Get your car professionally inspected at the CARSOME Service Center before your festive season journey

Chinese New Year is just around the corner, which means the impending mass exodus of motorists on their kampung trips. While public announcements about checking your car before a long journey may seem repetitive, they're essential, especially during festive periods with heavy traffic. A 3- to 4-hour drive could easily double, stressing your car.

Before hitting the road, it's vital to conduct a thorough check on your vehicle to avoid unexpected issues during your journey. Creating a checklist for your long drive can help ensure your car is in optimal condition and safe for travel.

Here's a breakdown of the essential items to include in your pre-road trip car maintenance checklist:

Engine oil check

Before embarking on a long drive, do check and potentially change your engine oil. Aging engine oil may pose risks to your engine with reduced lubricity and cooling properties, especially during extended drives.

Ensure the oil level is within the recommended range. Some might tell you to check the colour, but it’s not the best indicator for the condition of the fluid. Instead, and get a sense of the fluid’s viscosity – is it thick or cloudy? If it is, you should get it changed.

Inspect other car fluids

Apart from engine oil, various fluids contribute to your car's optimal performance. Consult your car owner's manual for service intervals and specifications of necessary fluids. These include transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield washer fluid. Ensure they are at appropriate levels and in good condition.

Ensure air-conditioning’s cooling performance

Being in a hot and humid climate, it’s best to have your air-conditioning system checked to ensure the comfort of your journey. Basic items to inspect include the refrigerant level, and don’t forget your cabin filter as it will affect the fan’s efficiency.

Tyre check

Tyres are critical for road safety. Regularly inspect tyre pressure, tread wear, and sidewalls. Properly inflated tyres contribute to comfort, fuel efficiency, and handling.

Avoid inflating your tires to the maximum pressure, as it can lead to numerous problems such as an uncomfortable ride, accelerated tire degradation, compromised handling especially in the wet, and potential blowouts, posing potential dangers.

The key is to closely adhere to the PSI recommendations provided by your vehicle manufacturer. Also, check for any lodged particles that may lead to flat tyres.

Make sure to have them properly balanced and aligned so that the car behaves exactly as intended.

Battery examination

Pay attention to the sound of your car's starter, as a slow crank may indicate a faulty starter or a weakening battery. If your battery is over a year and a half old, consider replacing it. You can use a multi-meter to check the battery's health, or observe the headlights' brightness when the engine is running for a basic assessment.

Ensure proper functioning of lights and indicators

Regularly check headlights, reverse lights, indicators, and taillights to ensure safe driving. Replace any faulty bulbs promptly and keep spare bulbs for emergencies.

For cars equipped with fog lights, they are only used in low-visibility conditions like thick fog or heavy rain on the highway. Misusing fog lights can dazzle or blind others, and the rule is to use them when visibility is less than 100 meters, including headlights.

Both front and rear fog lights must be turned off when visibility improves. Front fog lights should never be used to illuminate the road in normal conditions, and common sense dictates using them only when truly necessary. Rear fog lights are used to signal your presence in poor visibility, not hazard lights (or as many call it “double signal”), and we must emphasize again, turned off when visibility improves.

Have a car emergency kit ready

A well-equipped emergency kit is essential for any road trip. Include items like tire changing tools, warning triangle kit, basic toolbox, battery jumper cable, duct tape, gloves, umbrella, raincoat, mobile phone, flashlight, power bank, water, and a first aid kit.

Brake Inspection

Check the thickness of brake pads and the surface of brake rotors. If the thickness of the pad is less than the back plate, then it is likely due. As for the rotor, run your finger across the surface area, if you feel deep grooves, consider having them skimmed or replaced.

Although a visual inspection is helpful, it's recommended to have a professional examination, especially before a long drive. Hence, you should have your car checked at the CARSOME Service Center

To further assist car owners, the CARSOME Service Center offers a free 20-point inspection to identify potential issues. This Chinese New Year, the CARSOME Service Center offers great deals to keep your car in top condition.

The center, known for transparency and trustworthiness, also provides affordable service packages starting from RM 98. These packages cover essential maintenance tasks and can be tailored to different mileage intervals.

Making an appointment with the CARSOME Service Center is advisable, considering the increased demand during holiday periods. Customers can access promotions and book services conveniently through the CARSOME app.

With locations in Petaling Jaya and Ampang, the center operates from Monday to Saturday, 8.30 am to 5.30 pm, closed on Sundays and public holidays.