12/03/2026
Book your car for a health check at ACD Middelburg before you hit the road this Easter or School Holiday๐งโ๏ธ We are there for you on the road and beyond, ensuring that your vehicle runs safely and efficiently๐
Book now:
๐013-110 5550
If youโre travelling in the school holidays, hereโs the best favour you can do for yourself now. Get ahead of the boring stuff.
A lot of holiday drama starts with something small that was giving quiet warnings for weeks. A tyre thatโs been losing pressure. A battery thatโs tired. Brakes that donโt feel quite right. Then you add traffic, heat, a full load, and long distances and it turns into a breakdown at the worst possible time.
So letโs keep it simple. This is your pre trip check list. Some of it you can do at home in ten minutes. The rest is where a proper inspection really earns its keep.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ด๐ผ:
โ
๐ง๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ
๐๐ ๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ: Check pressure when tyres are cold (before youโve driven far). Look for uneven wear, cracks, or bumps. Check the spare is inflated. Make sure you have the jack, wheel spanner, and locking wheel nut key.
๐ก๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น: The steering feels shaky, the car pulls to one side, tyres are wearing unevenly, or youโve had a pothole hit. Thatโs alignment, balancing, and a suspension check territory.
โ
๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐
๐๐ ๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ: Listen and feel. Any squealing, grinding, vibration, soft pedal, or pulling is a warning.
๐ก๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น: Brakes are not a DIY guess. If youโve noticed any of the signs above, get them checked before you leave.
โ
๐๐น๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ธ๐
๐๐ ๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ: Look for fresh puddles where you park. Check engine oil on level ground. Check coolant only when the engine is cold and never open the coolant cap when itโs hot. Top up washer fluid.
๐ก๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น: If youโre topping up often, if you see oily patches, notice a coolant smell, or the temperature gauge has been creeping higher than usual.
โ
๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐
๐๐ ๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ: Notice slow cranking, dim lights, or random electrical glitches.
๐ก๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น: A proper battery and charging test. Itโs quick, and itโs far better than being stranded at the first stop.
โ
๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐
๐๐ ๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ: Do a full walk around. Headlights, brake lights, indicators, hazards, reverse lights. Ask someone to help or use your phone camera.
๐ก๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น: If lights are dim, flickering, or you have warning lights on the dash. Thatโs usually an electrical issue worth diagnosing properly.
โ
๐ช๐ถ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐
๐๐ ๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ: If wipers smear or skip, give them a quick clean first. If they still smear, replace them. Clean your windscreen properly inside and out, and top up washer fluid.
๐ก๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น: If your demister isnโt working properly or your aircon is struggling to clear the windscreen. Thatโs a safety issue, not just comfort.
โ
๐๐ฒ๐น๐๐, ๐ต๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐, ๐๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐
At home: Pay attention. New squeaks, burning smells, a sweet coolant smell, or anything that sounds โnot like your carโ is worth acting on.
Needs a professional: Anything you canโt confidently explain. A short check now beats a long wait later.
๐ฏ ๐ข๐ป๐ฒ ๐ต๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฝ
IF youโre unsure about any safety critical item, donโt guess. Guessing can be expensive. A pre-trip inspection gives you clarity and helps you prioritise โ choose an Retail Motor Industry Organisation - RMI-approved, MIWA-accredited workshop.
