What Should Long Island Drivers Get Inspected Before a Summer Road Trip?

A thorough inspection at a local repair shop will cover all common risk areas to ensure that your car is safe and reliable.

An inspection will typically check:

• AC System,  including refrigerant level, compressor function, and the cabin air filter. An older car's AC is more likely to break down in hot weather.
• Tires, including tread depth, sidewall condition, and pressure. Summer heat increases the risk of blowouts. Replacing old tires before your trip will make you and your passengers safer.
• Battery,  including cleaning and removing corrosion from terminals, testing the load capacity, and checking that the charging system is functioning normally. Summer heat degrades batteries faster.
• Coolant System, including fluid level, radiator hose condition, and thermostat function to prevent overheating.
• Oil and Fluid Levels, including the engine oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield fluid.
• Brakes, including measuring the pad thickness and checking rotor condition.
• Belts and Hoses, including checking all components for cracking or brittleness. Belts and hoses are easy to replace when problems are found early, but neglecting them can cause catastrophic breakdowns.
• Alignment and Suspension, including checking for uneven tire wear, worn shocks or struts, and steering pull. This is particularly important if you will be driving with a full car or towing a trailer with you.
• Diagnostic Scanning, using advanced OBD-II systems to interface directly with your car’s computer.

Each of these items only takes a few minutes to check individually, but skipping even one can turn a minor issue into a sudden roadside breakdown when you’re hours from home. A vehicle inspection at Dee Pat’s Awsomotive is different from a NY State inspection(we provide both types). While there is some overlap in terms of safety items, a summer vehicle inspection is part of a wider tune-up service that will also look at mechanical wear and help make your car more reliable.

Ensure your summer road trip is smooth and safe by booking an inspection and tune-up at Dee Pat’s Awsomotive. Our experienced auto mechanics service all makes and models.

Book your auto service appointment online, or talk to us today at (631) 698-1058.