Top 5 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Going On A Road Trip

Road trips are fun and exciting! It’s a great way to explore new places while gaining a lot of benefits like being able to sharpen your mind, seeing things in new and brighter way, building your confidence to try new things and get out of your comfort zone. But the question is, are you fully ready to go on a road trip? To make sure you get the best out of your travel experience and that you’re prepared when unexpected things come your way on the road, here are the questions you should ask yourself before you even start packing.

1. Do I Know How To Change A Flat Tire?

A flat tire is one of the simplest road troubles that you should expect especially on long drives. But then, even if it’s pretty easy to change a flat tire, the question is do you know how to do it? Don’t assume you can always find someone to help change it for you. So better learn this essential skill before you find yourself in a middle of nowhere with a flat tire.

2. When Was The Last Time I Had My Car Checked?

If you can’t even remember, then chances are it’s been a while. If this is the case, take your car to your trusted car servicing shop for repair and maintenance as soon as you can before your trip. This should ensure you that you vehicle is in top condition and lessen your chances of car troubles when you hit the road.

3. Do I Know The Emergency Hotlines?

Even the most prepared and careful drivers out there get into trouble because of circumstances that are out of our control like the weather. If you get caught up in such cases, you better know the hot lines of proper authorities to call for help.

4. Do I Have Car Tools?

It’s great to learn basic car repairs so that you don’t depend on mechanics every time something needs to be done on your car, especially if you’re on the road. However, having the skills is only half of the solution. You also have to have necessary tools to actually do the repair! If you don’t have tools, maybe it’s time that you buy them.

5. Do I Have A Copy Of My Car’s Documents?

In case you run into a problem, you can easily present all the necessary documents to the authorities. These include the original and photocopy printouts of your car's official receipt, car registration, insurance form, and driver's license.

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Driving Mistakes You Want To Avoid With Automatic Cars

Driving Mistakes You Want To Avoid With Automatic Cars

A lot of people, especially young new car owners, would prefer driving an automatic not only because it’s more widely known and used nowadays but also because it’s almost effortless to drive which means you get a smooth ride. However, just because it’s easier to drive an automatic doesn't mean you won’t get problems with it if you don’t drive it properly. So to make sure that that doesn't happen, here are the things that you definitely shouldn’t do while driving an automatic.

Engaging P Before Coming Into A Full Stop

When your gear stick is engaged to P (Park) what happens is that, it stops the transmission from rotating which prevent your car from moving forward and backward. Do that while the car is in motion and you risk damaging the locking pin that locks up the automatic transmission. This is why it’s never a good idea to engage P when you’re still moving. The same thing when you’re at a stop light, you still shouldn’t engage P. This is because you’ll have to go through R (reverse) and N (Neutral) before you can shift the lever to D (Drive) when the light turns green which takes a lot of effort for the vehicle to do. Aside from that, when shifting from P to D, sometimes people accidentally engage to either R or N which could be a problem when you’re on a bumper to bumper traffic situation. 

Going ‘Neutral’ At Stop Lights

You've probably heard the unwritten rule of not putting your car on D at a stop light in order to avoid wearing out the transmission. While that may make sense, sometimes putting the vehicle in N at a stop light can be a problem too. How so? Well, people tend to forget things, even actions that they just did like going Neutral at a stop light. As a result, they end up revving the engine to no avail when the light turns green which waste fuel when doing so. This is why you may want to keep the gear in D, even at stop lights, unless you’re really going to a full stop.

Changing Gears While The Vehicle Is Moving

Some drivers who are parking their vehicle tend to change gears even while the vehicle is still in motion. Switching gears while the vehicle is moving is a habit that you should break because this can damage the vehicle’s transmission. If you want to shift from D to R or vice versa, you should wait for the vehicle to stop moving before doing so.

Coasting In Neutral

Putting your gear stick in N limits your control over the car. So while coasting in neutral to save gas is a good thing, you should prioritize having full control of your ride while moving which only happens of your gear is in D because this allows you to react faster and safer. Besides, most modern automatic cars nowadays are designed to be fuel efficient even if the gear is in D, so there’s really no point in compromising full control over your car while driving. 

