Trip Planning Check Daily - What about your car

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WHAT ABOUT YOUR CAR?

This is an occasional handout in the interest of safer motoring. IEJ 10/2014. Updated Oct 2016

I have noticed on many trips, particularly on the longer ones that most people are paying scant attention to their vehicle, but plenty to other things such as food, beverages and positioning tent erections! This is very important whether travelling on your own or in a group. If you are in a group you can share parts, tools or resources. you may also be able to help or(be helped) by someone else.

One of the most important items on the equipment list is your car. It must get your there and home with the minimum of fuss and expense. Neglecting even simple checks could be a major inconvenience to the owner, the group and the success of the trip, not to mention the cost of repairs or replacing the whole car. Don’t follow the last bit? What about a fire caused by grass around the exhaust? - This has happened!

If you are not sure of what to look for please ask another member or use one of several checklists. Your owner’s handbook supplied by Subaru is a good start.

The following list might help with the basics. USE IT DAILY

Check before leaving home and soon after the first camp so that fixes can be planned immediately or first thing in the morning. Tyres and fluids can be checked in the morning. It will only take a few minutes. Keep an eye on the gauges so you can pick up any variation from “normal”. Help or remind other people to do the same.

1. Tyre pressures: (high on bitumen when loaded for a trip - variable off bitumen - usually lower). Leave hub-caps and wheel trims at home. Test your pump and gauge.
2. Leave locking wheel nuts at home. I usually ban them on longer or expedition trips.
3. Tyre wear - unusual or excessive. Remember the spare has to be legal tread depth and equivalent circumference size to the other four. Consider a tubeless tyre repair kit OR share.
4. Wheel nuts tight. Make sure you loosen and tighten them yourself before you leave home as your “trained tyre fitter” may have done them too tight - very common. Usually check them after day one and then weekly.
5. Shake/ kick a wheel each day for loose bearings or suspension problems.
6. Check CV, suspension & steering rack ball-joint rubber boots. Take a boot kit for your model. OR perhaps share with others.
7. Check oil level when cold standing on level ground, and remember to wipe the dipstick and re-check. Check gearbox, power steering, brake & clutch fluid, rear differential (usually never varies unless obvious leak), front diff for auto trans, auto trans oil (when hot & engine running - read owners handbook for details).
8. Coolant in the radiator and recovery/overflow tank. Coolant in the recovery tank is not an indication that the radiator or the whole system has any coolant in it. Radiator & heater hose sound.
9. Radiator screen clear of bugs & grass. Fit a bug screen as a priority.
10. Windscreen washer bottle water & detergent. Clean the bugs off the windscreen.
11. Battery electrolyte if it has removable cell caps. Wriggle the battery to see that it is mounted securely. For 40 years I have found a very high percentage are loose.
12. Air cleaner clean/ed in dusty conditions. Tap out dust gently. Always stay out of the dust if possible.
13. Drive belt tensions. (Radiator & A/C fan, power steering, alternator, water pump. etc.). Late models have only one 'serpentine' belt. In-between models may not have any adjustment (see "Belts 20" below).
14. Exhaust clear of grass, no leaks and no sticks rubbing on driveshaft boots. "
15. Oil leaks? Take spare litre.
16. Roof rack brackets and bolts secure. Check mountings are tight and tie-down straps taut.
17. Fire extinguisher indicator dial in green section (weekly will do). Mount the extinguisher securely.
18. Drive with headlights on low beam (or park light) in daytime as a safety item.
19. CB radio antennae secure (they often become loose and the threaded parts can be damaged).
20. Belts - check firm/tight, no frayed edges. NOTE some models are NOT adjustable so spare must be exact same number. See "13" above.

NOTE: this list is not a substitute for regular & formal servicing & checks made at recommended intervals. Vacuum pack this list and keep it in the glove-box.
See also other lists: Checklist: Gear for ALL Trips
And Parts & Spares Ian (Puggle)

Please advise if there are any items missing from the list for future updates. Ditto errors.

Ian Johnson @ 10/2014. Updated Oct 2016