Easy to do tips and checks on your vehicle before heading out this Holy Week

Holy Week is upon us again, and thus the diaspora of Manileños for the province will hit a feverish peak by next week. But before you hit the road, make sure you do some basic checks on your car. Here are some easy to do tips and checks on your vehicle before heading out. You can also bring them to an independent mechanic or gas station to have these simple checks carried out and hopefully rectify any minor issues right on the spot.

1. Check your tires - before driving off, check your tires for any signs of uneven wear, punctures and of course proper tire pressure. Your car's owner's manual will indicate the correct tire pressure, or a sticker guide can usually be seen on the door frame of the front doors, or the fuel tank gas flap cover. If unsure, a good base point for most cars is 33psi. This is on the slightly firm side for most sedans and hatchbacks, and on the slightly soft side for most 4x4's, pick-ups and SUV's. Adjust 2-3 psi from there. You should also check the condition of your spare tire as oftentimes the spare is never cared for. It might be in perfect condition, but it maybe also completely uninflated. You should also check the age of your tires. If the tires have seen over five years of service, regardless of tread depth, it's best to have them replaced immediately as old tires are prone to blow-outs at high-speeds on the highway.

2. Check your suspension and steering components - since your car will be up on the lifter, inspect the suspension parts for looseness or damaged components. Tighten as necessary and replace the damaged parts. You don't want to break down on the highway, and a vehicle with damaged or loose parts can be dangerous and very tiring to drive on long distances.

3. Check your vehicle's various fluid conditions and levels - another basic check is the various fluids. Engine oil should be translucent gold in color. If it turns black, that's okay, but if it's black with clearly visible clumps of carbon deposits, you should change your oil immediately as this can damage your engine. If the oil level is low, top it up with the same motor oil you used. Hydraulic fluid for brakes and clutch are normally clear; if these are yellowish to light brown, you should replace them as well. Power steering fluids use either automatic transmission fluid (ATF) or hydraulic fluid. If it's ATF, like engine oil it should be translucent gold. But if there are visible clumps of deposits, change it. And if it uses hydraulic fluid, same for the brakes and clutch. Lastly, check your coolant level. Most modern cars use a mixture of distilled or de-mineralized water and coolant, with a maximum mixture of 50:50, you can try as little as 20 percent coolant and 80 percent distilled water to get slightly better cooling properties. Check that your radiator is filled to the brim with coolant and water. If it's below full, douse in only distilled or de-mineralized water. The distilled or de-mineralized water is crucial. Using any other type of water in your cooling system can result in the minerals reacting with the metals in your engine or the coolant, causing sludge and deposits to build up, blocking your radiator and engine coolant passages and galleys, causing overheating. Remember: use only distilled or de-mineralized water. While you're there checking your cooling system, check that your v-belt /accessories belt/serpentine belt is tight and free from fatigues/cracks, and that there are no leaks from the radiator hoses and clamps.

4. Make sure you have a complete set of hand tools - if in the unlikely event that you suffer from a minor mishap on the road, it's best to have a complete set of hand tools in your car. A properly working jack and tire wrench is a must, plus an old towel, workman's gloves, extra working clothes and some rags. Additionally, bring a fivegallon bottle of distilled water. This water

can fill up your cooling system if needed, and you can drink from it, or wash yourself after fixing up your car. Lastly, having a jumper cable and towing cables is also a huge bonus should you get into trouble, or find someone who needs help.

5. Check your car battery - this is equally important. Small cars usually use NS40-sized batteries, while midsize cars and SUV's use 1SM or 2SM sized batteries. In my experience, NS40 sized batteries are traitors: they just die 12 to 14 months after you install them with no tell-tale signs. If unsure when was the last time you replaced your NS40 battery, change it anyway. It's probably going to die on you soon. 1SM batteries last anywhere from 18 to 24 months, while 2SM batteries last from 24 to 36 months. DIN-sized batteries from European cars are comparable. DIN55 and DIN66 batteries last roughly as long as a 2SM battery, while a DIN88 battery can last for as much as four years if used regularly. If there are calcium acid deposits on the battery terminals, rinse with soft water and brush them away with a soft used toothbrush. You can dab it with contact point cleaner spray from Wurth, or dab in some die-electric grease to protect the exposed terminals and poles from oxidation. If you're using an old-style maintenance-intensive battery, open them up and add distilled battery water as needed.

6. Pack your mobile car charger and spare battery

packs - not exactly car related, but always make sure you have a mobile car charger and an extra battery pack with you, in case of emergency, and save all the emergency numbers for SCTEX/NLEX/TPLEX/SLEX/STAR Toll, etc. management. Also save the numbers of AAP, police and other first-aid respondents. And while WAZE and Google Maps have revolutionized mobile navigation, it's still best to bring along an old-school map in case your mobile phone dies out or you fall out of coverage area so you are not navigating blindly.

7. Dress comfortably, bring some sunglasses and hydrate - so your car is all set, you're packed and ready to go. Make sure you dress comfortably: nothing tight or constricting. Wear comfortable flat shoes, and if you're driving thinned soled narrow shoes so you can better feel the pedals and not accidentally snag the brakes while gassing up or vice versa. For women drivers, avoid heels and wedges when driving please! Wear sunglasses to keep your eyes rested and focused, plan your stops every hour along your route so you can take a toilet break and hydrate or snack.

So there you have it folks. Please read them again, have your car inspected preferably by a professional just to be sure before you leave, and most importantly, plan your trip beforehand to avoid traffic and stress on the road. Be safe everyone and have a restful Holy Week ahead!