In recent years, road trips have become very popular with travellers. The reason? A feeling of unequalled freedom! Indeed, a road trip by car is a great opportunity to move from one landscape to another, to take secondary roads to discover unsuspected treasures and to stop where we want, when we want. Some people travel within a country, on a continent, while others are excited to drive around the world! While this project is possible, it requires time, a budget and obviously a car in perfect working order. On this subject, before taking to the road, it is essential to check the proper functioning of the various elements that make up the car. Engine parts, lighting, brakes, here are 5 car parts to check and possibly change before leaving for a world tour by car.
Check the vehicle's battery
People who know a little about car mechanics can open the hood to inspect the battery. But as a novice, you should not hesitate to go to a professional. Checking that the parts of a car that is going to be driven a lot are in good working order is the best way to ensure that you get away safely. Concerning the battery, are the connections loose? Is the housing dirty or cracked? If the housing is damaged or if the battery is between three and five years old, it is necessary to change it before going on a round-the-world trip. To do this at a good price, it is possible to find used car parts on this site: in a few clicks, you can find the model that corresponds to your vehicle, whatever the brand. The advantage of used cars is that you can find parts in perfect working order at a very competitive price. It's a great way to stretch your budget and use it for other travel-related expenses.
Inspect the cooling fan
When you're driving around the world, your engine is put to the test. You'll be driving a lot, sometimes for long hours and in sweltering hot areas of Africa, Asia or Latin America. The cooling fan cools the engine to prevent it from overheating. As soon as the car's engine heats up, the fan starts working. When checking the car's engine components, if the engine fan does not switch on, if it stays on even when the engine is not hot, or if the engine overheats quickly, the cooling fan must be changed as soon as possible. Overheating of the engine leads to engine failure.
Take stock of the filters
It is not always known, but a car is equipped with several filters. We often hear about the oil and air filters, but relatively less about the fuel and cabin filters. However, they are also necessary for the proper functioning of the car's engine, as well as for the purity of the air in the cabin. Before setting off on a round-the-world trip, you should know that the oil filter should be changed every 10,000 to 15,000 km, the air filter every 20,000 km, the fuel filter every 20,000 to 40,000 km and the cabin filter once a year. Since you will be driving several thousand kilometres on a round-the-world trip, it is essential to check the condition of the filters and change them if necessary.
Checking the operation of the headlights
Crossing several countries also means driving in different conditions. You may have to drive in the fog, in the rain, in the snow or even at night. It is therefore necessary to make sure that the headlights are working properly, especially the front ones, by paying attention to the daytime running lights, the high beams, the low beams and the position lights. Once the tests have been carried out, it is necessary to see if any bulbs need to be changed. It is also necessary to take bulbs with you, so that they can be changed if they wear out during the trip.
Testing the brakes
We brake many times on the road, to slow down on fast lanes or to stop at a stop sign or a give way sign. In addition, certain areas such as the mountains put a strain on the brakes. There are different ways to check for brake pad wear. On some cars, a light may come on the dashboard. When not equipped, wear can be indicated by a noise when braking, vibrations or jolts felt, or a "soft" brake pedal. Front brake pads have an average life of 30,000 km. The rear brake pads have an average life of 70,000 km. You should therefore think about checking and, if necessary, changing them with used car parts.
