LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Earlier than loading items and suitcases within the automotive to go away for the vacations, a Lubbock mechanic is reminding you to ensure your car is prepared for the drive.

Don Bridge, Store Foreman at Nick’s Automotive, says making ready on your journey earlier than you allow can prevent a whole lot of time on the highway.

“Upon getting a breakdown, a minimal breakdown is 45 minutes to hours,” Bridges stated. “So, you understand if you will get above that, get forward of that, discover issues earlier than you allow, then that most likely assures you you’re going to make loads safer and simpler journey.”

Bridges says the primary mistake drivers make will not be checking their fluids. With the chilly climate, he advises everybody to pay shut consideration to the coolant to ensure it can stand up to the chilly temperatures.

“You’ll be able to have coolant in there however typically it solely goes to zero levels,” Bridges stated. “If it’s going to zero levels, you’re going to have issues, so that you need to test your coolant, you need it to be a minimum of minus 20.”

Once you test your coolant, Bridges says whether it is low, you must take it to a mechanic to be checked out additional.

“If it’s beneath the minimal, you need to prime it off, but when it’s additionally beneath the minimal you most likely must get it checked as a result of normally, it doesn’t go wherever – whether it is going someplace that’s a telltale that it’s going out,” Bridges stated.

Bridges says the chilly climate also can have an effect on your automotive battery.

“Excessive warmth and excessive chilly knock out your batteries, so a battery may very well be good tomorrow and out at this time,” Bridges stated.

He recommends testing the battery and alternator.

“Typically they’ll are available, ‘I believe it’s my battery,’ and the battery is low and it finally ends up being the alternator,” Bridges stated. “One of many phases burned out on it, so now it doesn’t put out most it’s placing out possibly 50% of what it needs to be placing out.”

To verify your tires can get you to your vacation spot safely, he says to test the tire strain, ensure that there aren’t any cracks, and test the tread.

For those who do breakdown, he says to get as far-off from the freeway as potential.

“Attempt to get off the highway as a result of lots of people get hit on the curb as a result of individuals which are coming are highway weary, they usually’re going throughout the road, and for those who’re near the freeway they’re going to hit you,” Bridges stated.

Bridges says taking these steps can prevent hundreds of {dollars} and hours of time down the highway.



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