Check your car before you hit the road!
June 29, 2010
(New York, N.Y.) - One of the best parts about the great summer weather is rolling down those windows, strapping the bikes on the back and hitting the road with family or friends. “But your fun can be quickly spoiled if you run into car troubles,” said Senator Kemp Hannon, who is partnering with AAA to alert Nassau County residents of how to properly inspect their vehicles before strapping on heavy loads and starting up the engine.
Senator Hannon encourages all residents to review the following AAA car safety check guidelines prior to taking any road trips this summer, especially with heavy loads or luggage:
- Check your tires. Your vehicle’s weight-carrying capacity decreases 2 percent for every pound your tires measure under their recommended inflation pressure. Underinflated tires lose traction, reduce gas mileage and run hotter, which increases the risk of a blowout. Pump them up before you pile on luggage or other stuff.
- Examine the level of brake fluid. Check the level in the master cylinder. If your car doesn’t have a translucent reservoir, meticulously wipe the cover before opening it to avoid contamination. Add fresh fluid as necessary.
- Check transmission fluid. Follow the instructions in your owner’s manual in regard to checking the fluid level. Brown, black, glittery, milky-looking or burnt-smelling fluid indicates the need for servicing or repair. Heavy loads strain the transmission and will only make incipient problems worse.
- Test your shocks and struts. Lean heavily on a corner of the vehicle or the bumper, and then release your weight suddenly. Repeat at all four corners. If the vehicle bounces or doesn’t smoothly return to its normal position, you need new shocks or struts.
Whether it’s bikes, kayaks or transporting heavy luggage on your next trip, all of that extra weight takes a toll on your car. Follow these AAA safety guidelines to make sure your family and friends travel safely this summer. For other important information, visit www.kemphannon.com .
Posted by News LI Editor · Filed Under Tech
Have a press release or local story you would like us to review? Let us know about it!
| You can Bookmark & Share this page by clicking here: |
|
More Long Island News
-
Long Island Exchange is the leading resource on Long Island New York for news and business. Find Long Island news, check local weather, real estate, classifieds, and auto dealer listings for Long Island.
News Comments for this Article
Got something to say? Be sure you've read and understand our (Terms of Service)
You may not post any unlawful, threatening, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. All comments should be relevant to the topic and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. You are solely responsible for your own comments, the consequences of posting those comments, and the consequences of any reliance by you on the comments of others. More...
