Don't Let Car Trouble Ruin the Labor Day Weekend

BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 18, 2003 -- With the long Labor Day weekend marking the unofficial end of summer, an estimated 30 million people are expected to travel a hundred miles or more from their homes. But before packing the car, the Car Care Council recommends a thorough pre-vacation vehicle inspection.

"Taking the time to perform vehicle maintenance prior to setting out on a road trip is extremely important because it can help prevent breakdowns, which can put an abrupt end to the vacation and add unexpected expenses," said Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council. "While no inspection can guarantee a car's performance, it's comforting to know proper precautions were taken."

Whether you do it yourself or visit a professional automotive technician, a comprehensive pre-trip checkup should address the following systems:

  *     Cooling
  *     Braking
  *     Emission control
  *     Steering/suspension
  *     Fuel
  *     Electrical and ignition

In addition, evaluate engine performance, tires/wheels, A.C./heater/defroster, instruments/gauges, windshield wipers, horns/lights/mirrors, seat belts and the car's body, inside and out.

"Even if the weekend doesn't include a long car trip, it's still a good time to get into the habit of performing annual vehicle maintenance in preparation for the fall and upcoming winter months," White said.

As part of the "Be Car Care Aware" education campaign, the Car Care Council is offering a free service interval schedule to help take the guesswork out of what vehicle systems need to be routinely inspected and when service or repair should be performed. The schedule can be printed for free from the Car Care Council's Web site at www.carcare.org.

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the "Be Car Care Aware" consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers.