{"id":116,"date":"2026-03-09T13:48:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T13:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tt-blogs.dealerfire.com\/folsomautomall\/?p=116"},"modified":"2026-03-24T13:50:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T13:50:27","slug":"preparing-your-vehicle-for-a-summer-road-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.folsomautomall.com\/blog\/preparing-your-vehicle-for-a-summer-road-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing your vehicle for a summer road trip!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Folsom Auto Mall - Prepping Your Vehicle For a Summer Roadtrip\" width=\"474\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ej6ryN_sB80?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Summer is almost here and it\u2019s time to start planning your summer vacation! If you\u2019re considering a road trip, you should seriously consider prepping your vehicle before you head out. The Folsom Auto Mall put together some tips and tricks to help prep your vehicle before the summer arrives.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p>First, check your tires. Verify your treads are at a safe depth and that your tire pressure is correct. New tires usually have 10\/32\u201d or 11\/32\u201d tread depth, but if yours are worn down to 2\/32\u201d &#8211; it\u2019s time for new tires. For years, people have been using the \u201cpenny test\u201d to check their tire treads. Basically, if you place a penny, with Lincoln\u2019s head upside down, in the ridge of your tire &#8211; if you can see his entire head, it\u2019s time to replace your tires. You should also check for consistent wear. If the tread is too low *anywhere* on your tire, bring it in! Checking your tire pressure is easy too. First, you need to figure out what the correct pressure is for your tire and vehicle; that\u2019s usually listed on a sticker inside your vehicle\u2019s door. That\u2019s the tire pressure you should use. If you can\u2019t find the sticker, the sidewall of the tire lists the maximum pressure for that brand. Once you know the correct pressure, you simply remove the cap from the tire and press the tire gauge against the open valve stem for a second or two. Check the number and see if it\u2019s low. You can usually add air at a gas station; otherwise, bring it in for service at the Folsom Auto Mall and we\u2019ll help you out.<br><br>Next, you should check all your fluids and top them off, if necessary. Most important is oil. But you should also check on your brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid and even windshield washing fluid. If you don\u2019t know how to check those, where to get the replacement fluid or how to add it &#8211; please bring your vehicle in for service and let us assist! The Folsom Auto Mall service departments all make it fast and easy.<br><br>Something simple to check are your lights and turn signals. You might need an assistant for this one. Turn on your vehicle and turn on the lights; have your assistant check to ensure both headlights and both taillights are working. Step on your brake so they can check that your brake lights turn on as well. Then test your turn signals. If all are working, you\u2019re in great shape. If they\u2019re not, you might need a replacement bulb.<br><br>Take a test drive to make sure your brakes and air conditioning are working correctly and not making any strange noises. If they\u2019re not working right &#8211; or if you hear a strange sound, it\u2019s probably time for service.<br><br>Finally, take a quick look under the hood. Check the hoses for any bulges, cracks or blisters. Check for visible damage to any other parts. And (when your engine is completely cool) check to make sure all the connections are secure. If you discover worn or broken parts, please have it towed to a mechanic before your trip.<br><br>The last tip we\u2019re offering before you hit the road is to create a travel emergency kit. Include things like first aid supplies, a flashlight, jumper cables, basic repair tools, bottled water and non-perishable snacks.<br><br>Those are your tips to prepare your vehicle for a summer road trip. And remember, you can always bring your vehicle to any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.folsomautomall.com\/locations\/index.htm\">Folsom Auto Mall dealership<\/a> location for a FREE inspection or test your battery before you head out! Stay safe and have a great summer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summer is almost here and it\u2019s time to start planning your summer vacation! If you\u2019re considering a road trip, you should seriously consider prepping your vehicle before you head out. The Folsom Auto Mall put together some tips and tricks to help prep your vehicle before the summer arrives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5,3,13,4,2],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v16.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/tt-blogs.dealerfire.com\/folsomautomall\/preparing-your-vehicle-for-a-summer-road-trip\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Preparing your vehicle for a summer road trip! - Folsom Auto Mall\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Summer is almost here and it\u2019s time to start planning your summer vacation! If you\u2019re considering a road trip, you should seriously consider prepping your vehicle before you head out. The Folsom Auto Mall put together some tips and tricks to help prep your vehicle before the summer arrives.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/tt-blogs.dealerfire.com\/folsomautomall\/preparing-your-vehicle-for-a-summer-road-trip\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Folsom Auto Mall\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-03-09T13:48:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-24T13:50:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tt-blogs.dealerfire.com\/folsomautomall\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/tt-blogs.dealerfire.com\/folsomautomall\/\",\"name\":\"Folsom Auto Mall\",\"description\":\"Official Blog\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":\"https:\/\/tt-blogs.dealerfire.com\/folsomautomall\/?s={search_term_string}\",\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tt-blogs.dealerfire.com\/folsomautomall\/preparing-your-vehicle-for-a-summer-road-trip\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/tt-blogs.dealerfire.com\/folsomautomall\/preparing-your-vehicle-for-a-summer-road-trip\/\",\"name\":\"Preparing your vehicle for a summer road trip! - Folsom Auto Mall\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tt-blogs.dealerfire.com\/folsomautomall\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-09T13:48:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-24T13:50:27+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tt-blogs.dealerfire.com\/folsomautomall\/#\/schema\/person\/4a015fb239678798a9f156ccdcb6d9c0\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tt-blogs.dealerfire.com\/folsomautomall\/preparing-your-vehicle-for-a-summer-road-trip\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/tt-blogs.dealerfire.com\/folsomautomall\/preparing-your-vehicle-for-a-summer-road-trip\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tt-blogs.dealerfire.com\/folsomautomall\/preparing-your-vehicle-for-a-summer-road-trip\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"item\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tt-blogs.dealerfire.com\/folsomautomall\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/tt-blogs.dealerfire.com\/folsomautomall\/\",\"name\":\"Home\"}},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"item\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tt-blogs.dealerfire.com\/folsomautomall\/preparing-your-vehicle-for-a-summer-road-trip\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/tt-blogs.dealerfire.com\/folsomautomall\/preparing-your-vehicle-for-a-summer-road-trip\/\",\"name\":\"Preparing your vehicle for a summer road trip!\"}}]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tt-blogs.dealerfire.com\/folsomautomall\/#\/schema\/person\/4a015fb239678798a9f156ccdcb6d9c0\",\"name\":\"Admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tt-blogs.dealerfire.com\/folsomautomall\/#personlogo\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/115586f809dce898c2e47e3cedf57ea2?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/115586f809dce898c2e47e3cedf57ea2?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Admin\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.folsomautomall.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.folsomautomall.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.folsomautomall.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.folsomautomall.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.folsomautomall.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=116"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.folsomautomall.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":117,"href":"https:\/\/www.folsomautomall.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116\/revisions\/117"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.folsomautomall.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=116"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.folsomautomall.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=116"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.folsomautomall.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=116"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}