96 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com The majority of engine coolants are a mixture of half coolant and half water. CONDITION OF WIPER BLADES A lot of people don’t know how well these are working until it rains. Check them before it does. PARKING BRAKE / EMERGENCY BRAKE OPERATION Does it function correctly? Does the operator know where it is and how to activate it? This may sound like an odd question, but everyone that I have interviewed whose vehicle lost brakes (often resulting in a collision) told me that in the moment of panic, they completely forgot that the vehicle had an emergency brake. CLIMATE CONTROL OPERATION Does the A/C blow cold and the heater blow hot? If not, determine the cause before you leave town. TEST DRIVE This one is obvious. The technician will drive the vehicle to determine that everything appears to look, feel, sound and smell normal. Yes, we actually smell the car also. This gives us a hint that there may be refrigerant or coolant leaking into the cabin or that the vehicle is leaking and water is collecting under the carpet. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE Plan well. Every year someone calls the day before (or the day of!) their trip and our schedule cannot accommodate them. Also have any needed maintenance or repairs performed at least two weeks before the date of the trip. This allows for some local use of the vehicle to ensure that all went well with the repair. AND FINALLY When traversing long distances, a cell phone that works on all major highways is a must and long-distance towing coverage is recommended. There is no trip inspection that can predict the sudden failure of an electrical component on a vehicle. Again, while this is a good starting point, always consult with a technician familiar with your vehicle. They can offer the best advice for your model. Have a great trip! For more information, visit hudsonsimport.com. automotive CHARLESTON’S LARGEST SELECTION FOR EVERYTHING TENNIS! M-TH 10am-6pm FRI 10am-5pm SAT 9am-3pm SUN Closed Northcutt Plaza | 976 Houston Northcutt Blvd., Suite M. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 TennisShopMountPleasant.com | 843.284.8977
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