Page 20 - AAA Now! – AAA Central Penn – May/June 2021

AUTOMOTIVE
This Year Preplanning is the Key to a Successful Summer Driving Vacation
By Bruce Phillips
Approved Auto Repair Manager
Successful summer car travel requires significant planning and preparation. Excessive heat and traffic all contribute to auto breakdowns, traveler exhaustion, and short tempers. AAA’s various automotive related programs can help eliminate a lot of the stress involved in summer travel.
Before You Leave
Despite higher fuel costs, the personal vehicle is still used for 70 percent of vacation travel according to AAA surveys. In 2021, this number will certainly be higher due to travel restrictions because of the pandemic. But setting out for a trip on a whim is something that should be avoided; instead, careful planning and preparation should be used.
The first step toward a safe, enjoyable trip is readying your car – a vital phase of the preparation process.
Convenient, Dependable Automotive Repair is Just Around the Corner
Where should you take your vehicle to get it checked
for summer trip driving? AAA has over 7,000 certified and inspected AAA Approved Auto Repair (AAR) facilities across the U.S. and Canada that are extensively qualified to check
and repair your vehicles, so you don’t have trouble on the road. These facilities are inspected annually by AAA for tools, technical training, cleanliness, ASE technician certification and customer service.
AAA has established these tough standards to recognize and support repair facilities that provide consistent, high- quality workmanship and to protect our members. AAA members can be assured that a facility displaying the AAA Approved Auto Repair sign has met – or exceeded – AAA’s standards and is a reliable repair establishment. Visit AAA.com/AAR to find a list of AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities that are just around the corner.
What Should You Check on Your Car Before Summertime Travel?
The AAR or other repair facility should start with the two items that cause the most breakdowns in the summer – batteries and tires. Verify the battery is meeting the required standards for the vehicle you drive. If it does not, then replace it before you leave. Tires should be checked for tread depth, air pressure, and dry rot because any of these three items combined with summer’s heat can cause a tire to fail.
Also, make sure your regular maintenance items such as oil changes, air filters, and other fluid services are up to date. One
20 I MAY/JUNE 2021