Home Exchange Cars and Vehicles
Many home exchanges also include a car exchange. Yesterday I came across this “Before You Go Vehicle Safety Checklist” by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It’s intended as a pre-vacation checklist for people driving their cars on vacation, but it occurred to me that it also works extremely well as guidelines for home exchangers prior to leaving their vehicle(s) for their exchange partners’ use.
- Tires — Check the air pressure in all your tires, especially the neglected spare. To get an accurate reading, check pressure when tires are cold, meaning they haven’t been driven on for at least three hours. In addition, take five minutes to inspect your tires for signs of excessive or irregular wear. If you find irregular tread wear patterns, it means your tires need rotation and/or your wheels need to be realigned before you leave.
- Belts and Hoses — Look under the hood and inspect all belts and hoses to make sure they are in good shape with no signs of blisters, cracks, or cuts in the rubber. High summer temperatures accelerate the rate at which rubber belts and hoses degrade, so it’s best to replace them now if they show signs of obvious wear.
- Wiper Blades — Examine your blades for signs of wear and tear. If they aren’t in tip-top condition, invest in new ones before you go.
- Cooling System — Carefully check your coolant level to make sure it’s adequate—or— if it’s time to have your cooling system flushed and refilled, have it done now. You’ll want to avoid your engine overheating.
- Fluid Levels — You’ll want to check your vehicle’s oil level. If it’s time or even nearly time to have the oil changed, now would be a good time to do it. In addition, check the following fluid levels: coolant, brake, automatic transmission, power steering, and windshield washer. Make sure each reservoir is full and if you see any sign of leakage, take your vehicle in to be serviced.
- Lights — Ensure all the lights on your vehicle are in working order. Check your headlights, brake lights, turn signals, emergency flashers and interior lights.
- Air Conditioning — Make sure that your air conditioning system is functioning properly, especially if you’re traveling with those who are sensitive to heat, such as children and seniors. If the air is not blowing cold, it’s a good idea to have the system repaired before you go.
Emergency Roadside Kit
It’s advisable to put together an Emergency Roadside Kit to carry with you. The kit should include: cell phone; First Aid kit; flashlight; flares and a white flag; jumper cables; jack for changing a tire; work gloves and a change of clothes; basic repair tools and some duct tape; a jug of water and paper towels; nonperishable food, drinking water, and medicines; and extra windshield washer fluid.
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