It doesn’t matter where you’re going, if you’re taking the car on a road trip this summer, you don’t want to breakdown along the way. You drive the car day in and day out, why would the car breakdown just because you’re going farther?

First of all, driving farther means that the car will have more time to heat up and for parts to vibrate loose. It’s not inevitable, unless you’re a firm believer in Murphy’s Law, but it is possible. But, why worry about it before you take a trip?

The answer is simple – it’s a question of what you’ll do when it breaks down.

If you’re close to home, you may have to call a tow truck to pick up your car. If you can’t find someone you know to pick you up, there’s a good chance that the tow-truck driver can drop you off at your house or office. If not, you can always call a cab to pick you up. But, if your car breaks down in Wyoming, now that’s a cab ride to McHenry you never want to pay.

If your car does breakdown in Wyoming, or even in Indiana, what happens to your trip? Hopefully, there’s a car rental company nearby. Hopefully, you won’t have to call someone in McHenry to come get you. And who will work on your car?

There are reputable auto repair shops all across the county. Unfortunately, there are also disreputable auto repair shops across the country, too. Which will you find when your car breaks down on the side of the road far from home?

So, the case is well made that you need to prepare your car to lessen the possibility that your car will have trouble while you’re taking your summer trip. What should you check? Here’s a list to consider before you hit the road:

• Check the tires and suspension
• Check the brakes
• Check how the engine is running and have the oil changed
• Check the cooling system, coolant, radiator, hoses and belts
• Check the air conditioning
• Check the lights and signals
• Have a good trip

If you take a few precautions before you go, you’ll come back to McHenry with a wonderful story of your trip and that story probably won’t include how your car broke down on the road and how you dealt with the emergency.