Summer in Newfoundland is worth every kilometre, whether you're driving the Irish Loop, heading up the Northern Peninsula to L'Anse aux Meadows, or loading up the truck for a ferry crossing to the mainland. But an unexpected breakdown hours from the nearest service centre has a way of reframing the whole experience quickly. A thorough pre-trip inspection takes less than an afternoon and can prevent exactly that kind of situation. Here's your complete summer road trip checklist from the team at Terra Nova Buick GMC in St. John's, Newfoundland.

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1. Check All Your Fluids

A long highway drive in summer heat puts every fluid system in your vehicle under more strain than a typical city commute.

• Engine oil is the place to start. If you're within a few thousand kilometres of your next change interval, do it before you leave. Fresh oil provides better thermal protection on extended drives, and a quick change now is far simpler than an emergency stop on the highway.
• Coolant prevents your engine from overheating on long summer drives. Check the reservoir level and the condition of the fluid. Murky or discoloured coolant has broken down and needs a flush, not just a top-up.
• Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, which lowers its boiling point and can produce a spongy pedal feel on sustained downhill braking. If it's been more than two years since your last flush, do it before the trip.

Also, check your transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield washer fluid. The latter goes quickly on highway drives, so top up with a full-strength summer formula before you leave.

2. Inspect Your Tires

Tires are your only contact with the road, and they affect everything from handling and braking to fuel economy. Before any long drive, check each one for the following:

• Pressure: Check when cold, before driving, using the recommended PSI from the sticker inside your driver's door jamb. Underinflated tires generate excess heat at highway speeds and increase the risk of a blowout.
• Tread depth: Use the toonie test or a tread depth gauge. Anything below 3.2 mm (4/32") is getting into risky territory on wet roads, and Newfoundland summer weather means wet roads are never far away.
• Condition: Inspect the sidewalls for cracking, bulging, or any embedded objects. A sidewall bulge is a blowout waiting to happen and must be replaced before any long drive.

3. Test Your Battery

Summer heat accelerates internal battery corrosion and can finish off a battery that winter has already weakened. If your battery is three years old or more, or your vehicle has been slow to start recently, have it tested before your trip.

Look for clean, tight terminals free of white or greenish corrosion. A battery that fails at a remote rest stop is a significantly bigger problem than one that fails in a parking lot at home.

4. Inspect Your Brakes

Brakes are your most important safety system. A long trip that includes hills, mountain roads, or loaded towing, they'll be under more strain than usual.

Squealing, grinding, a pulsating pedal, or a vehicle that pulls to one side under braking are all signs that your brakes need attention before you leave, not after. Have pads, rotors, and fluid inspected together as part of your pre-trip service.

5. Check Belts, Hoses, and Filters

These are the components that cause the most dramatic roadside breakdowns when they fail — and the ones most commonly skipped on a pre-trip inspection.

• Serpentine belt: a snapped belt stops the water pump, alternator, and power steering simultaneously. Inspect for cracking, fraying, or glazing. If it looks questionable, replace it.
• Coolant hoses: squeeze the radiator and heater hoses. They should feel firm and pliable — not stiff and brittle or soft and spongy. Check where they attach to the engine, as that's where they most commonly fail first.
• Engine air filter: A clogged filter restricts airflow, reducing performance and fuel economy on highway drives. Hold it up to the light. If you can't see through it, replace it before you leave.

6. Check Your Lights

From early morning departures to late evening arrivals, your lighting system keeps you visible and legal on the road. Walk around your vehicle and check your headlights (low and high beam), brake lights, turn signals, hazard lights, and reverse lights. 

7. Test Your Air Conditioning

Driver fatigue sets in significantly faster in an overheated cabin. If your A/C is blowing warm air, producing weak airflow, or making unusual noises, have it looked at before your trip. A cabin filter replacement or refrigerant top-up is a quick service item that makes a real difference on a long summer drive.

Book Your Pre-Trip Service at Terra Nova Buick GMC

Heading out on the road this summer? Let our service team at Terra Nova Buick GMC in St. John's make sure your vehicle is ready before you go. A pre-trip inspection covers all the essentials, so you can focus on the road ahead rather than what might go wrong. Book your service appointment online or give us a call at 1-(800)-463-4130.