Pre-Trip Car Check Before Thanksgiving Travel

When to bring it in

Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026. If you're driving, aim for the week of November 16. That gives us time to order a part if something turns up and gives you a few days of normal driving afterward to make sure everything feels right. Traveling for Christmas instead? Same idea: a week or two ahead.

Can't get away during the day? Drop the keys in the after-hours key drop and we'll call you in the morning. Every job starts with a free written estimate, and you decide what gets done.

What we look at before a long drive

Tell us you're about to take a trip, where you're headed, and anything the car has been doing. These are the things that most often turn a holiday drive into a tow:

• Brakes. Pad and rotor wear, brake fluid, and any squeal, grind or pull. A loaded car on the interstate needs good brakes. More on brake repair in Hammond.
• Tires. Tread depth, uneven wear, sidewall cracks or bulges, and air pressure, including the spare if you have one. Uneven wear can point to worn suspension parts or an alignment problem. See tires in Hammond.
• Battery and charging. Our summers are hard on batteries, and a weak one often shows up on the first cold morning somewhere north of here. See battery testing and replacement.
• Cooling system. Hoses, belts, coolant level and leaks. Overheating in stop-and-go holiday traffic is one of the most common breakdowns, and it's usually a hose, belt or leak that was already on its way out.
• Oil and fluids. Oil level and condition, plus transmission, brake, power steering and washer fluid. If you're close to an oil change, do it before the trip.
• Warning lights. If the check engine, ABS or battery light is on, we scan it and tell you whether it's safe for a long drive. See check engine light diagnostics.
• A/C, heat and defrost. On most cars the defroster uses the A/C to dry the air, so a weak A/C can mean foggy windows on a rainy drive.
• Steering and suspension. Clunks, a wandering feel or a car that pulls at highway speed. See suspension and steering repair.

What you can check yourself

• Check tire pressure with the tires cold. The right number is on the sticker inside the driver's door, not on the tire.
• Do the penny test: put a penny in the tread with Lincoln's head down. If you can see all of his head, the tread is getting thin.
• Pull the dipstick with the engine off and the car on level ground. The oil should be between the marks.
• Look at the coolant overflow tank with the engine cold. Never open the radiator cap on a hot engine.
• Top off the washer fluid and run the wipers. If they streak or chatter, replace the blades.
• Walk around the car with someone pressing the brake and working the turn signals and headlights.
• Start the car and make sure no warning lights stay on after the dash check.
• Check for open recalls with your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Signs to deal with before you leave

• A flashing check engine light.
• Grinding brakes, or a pedal that feels soft or sinks.
• A tire that keeps losing air, or a bulge in the sidewall.
• The temperature gauge climbing in traffic, or a sweet smell after driving.
• Slow cranking in the morning.
• A puddle under the car that wasn't there before.
• A new noise, shake or pull that started recently.

Any of these can get worse over a few hundred miles. It's a lot easier to sort out on W Church St than on the shoulder of I-55.

Long stretches out of Hammond

Most Thanksgiving trips out of Hammond mean long interstate runs: I-12 West toward Baton Rouge and on to I-10 for Lafayette and Houston, I-12 East toward Slidell and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, I-55 North toward McComb and Jackson, or I-55 South toward LaPlace and New Orleans. South of Ponchatoula, I-55 runs on a bridge over the Manchac swamp for more than 20 miles with almost no exits, and the I-10 bridge across the Atchafalaya Basin west of Baton Rouge is about 18 miles. Add holiday traffic and you're spending more time idling in the heat or cold. A car that's fine on a 10-minute run across town can show its problems on a 5-hour drive.

Covered after you go

Qualifying repairs carry our 12-month / 12,000-mile parts and labor warranty, and financing is available for qualifying repairs. See warranty and financing.

We're at 2810 W Church St on the west side of Hammond, less than a mile from I-55 Exit 31. Directions from nearby towns · Oil Changes & Car Maintenance · Car A/C Repair · Lots of I-12 and I-55 Miles? What to Keep an Eye On · All services · Auto repair in Hammond

Questions we get

How far ahead should I bring the car in before Thanksgiving?

About a week before you leave. Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026, so the week of November 16 is a good time. That leaves room to order a part if we find something, without cutting it close the day before you drive.

Can I take a road trip with the check engine light on?

If the light is flashing, don't start a long drive. A flashing light usually means the engine is misfiring, which can damage the catalytic converter. If it's on steady, the car may be fine around town, but get it scanned before a long highway trip so you know what you're dealing with.

Do you charge to look the car over?

Estimates are free. Tell us you're about to take a trip and what, if anything, the car is doing. We look it over, give you a written estimate, and nothing gets done until you say so.

Can I drop the car off before work?

Yes. Use the after-hours key drop the night before or early in the morning, and we'll call you to go over it.

Are you open Thanksgiving week?

Our regular hours are Monday–Thursday 7:30 AM–5:00 PM and Friday 7:30 AM–4:00 PM. Call 985-304-8016 to check holiday hours before you plan your drop-off.