Knowledge base · Seasonal
Holiday check — getting the car ready for a long drive
A car that drives fifteen kilometres a day around town does something completely different on holiday: hours at a stretch, fully loaded, in the heat and often with a roof box on top. That is exactly the load under which existing weaknesses announce themselves.
Tyres: the component that takes the most punishment
Full load plus high speed means heat. Check tread depth across the full width, look at the sidewalls for cracks or bulges and mind the age of the tyre — rubber ages even without mileage. Adjust the pressure to the load: almost every car has a separate value for that in the handbook or on the sticker in the fuel flap. Underinflated tyres at full load get hot, and that is exactly how damage starts.
Brakes
Descending with a fully loaded car is a different matter from braking for traffic lights. If the wheel vibrates under braking or there is persistent squealing, have it checked before departure: see vibration when braking and squealing brakes. Halfway down a mountain pass is not the moment to find out.
Cooling
Traffic jams in the heat with a full car are the toughest conditions a cooling system meets. We check the level and concentration of the coolant, the condition of the hoses and the operation of the fan. If coolant disappears with no puddle under the car, read coolant disappearing with no visible leak — not a complaint to travel with.
Battery and electrics
Heat is as punishing for a battery as cold. On top of that the air-con runs continuously, increasing the load. A battery test of a few minutes prevents you waiting for assistance in a service area on a German motorway.
Visibility and lighting
- Wiper blades and enough screen wash — insects on the windscreen are a real problem on holiday.
- All lights working, including the third brake light.
- Adjust headlight levelling with a fully loaded car; otherwise you dazzle oncoming traffic.
Luggage and roof box
- Heavy items low down and as far forward as possible, against the seat backs.
- Loose objects in the boot become projectiles in an emergency stop; secure them.
- A roof box noticeably changes handling and crosswind sensitivity — bear that in mind when overtaking and on bridges.
- Check your car's maximum load; overloading is not only unsafe but also finable.
Paperwork and on the road
Valid APK, insurance documents, breakdown number in your phone. Driving abroad? Then also look at mandatory equipment and low-emission zones — see driving in Germany, France and Belgium.
When to book
One to two weeks before departure. Then there is time to order parts and you don't have to choose at the last minute between driving anyway or postponing.
This falls under brakes and servicing in Tilburg.