Advice for customers when preparing their cars for a summer holiday

KYB's advice for holidaymakers ahead of the bank holiday weekend at the end of August

Advice for customers when preparing their cars for a summer holiday
Photo: Bigstock

As the summer break continues, many people are looking forward to a holiday, which might involve a long drive, towing a caravan or loading the car with camping equipment.

Alternatively, it could simply mean luggage and more people than the vehicle normally carries. Any long journey can place extra strain on a vehicle, therefore it’s important to advise your customers to make a series of checks on the vehicle to ensure if performs correctly and safely.

Tyres

All tyres should be checked for any surface damage, uneven wear or bald spots, which could indicate the vehicle has worn shock absorbers. They should be inflated to the correct pressure for the intended use – so if the vehicle is expected to carry more weight, this may mean more pressure than normal is required.

Over inflation of tyres could affect the braking and cause the tyre to wear prematurely. The tread should also be checked, to ensure it has at least the legal minimum depth requirement. Hot temperatures can also affect the tyre pressure, an increase of 10 degrees can mean a 0.1 bar (1.4 psi) change of pressure. Your customers should also check the spare tyre, if they have one.

Suspension

Even with new tyres, a vehicle still needs to have properly functioning shock absorbers in order to maintain traction with the road.

If your customer has noticed any one of these symptoms on their vehicle, it could be a sign that there is a problem with the suspension: nose diving when braking suddenly, or the car pulling to one side on straight roads, feeling unstable when cornering, vibration in the steering wheel, the car veering when it’s in a side wind, wheels bouncing when driving over bumps, knocking or other noise coming from the wheel area.

Any existing issues with the suspension will be exacerbated by a long drive, especially with additional weight in the vehicle.

As part of the summer vehicle preparation, advise your customers to visit your workshop for some more detailed checks.

Liquids

The washer fluid should be topped up, and the windows cleaned inside and out. Similarly, engine coolant should be checked and topped up if necessary.

It could also be a good idea to advise customers to have their air conditioning refrigerant checked.

Towing

If a vehicle is towing a caravan or trailer, it is subjected to additional demands. Don’t exceed the manufacturer’s maximum approved load, plus the weight on the ball hitch should be as defined by the towbar manufacturer.

Driving speeds should be reduced to the legal limit for the weight of a load. KYB also offers a range of heavy duty coil springs that can greatly increase the towing ability of your vehicle for the duration of the trip, supporting the additional weight.

Other

If it’s not already mandatory in the country your customer is travelling to, it would be a good idea to carry an emergency kit (first aid, torch, warning triangle, high-vis jacket). Check that all your lights are working properly.

These suggestions for vehicle checks can all contribute towards safe and enjoyable driving on long journeys, or when towing.

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