hose fail in the middle of a road trip could mean major engine trouble, leaving you without a car and with a hefty repair bill.​

 ​8. Get to know your car’s ‘smart’ features​

 ​Drivers should familiarize themselves with their car’s smart features, such as the safety systems and navigation tools, O’Dell says.​

 ​“The technology in today’s vehicles can seem daunting, even to experienced mechanics and salespeople,” he says. ​

 ​Dealership salespeople used to teach new vehicle owners how to use things like adaptive cruise control and the onboard entertainment system, but that’s fallen out of practice, he adds. If your car didn’t come with a printed owner’s manual, you can find and download one through the manufacturer’s website.​

 ​“Try checking the resources tab, which should display current model year owner information such as how the safety features work. Or you can call the manufacturer’s customer service hotline. Dealership and specialized mechanics are another great source of information,” O’Dell says.​

 ​And if this is your first road trip in a hybrid or electric vehicle, plan when and where to charge it along your route, he adds.​

 ​“Find out how much range the EV has and where the charging stations are,” he says. “Most EVs have navigation systems that can guide you to the closest charging station when needed, and EVs with gas engines will still be able to run the engine if the larger battery gets low.” ​

 ​9. Don’t leave tune-ups to the last minute​

 ​Most drivers stay on top of regular car maintenance, but some wait until right before they head out on a road trip. O’Dell suggests car owners develop a good relationship with a repair shop or mechanic to get a diagnosis and repair when needed.​

 ​“If it’s just running a quick scan, checking why an engine light is on, that usually doesn't take very long,” he notes.​

 ​Generally, if you’ve put 70,000 miles on your car since its last tune-up, it’s time to get it checked by a mechanic. It’s better to bring your vehicle in far enough in advance of your trip so that if something needs to be fixed, there’s enough time to order replacement parts and complete the work before you leave.​

 ​10. Bring along a few repair necessities​

 ​If your car does break down on the road, have some basic tools on hand, such as wrenches, pliers and screwdrivers, so you can make small repairs, O’Dell says. He also suggests buying a Bluetooth code reader that connects to your phone to help diagnose any error messages that pop up.​

 ​“Get a small volt meter so you can check if the battery’s charged up, and bring along a good set of jumper cables, too,” he says. ​

 ​You might also want a small air compressor and a can of foam, like Fix-a-Flat, to patch a punctured tire, he adds.​

 ​Find out more before venturing out on your trip from  AAA’s guide to preparing your car for summer travel.​