Launching Your Car

In a nutshell, ‘launching’ is accelerating a vehicle from standstill, similar to drag racing. This works by revving your engine while the gear is in N and dropping it into D to launch the vehicle forward. While this may amuse your friends, launching an automatic car is not a good thing because this will wear out the bands in your transmission. You may look cool for the time being doing that, but you may end up with pricey car repairs in the long run. It’s not worth it dude.

Majority of cars today are automatic. So if you’re looking for a specific car, it’ll be easier to find if you prefer it over manual. Also, shifting or using the clutch pedal will be the least of your problems. Considering that shifting isn’t an issue with automatic transmission car, you can rest assured that you’ll have a smooth ride. However, with a complex system, a lot could go south on you which of course means maintenance will follow. If you don’t mind not having the “hands-on” precision drivers usually get with manual, then this might work for you. And just like everything else in life, innovation comes with a price. Be prepared to shell out more cash if you prefer automatic transmission cars. So, you’d really want to avoid these mistakes to avoid unnecessary repairs and expenses in the future.

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How To Do A Quick Car Safety Check

How To Do A Quick Car Safety Check

How many people nowadays even check if they have enough fuel or replenish the water in the windshield washer bottle? A quick car safety inspection is always recommended every time you use your car but no one hardly do it even when going for long trips. What many people don’t realize is that spending a couple of minutes doing car inspection could prevent a lot of road mishaps or get you out of one with minimal injury and damages. If you don’t wanna be the one ending up sorry later and have someone telling you I told you so, make it a habit to at least do the following whenever you’re taking your car out for a ride.

Tires

Tires heat up and wears faster on long trips, add that to a hot weather and you’re a sure candidate for blowouts. So you better see to it that you’re not driving with really worn tires, if you are then replacing them before you leave is a must. Doing visual inspection will also keep you aware of wear, cracks, slipped belts, bulges or other abnormalities when it comes to your tires. Moreover, don’t neglect your spare. If you have a properly inflated spare then you can change your own tire when the need arise and save you tow bill or road service call.

Under The Car

Since you’re already kneeling by the tires, then might as well take a quick look under to see if there’s any oil or coolant leak.

Windows And Mirrors

Your car windows and mirrors help you see the road clearly from all necessary angles. So don’t underestimate their importance. All you have to do is make sure they’re clean and not blurry from dust and dirt and if there are no cracks as those things can affect visibility.

Wipers

As mentioned above, visibility is vital when you’re driving, so if your windshield wipers are failing already then replace it. To see if they’re still good, you just need to run your fingers along the rubber part to make sure they’re still supple to touch. If they’re hard then it’s time for replacement. Don’t wait until you’re driving on a rainy day and the wipers can’t clear the windshield before you realize how important it is not just for car grooming but also for your safety. It’s worth checking the windscreen washer works too.

The Fluids

While learning to change your fluids is a different thing, you should at least know how to see if you’re running low or it needs to be changed or if there’s  a leak. Clutch fluid, which is often the same with brake fluid, coolant, windshield wash and power steering fluid should be at appropriate level, especially if you’re going on a long ride. Otherwise you’d be risking accident or breakdown on the road.

The Lights

Sit in your car, turn each light or signal and have someone see if they’re working or not. Don’t settle with blinking lights; if they’re not fully functional replace the bulbs. Don’t wait until it’s time to go before you do this because it takes time. Bringing spare bulbs for each light won’t hurt either, just in case.

Seatbelt

Not to be too morbid but your seatbelt is the only thing that’s keeping your head from smashing onto the windshield and be thrown completely out of the vehicle in case of a collision. So always check of it locks properly and give it a tug to see if it still has a good resistance.

Driving doesn't seem like a life-threatening activity because you’re essentially just going from one place to another. But even when you’re already at your destination and parking your car, an accident can still happen. Doesn't matter if it’s a minor accident or not but the point is, as a car owner, you’d want to avoid it as much as possible. Not only because your life and others life can be put at risk but also because it may mean hefty car repair cost as well as other damages. So, aside from investing in a better car complete with the latest safety features like front crash avoidance system and active blind-spot detection system, it helps to perform quick check before going out to see if there are any problem that may lead to an accident on the road.

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Regularly Scheduled Car Maintenance

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