#100000 mile car maintenance checklist free

To check the batteries go to your local auto parts store and ask them to check the battery. Weak batteries have trouble getting a car to start, especially in the cold. Check Batteryīattery failure will keep you stranded. If the belt looks at all compromised, you should have that repaired before attempting a long trip. You may also heat squeaks or squeals in the front of the engine if the belt is rubbing. Look for the belt, it has a ridged side and a smooth side, you should see no cracks or missing pieces in the belt.

If your AC isn’t working, this may be a symptom of a serpentine belt about to fail. If a serpentine belt breaks you will suddenly lose power steering and your engine will begin to overheat. Most cars today have one belt, the serpentine belt. If you find leaks, head to the shop!Ĭondensation from the air conditioning is normal, but that is just water and should have no color or odor. If possible, look under the car and see if you see anything dripping or wet looking. Be sure to locate the reservoirs for these fluids and check the levels. The main fluids that can cause leaks are oil and coolant. If you notice any fluids under your car when you park, you should find out what is leaking. Again, the fluid should look clear and should show that it is within operating range. There is a dipstick for this just like for the oil. The last fluid to check is power steering fluid. This is another fluid that you can top off yourself, just be sure to check any instructions in your vehicle’s owner’s manual. The fluid should not be dark or smell burnt. When you check the transmission fluid, you will find the most accurate reading when the engine is hot. Be sure to check this when the engine is cold and off. Once you have checked the coolant at the reservoir, you want to check the level in the radiator, you should see coolant right to the top of the radiator. This is something you will want to carry with you on your trip, low coolant needs to be topped off as soon as possible. Be sure that the level is correct and be sure that it is not leaking. CoolantĬoolant will cause your engine to fail quickly. You still want to be sure that your oil looks clean and that the level is within optimal operating range. Infrequent oil changes will not cause an engine to fail suddenly, it will shorten the overall life of the car. OilĬheck the oil with the dipstick when the car is off and cool.

You may also want to carry extras with you on your trip. You will want to check a few fluids in your car before a long trip. You can find the proper tire air pressure inside the door where you put gas in the car.

#100000 mile car maintenance checklist free

If you do not have a tire gauge, you can use the one on the free air at WaWa. You should check the tire pressure when the air in your tires is cold, so before you have driven the car. Tires do not wear evenly, so be sure to check the tread on all four.Īlso check the air pressure in the tires. Put a quarter upside down in the tire tread, you should not be able to see the top of George’s head. You can use a quarter to measure the depth of the tread. If you do not understand what all the codes mean you can ask the associate if they have time to explain it to you, or you can just go home and google it all. Check CodesĮven if your dash does not show any codes, bring your car down to the auto part store and ask them to read any codes on your car. If you start looking at things like fluids and batteries and you start to see some concerning things, bring it to the shop for them to take a deeper look.Ĭheck over your car with the following list to be sure you feel comfortable taking your car on a long road tip. This list of things can be checked at home or by a shop. If those things are good, go on to this more detailed list. This printable checklist will help you remember the points in this post. These are the things most likely to strand you on your trip. The most important things to check are the tires and the battery. Print the checklist! What do I need to check before a road trip?