Summertime is travel time but is your car ready to hit the road? Top 5 tips for safe travel

June 21, 2012 - PRLog -- 1.  Check your tires. A blown tire at a high rate of speed leads to hundreds of fatal accidents every year according to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration. Look for foreign objects, uneven wear patterns in the tread, bald spots, any cracks or exposed metal and check your tire pressure monthly.

2.  Check your radiator fluid level and have it tested every year. This coolant plays a crucial role in maintaining your engine’s efficiency and the longer and the faster you drive, the bigger the stress on your engine and the higher likelihood of overheating.

3.  Have a qualified technician check all hoses and belts for cracks, leaks and loose connections. Hoses should be firm, not soft or brittle and in Arizona they need to be replaced on the average every four years or 60,000 miles.  Ask for “Type EC” on the hose, labeled for Electromechanical Degradation resistance.  Belts need to be replaced every 50,000 miles as the composite belts don’t show signs of wear until the failure occurs.

4.  Get your brakes checked. This is the most important safety feature on your vehicle and good brakes can mean the difference between being able to avoid an accident and not.

5.  Clean your battery and have it checked by a professional to assure it has enough power to get you to and from your summer vacation destination. The Arizona heat can significantly cut down on the life of your battery.

Preventative maintenance is the key to avoiding costly auto repairs and getting stuck in the middle of nowhere this travel season.

For more information on NARPRO or to find an approved service center near your home or work visit http://www.narpro.com.  NARPRO helps consumers find reliable and trustworthy Phoenix auto repair and body shops. Shops listed on this site have passed a stringent 26-point test of quality, integrity and customer service.  

For more safe summer travel tips or to set up an interview with a NARPRO representative, contact Amy Wolff at (623) 910-1690.