Hit the Road "Safely" This Summer!
DETROIT, May 28 -- As summer and vacation time approaches, more and more American families will be hitting the highways for road trips. In addition to properly maintaining your car, providing safe and enjoyable driving conditions is also important for your passengers. Following are 10 tips the service specialists at Chrysler/Jeep(R)/Dodge (C/J/D) recommend as you prepare for summer road trips:
Vehicle Safety -- Change your oil and filter. Dirty oil or a contaminated filter can cause excessive engine wear, which can lead to poor vehicle performance or even premature engine failure. While having your oil changed by a Service Specialist, you can also have them check your belts and hoses, transmission fluid level, and battery and electrical system. -- Properly inflate your tires. Proper tire inflation can make a big difference in the way your vehicle rides and handles, improving gas mileage by more than three percent when maintained regularly, according to the Car Care Council. Also remember to properly inflate your spare tire. C/J/D Service Specialists also suggest having tires rotated every other oil change, or as directed in your owner's manual. -- Regularly inspect your brakes. Since your brakes wear gradually over time, the loss of braking power often goes undetected. Make sure to have your brake pads, shoes and all related equipment inspected regularly. -- Look for leaks. Be sure to check both the coolant level and your air conditioning system's refrigerant. Leaks in either system may cause your vehicle (and you) to overheat in the warm summer sun. -- Check your shocks and struts. Your vehicle's shocks and struts should be checked in conjunction with wheel alignment, or if you notice excessive bouncing, swaying, rocking or nose-diving while braking. Travel Tips -- Vacation & Travel Security. Few things can ruin a vacation more than unexpected car problems. Now, consumers can protect themselves with the DaimlerChrysler Vacation & Travel Security Package. For just $59.99, travelers can purchase a 60-day package that provides up to $1,000 of trip interruption protection including transportation, meals and lodging if a vehicle breaks down more than 100 miles from home. The package also allows for rental car allowance for any necessary overnight repairs, trip routing and auto valet concierge service, discount coupons and a pre-trip oil change, plus lube and vehicle safety inspection. -- Use sun shields. Place screens in your car windshield while it is parked to ensure the interior does not get too hot, especially for children and pets. Never leave children or pets in an unattended car. -- Secure your car. Always lock your vehicle's doors and trunk, even at home, and keep your car keys out of reach of children. -- Take breaks. Everyone needs a break when traveling long distances. To ward off boredom and exhaustion, schedule frequent stops for meals or just some time to let kids run around a while. -- Keep young passengers occupied. There are many activities you can provide for kids in the car. Give them a kit of pencils, colored markers, books, paper, maps, activity books, stickers, their favorite CDs, etc. Use your imagination, but take into consideration the ages, abilities and interests of your children.