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. If you're traveling for Christmas instead, the same idea applies: 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 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 Metairie.
• 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. See cooling system repair.
• 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. See oil changes.
• 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. See car A/C repair.
• 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

• 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.
• Walk around the car with someone pressing the brake and working the turn signals and headlights.
• Run the wipers. If they streak or chatter, replace the blades.
• 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.
• 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 Utica Street than on the shoulder of the interstate.

Long stretches out of Metairie

A lot of Thanksgiving trips from here mean long highway runs: I-10 West toward Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Houston, I-10 East to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, I-55 North toward Jackson, or the Causeway to the Northshore. The I-10 bridge across the Atchafalaya Basin runs about 18 miles with very few exits, and holiday traffic everywhere means more time idling in the heat or cold. A car that's fine on a 10-minute run to Lakeside can show its problems on a 5-hour drive.

Covered after you go

Qualifying repairs carry our 12-month / 12,000-mile warranty, and financing is available for qualifying repairs. See warranty and financing. Our technicians are ASE-certified.

We're at 4725 Utica St, off Clearview Pkwy near Veterans and I-10. Directions from around Metairie · All services · Auto repair in Metairie

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 to drive 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, tell you what we found and what it costs, 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 (504) 780-9804 to check holiday hours before you plan your drop-off.