I hope that you, Dear Reader, have never felt that you set off to your holiday carelessly, without taking the necessary precautions to avoid technical issues or other nuisance that could interfere with your plans of having a rest and enjoying yourself.
But what can you do before setting off, to maximize the chances that your car will perform flawlessly during the planned journey?
Walk around the car and check whether all the lights are functioning. Replace faulty bulbs if necessary. It is always important to take care of the windscreen wipers, especially before taking a longer trip: make sure they are wiping thoroughly and the rubber is not starting to tear off the blades. Partners whose package includes service can have their windscreen wiper blades replaced at our service partners at ALD’s expense once a year. Make sure there are no damages on the vehicle body and no cracks or dents on the windscreen caused by stone chips, because in certain countries the police may obligate you to have them repaired.
Don’t forget about the engine compartment either: check the engine oil level and refill with motor oil of proper quality if necessary. You might take one more liter with you as a reserve. Make sure the windscreen wiper fluid tank is also full of summer fluid with good insect solvent properties. In this case, too, it is good to have some reserves at hand. Also have some deionized water to refill the engine coolant if necessary.
Before departure, also check tire pressure as seen on the picture at the inner side of the fuel cap. Adjust tire pressure according to the load (luggage, number of passengers etc.) at a gas station, for example. If the car is equipped with a spare tire, do not forget about it either. If the vehicle was supplied with a puncture repair kit, you may check whether the puncture repair fluid has gone off or if it has been replaced, in case it had been used up previously. If the car is equipped with a tire pressure check system, check its functionality and record the newly set pressure values if necessary. By performing the above activities you can achieve optimal riding comfort, good roadability and ideal fuel consumption. And, in case of a puncture, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.
It is also a good idea to clean up the passenger room and remove unnecessary items from the compartments. Clean glass surfaces, in particular the windscreen, both inside and outside. It is recommended to have a separate cloth and a specific cleaning agent in the luggage compartment, for removing bugs. If you have not had the air conditioner cleaned during springtime, it is definitely worth the time now. This is also financed by ALD once in each season, provided that there is a maintenance contract.
It is very important to have enough safety vests for each person in the vehicle. In case of an unexpected halt, no one shall leave the vehicle on a highway or motorway without wearing one.
If you travel abroad, don’t forget to have your ALD Assistance package extended to international (European) level. You may need it in case of a breakdown or accident, and you will thank yourself for not forgetting about it.
I wish all of our readers a great and trouble-free holiday and hope that our cars will carry you as a quiet and reliable partner wherever you want to go, and take you home safely.
author: Lajos Csáder - ALD Technical referent