In just a month or so the kids will be breaking up for the summer and all hell will break loose on the UK’s roads. The nation’s arteries will be clogged by cars loaded up with coolboxes and surfboards, while caravans and motorhomes will stretch into the distance as far as the eye can see.

For most people the annual summer trip will go smoothly, but for a significant proportion things will start badly then just get worse – often because of a lack of preparation for the journey. Too many drivers assume they can load up their car and it’ll just keep working, but without some love and attention it could easily conk out at the worst possible moment. Cue screaming kids on the hard shoulder while you wait for hours in the blazing sunshine (or pouring rain) for the tow truck to arrive.

The key, predictably, is to make sure that your car is properly serviced before you set off, which may mean booking it in now. The chances are that your garage of choice won’t have a slot for another week or two – or three. As such you’re already getting perilously close to holiday time. But what if there’s a problem and parts are needed, which aren’t available off the shelf? A month might seem like a lot of time to sort out a car service, but you might need all of that and more.

If you’re reasonably handy yourself, you might want to check a few things rather than rely on the garage. According to the AA , these are the 10 things most likely to lead to a call out, so focus on these first:

• Flat or faulty battery. It might be through leaving the interior light on or it could be that the battery is on its last legs. Either way, get the battery checked and if it’s due for replacement don’t wait until it lets you down before you do it.

• Lost keys: You may think there’s nothing you can do here, but it’s possible to buy a key safe that goes underneath your car. Buy one, put a spare key inside, hide the safe out of sight and if you should lose your main key you won’t be left stranded.

• Damaged wheels or tyres. You’ve got to be going some to damage a wheel enough for it to leave you stranded but it doesn’t take much for a tyre to let you down. So before you set off make sure there’s enough air in each tyre and that there are no slow punctures; fix any obvious faults before you set off. Also make sure that your spare wheel and tyre are in good condition and if you don’t have one it might be worth investing in a space saver, even if it means carrying it in the boot. Don’t forget to ensure that the wheelbrace and jack are in the car too, along with the key for the security nuts, if fitted.

• Alternator faults. Your car’s battery charging system should last 100,000 miles or more without giving problems, but you just know that when it fails it’ll be at the least opportune moment. So get someone to wield their test gear as part of your pre-travel service; you might just be glad that you did.

• Starter motor. As with the alternator, a starter motor should easily last over 100,000 miles. Buy whatever your car’s mileage get it checked anyway, as bump starting can damage your car’s catalytic converter, while jump starting can spike (and damage) the electrics.

• Fuel problems. This could be putting in the wrong fuel or it might be issues with the fuel injection, fuel pump or even petrol or diesel leaks. Either way, get a mechanic to check everything over or you could find your car grinding to a halt.

• Clutch cables. Some cars have a hydraulic clutch rather than a cable-operated one. If your car has a cable and it’s at the limit of its adjustment it’s probably time to fit a new one – or more likely, a new clutch.

• Spark plugs. There’s no excuse for breaking down because your car’s spark plugs have given up the ghost – it indicates a lack of maintenance that’s guaranteed to come back to haunt you. An annual service is a good idea unless you cover very few miles – then a bi-annual service might be okay.

• HT (high-tension) leads. As with your car’s spark plugs, replacing the HT leads according to the manufacturer’s schedule should eliminate problems such as misfiring or poor starting. Remember, diesel engines don’t have spark plugs or HT leads; they’re fitted to petrol engines only.

If you’re towing

When a car is loaded up with kids and paraphernalia it’s under a lot of strain, but if you hitch a caravan or trailer to the back the cooling system and transmission (as well as the brakes) are under ever more pressure. It’s also worth having your caravan serviced – wheelbearings can fail but they’re cheaply and easily replaced with some planning. If they fail on the move it can lead to much bigger bills…

If you’re travelling abroad
It’s always a good idea to carry a warning triangle, fire extinguisher, hi-vis vests and possibly some spare bulbs too. If you’re driving in Europe some of these things are mandatory, along with items such as a spare pair of glasses, single-use breathalyser and a GB sticker on the back of your car.
To make sure you haven’t missed anything out it’s worth reading the AA’s European driving advice along with its general advice around driving abroad.
And don’t forget…
There are lots of other things you need to check before you set off, including:

• Engine oil level
• Engine drive belts
• Windscreen washer level
• Windscreen wiper blades
• Coolant level and hoses
• All lights

 
Do all of these things and you’ll minimise the chances of anything going wrong. But no matter how well prepared you are your car could still break down, which is why perhaps the most important thing you can do before setting off is to ensure your breakdown cover is valid, so you’re covered for any eventuality. Bon voyage!
 
Richard Dredge
June 2016