You are probably thinking ahead to a great summer -- but how's your car?
Ali Ah-Yu has some travel plans and wants her car to be in top shape.
"Down to the Oregon coast, I haven't been there before so -- just a little road trip," she explains.
She knows from experience how important it is to get her car ready.
"I had a gas line go off on my Jeep once," she remembers.
You might be surprised to learn BCAA gets as many or more breakdown calls in warm weather as they do in the winter.
"Extreme temperatures the heat can tend to put a lot of pressure on the vehicle," says Dave Weloy, BCAA manager of Vehicle Inspections.
One safety issue often forgotten as temperatures warm up is tire pressure. The danger is not under inflation, it's over inflation.
For every five degree Celsius rise in temperature, your tire pressure goes up 1 or 2 pounds. And if it's too high, you run the risk of a blow out.
Another issue as we get better weather -- the angle of the sun this time of year can be blinding. So use your visor and dig out those sunglasses, polarized are best, and don't use high gloss vinyl cleaners on your dash as that worsens the glare.
Before a trip, it's a good idea to have an oil and filter change and a safety check.
Have your mechanic check:
- Lights
- Battery
- Tires
- Wipers
- Belts
- Hoses
- And fluid levels -- they should be clean and topped up.
"Then put it up on the hoist , look at the brakes, suspension, exhaust , make sure the vehicle is safe for you," advise Weloy.
In spring time, dealers and auto repair shops often run specials -- check them out -- they can save you money.
Here's one other tip -- if you are planning to get your car serviced before a big trip -- get it done at least a week before. That way if any problems crop up -- like they didn't put the oil filter on tight enough -- or a new hose clamp is loose -- you'll notice the problems and have time to get them corrected before you hit the road.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen
