Christmas in Australia means long drives to visit family, camping trips, beach holidays, and road trips. With more cars on the road than any other time of year, now is not the time to risk a breakdown.
Book Your Service Early
Workshops get booked solid in late November and December. If your car is due for a service or has any niggling issues, book it now. Do not leave it until the week before Christmas.
The Christmas Car Checklist
Tyres
Hot summer roads and a fully loaded car (passengers, luggage, esky) put extra stress on your tyres. Check all four tyres and the spare for adequate tread and correct pressure. Increase pressure slightly when carrying a full load — check the placard on your door jamb for loaded pressures.
Air Conditioning
Test it now, not on December 24th when it is 38 degrees. If it is not blowing cold, a re-gas takes about 30 minutes.
Coolant
Summer driving in traffic with the AC running puts maximum stress on your cooling system. Make sure coolant is at the correct level and the system has been flushed within the last two years.
Brakes
Mountain roads, caravan parks with gravel, and stop-start holiday traffic all demand good brakes. If you hear any noise or feel any vibration when braking, get them inspected.
Lights
If you are driving at dawn, dusk, or through the night to beat traffic, every light needs to work. Check headlights, tail lights, brake lights, and indicators.
Driving Tips for the Holiday Period
- Leave early or late to avoid peak traffic — the day before Christmas Eve and Boxing Day are the busiest
- Stop every 2 hours — fatigue is responsible for more holiday deaths than any mechanical failure
- Share the driving if possible
- Have a plan B for accommodation in case you need to stop unexpectedly
- Download offline maps in case you lose signal in regional areas
Beat the Christmas rush — book your holiday service at Heatherdale Automotive today.