auto trip - car needs a checkup

 

I plan to take a car trip of about 2,000 miles total round trip.  I
want to get the car looked over by a mechanic to make sure it's likely
to go the distance.  I know I need a battery, but I'd also like the
tires, brakes, and an overall look-over.  I'm afraid my garage will
say I *need* tires, a brake job, everything . . . even if I don't
really need them.  What is the most frugal way to handle this?  Is
there such a thing as an honest garage?  I'm tempted to just get the
battery and forget the rest, but I know I won't relax on the trip.

Bob Syr

 

Rent a car from a major agancy for the trip.

 



That's a good suggestion.  But 2000 miles is really not that far.  I think
the best you could do is to do your normal checkups yourself.  The night
before you leave, preferably with the tires cold (parked for 4 hours or
more), check the oil, antifreeze, all other fluids, and adjust tire pressure
on all four tires.

If you aren't having problems with your brakes or anything else before the
start of the trip, it's somewhat unlikely that anything new will pop up
during a trip of only 2000 miles.  -Dave

 




I beg to differ.  2000 miles is roughly 40 hours behind the wheel driving
(50m/hr).  If all of that driving is level terrain, then you need most to keep
an eye open on engine temperature.  Vehicle set up for mountains can get into
trouble in the low lands.  Vehicles not set up for mountains will only crawl.
Once upon a time I made my living driving from show to show, 40,000 to 50,000
miles per year.  Most of the time, no problems.  But on those occasions when
problems did occur it always seemed to be in a small town (pop>500) in the
middle of no where. LOL  If planning such a trip consider carrying a tire repair
kit, extra belts and maybe a few radiator hoses.  Jumper cables are also nice
and a few spare jugs of water or coolant for the radiator.

 

Vandy Terre wrote


Oh bullshit.


Gross overkill unless its a real old dinosaur.