Nothing beats the excitement of a long-awaited holiday. With the car packed and the playlist planned, all that’s left to do is hit the road!
However, before leaving, you also need to plan for the warmer weather to avoid any mid-journey mishaps. To help, we’ve pulled together our top tips for keeping you and your car in tip-top condition during those long spring and summer drives.
Air con check
While we all love a road trip, there’s no denying that it can quickly get stuffy on a warm day – and that’s when you’ll really appreciate your air con!
However, on average, air cons lose 10% of their refrigerant each year. So, if you want your air con to keep you fresh on your yearly getaways, you need to keep it well serviced – and we can help!
Through our Free Air Con Check, we can test your air con’s temperature and refrigerant, inspect all the key components, and conduct a leak test. And if the refrigerant levels do need topping up, we have all the products you need to recharge it yourself in-store or online, or we can do it for you.
Traffic essentials
It wouldn’t be a getaway if you didn’t find yourself stuck in motorway traffic at some point. And now the weather is getting warmer and the days are longer, you can find yourself stuck bumper to bumper for long periods of time.
Of course, no one likes being stuck in traffic, but with a little preparation, it can be much more bearable.
For a start, make sure you’ve stocked up with plenty of bottles of water. And don’t forget lots of snacks – after all, you don’t know when you’ll next reach a service station. When the traffic’s really bad, you might need to cut the engine, which means no air con. That’s when you’ll be thankful that you packed a small fan. A great option, our Simply Motorised Handheld Fans are easy to store, so you can take one for everyone in the family.
Once you’ve escaped the traffic, take a moment to stretch your legs at a service station and enjoy some refreshing air. Sometimes, visiting service stations can be a full-on adventure, and we’ve created a list of our top 5 favourites here.
Cool refreshments
You’ve stocked up on water which will take care of hydration during your journey. But how are you going to store it? You won’t find car-temperature water very refreshing. That’s where a coolbox comes in handy.
A great choice, the Halfords 8 Litre 12V In-Car Electric Coolbox has enough room for all your drinks, keeping them refreshingly cool throughout your journey. Plugging into your vehicle’s 12V socket, the box can easily be secured using the rear seat belt. And it even has two integrated cup holders, so you won’t need to worry about little hands dropping their drinks and making a mess.
Is your car ready?
That takes care of keeping you and your passengers cool and comfortable, but what about your car? Naturally, your car is more likely to overheat in warmer weather, but you can help prevent any unwanted trips to a garage by ensuring your car is topped up with coolant.
Engine coolant, commonly known as antifreeze, circulates around various parts of your engine, helping to dissipate heat. Without it, your engine would quickly overheat, which could lead to extensive damage – the last thing you want during a getaway.
So, before heading away on your travels, why not book our Coolant Change service? In it, one of our expert technicians will drain and refill your coolant before safely disposing of the old liquids. Or, if you fancy changing the coolant yourself, use our handy Vehicle Registration Number tool to find compatible coolants for your vehicle.
And don’t forget other important checks too including your oil and screenwash levels, plus your tyres. When checking your tyres, make sure there are no bulges or clear signs of damage. They should also be inflated to the correct pressure and the tread depth should be at least 1.6mm. Under-inflated tyres can affect stopping distances and handling, while over-inflated tyres can lose traction. If you’re unsure what to look for, book our Free Tyre Check.
Whatever your car needs, we have a wide range of checks and services, and you can also book our 10-Point Car Check in preparation for your journey.
Set yourself up for a lifetime of motoring
Rev up your savings this summer by joining the Halfords Motoring Club today to access a range of amazing benefits and discounts designed to keep you moving, keep you safe and keep you saving. It’s free to join and you’ll receive money off your MOT, a free car health check and a welcome voucher that can be spent on any Halfords product or service.
Or choose our Premium membership for a small monthly fee (or a one-off payment) to unlock exclusive member pricing on all motoring products and services online and across our stores, garages and Halfords Mobile Experts, as well as a variety of other benefits that will help you to keep moving for less.
With so much to enjoy, this is too good an opportunity to miss!
Join the Halfords Motoring Club today at www.halfords.com/motoring-club.
Follow these tips and you can head off on your journey safe in the knowledge you’re prepared for any eventuality. You’ll find even more helpful advice in our Day Trips and Holidays blog posts.
And don’t forget, you can find everything you need ahead of your trip over on Halfords.com.
You want the ultimate getaway, you want Halfords!
