8 DIY safety checks to do before a road trip

• Follow these simple safety checks before heading off on a road trip
• Have your car checked by a mechanic if it’s due for a service or for extra peace of mind
• It’s a good time to make sure you have roadside assist and car insurance in place.

It’s that time of year when many Aussies load up the car for a well-deserved holiday. But is your car up to the task? Here are eight essential DIY car safety checks from carsales.com.au's technical editor, Ken Gratton.

While these checks are useful, it's always a good idea to have your car checked by a mechanic before heading off on a long drive. This is even more important if your car is due for a service or if it’s not often used for long journeys.

1. Dashboard warning lights

As soon as you see a warning light in the dash for one of the safety systems, get it checked straight away. In fact, any warning light in the dash calls for immediate checking by a professional.

When you turn on the ignition, check that all the warning lights flash on momentarily. If a warning light doesn't flash on at all, it can be a sign there’s an issue with the electrical systems, and you may not get a warning that part of your car needs attention.

2. Battery life

Watch out for slow cranking when you start the car. This may indicate the battery is on its last legs. You can usually expect three years of life out of a battery – and some will go much longer than that – but always be wary once it reaches that three-year threshold.

3. Engine's cooling system

Only when the engine is cold, check the coolant level in the reservoir isn't below the minimum mark and the colour is either clear green or orange.

If the coolant level is low, or looks dirty, your engine is in danger of overheating. If that’s the case, it's a good idea to have the whole cooling system flushed and replenished with new, rust-inhibiting coolant.

4. Tyres and wheel alignment

Do a visual inspection for tread wear - especially uneven wear (on one side of the tyre or in the middle). This usually shows a front-end alignment problem, under or over inflation, or something more serious like a wheel bearing on the way out.

Severely under inflated tyres can be easily spotted just by the fattened sidewall at the base, where the tyre meets the road. But it's a good idea to check the pressures with a gauge as well, since even moderate under inflation can affect road grip. You can check each tyre’s pressure with a gauge, freely available at most service stations.

5. Signs of worn brakes

Sure signs your brakes are in need of some TLC include shuddering through the pedal and squealing (metal-on-metal) noises when the friction material of the pads have ground down to the metal.

You should also check the braking system's hydraulic fluid reservoir and flush at regular intervals as water can build up. If that’s the case, the brake pedal will feel spongy or will travel too far.

6. Steering and suspension

If you're hauling the driving wheel in one direction to keep the car tracking in a straight line, or the steering wheel vibrates more than usual, your steering geometry may need alignment. It could also mean incorrect inflation or balance in one or more tyres. Note any knocking or unusual play in the wheel – this can be a sign of worn steering bushes or wheel bearings.

Another way to check is to place both hands on the car's bodywork above a wheel and about half a metre apart. Taking care to not slip and hurt yourself, lean your body weight onto the car, pause and then push away.

If the car body bounces back quickly on the spring, instead of rising smoothly to its original position, it indicates the damper is worn and may need replacing. Worn dampers are a safety concern as they can lead to reduced road holding under brakes or while cornering.

7. Transmission, clutch and CV joints

Listen for knocking noises that could indicate worn joints in the drive shafts to the wheels, or a badly worn differential. Note automatic transmissions that are reluctant to shift from neutral into gear.

A manual transmission is quite robust, but if the engine revs increase and the car's speed doesn't change at the same rate, that's a sign of a slipping clutch, which will eventually wear out altogether.

8. Interior comfort

Having to set the temperature lower and lower is a sign that the car's air conditioning system may be running out of the refrigerant gas that chills the air when compressed. It won't leave you stranded, but it will make for an uncomfortable trip to the Red Centre or the Top End, especially in summer.

Remember, if you're left stranded, it could be inconvenient, expensive and even dangerous. So before you head off, it’s a good idea to make sure you have roadside assistance and car insurance in place.