Pep Boys Offers Easy Preventive Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Car in Top Shape for Thanksgiving Travel

The Pep Boys – Manny, Moe & Jack (NYSE:PBY), the nation’s leading automotive aftermarket retail and service chain, offers drivers simple tips to get their vehicles ready for holiday road trips and travel.

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), with today’s national average price of gas being $2.09, approximately 41 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving holiday weekend

"As many people will be traveling by car this holiday, Pep Boys recommends that motorists prep their vehicles before heading out on the road,” said Assistant Vice President of Service Operations Greg Russ. "Whether you are heading to a family get together many miles away or down the road to the Black Friday sales, it’s important to take a few simple measures – like checking your tire pressure and oil – before leaving to prevent breakdowns and other car trouble.”

Don’t hit the road without ensuring that your car is as ready for the holiday as you are. Here are five easy preventive maintenance steps to take before traveling this Thanksgiving:

1. Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Underinflation can lead to tire failure. It results in unnecessary tire stress, irregular wear and possible loss of vehicle control or accidents. A tire can lose up to half of its air pressure and still not appear to be flat. The best way to check tire pressure is with a properly working analog or digital tire gauge, available at Pep Boys. Check your vehicle’s door placard or owner’s manual for the correct pressure. One of the most immediately noticeable benefits of having your tires properly inflated is increased fuel efficiency. Most savvy Black Friday shoppers will appreciate the savings.
2. Make sure your spare tire is inflated and you have a jack. With a busy holiday weekend on the agenda, no one has time for a breakdown. But, just in case, be prepared with an inflated spare and a tire jack. Too often, drivers do not think about having these useful tools until it is time to use them. Do not wait until it is too late.
3. Check your lights and wipers: Across the nation, daylight hours are shorter during winter, making it more important that headlights, turn signals and brake lights are in proper working condition. Check all of your bulbs for any visible damage or broken filaments. Also make sure that your wipers performing as they should and are not making streaks on your windshield; you’ll are prepared for any less-than-perfect weather you may encounter.
4. Have your car battery tested. If your battery is more than two years old, you may want have it tested. Pep Boys offers free battery testing. The terminals and the charging and starting systems should also be inspected, cleaned and deemed corrosion-free. Rear window defoggers, lights and plug-in travel accessories and electronics put a drain on your charging and starting systems, particularly during winter, so it’s important to ensure your battery is up to performing as you get set to hit the road.
5. Check and top off all fluids. Do not wait until you get low on or run out of windshield fluid, engine oil, coolant or transmission fluid before you fill them to the manufacturer’s recommended levels. Fluids are critical to a vehicle’s operation and performance, especially when you may have to travel long distances for the holidays.

Also, store an emergency kit in your car. As you may be traveling after the sun goes down or before the sun comes up this holiday weekend, be prepared for any unexpected emergencies with flares, reflectors, jumper cables, flashlights, blankets, water and high-energy snacks.

Many of the products and services mentioned above are available at your local Pep Boys, and may be discounted during our 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. Black Friday doorbuster sale.

About Pep Boys

Pep Boys has over 560 retail stores and approximately 6,000 service bays in 35 states and Puerto Rico. Along with its full-service vehicle maintenance and repair capabilities, the Company also serves the commercial auto parts delivery market and is one of the leading sellers of replacement tires in the United States. Customers can find the nearest location by calling 1-800 -PEP-BOYS or by visiting www.pepboys.com.