Get Your Car Ready for Summer

There are so many guides on how to prepare your car for winter or how to winterize your car, but very few on preparing your car for the summer. The summer brings heat, dust and a lot of stop-and-go traffic, which takes a toll on your car. There are also the effects that winter has on your car, so checking it before summer is important to prevent a breakdown. 

We have made a Summer To-Do Guide for your car and to make sure you’re ready for some sun and fun road trips. Some of these tips are easy to do on your own, others require a service technician. But they are all worth it, so read on to take good care of your car and get it ready for summer. 

 

Check Your Air Conditioning

Chances are, your air conditioning hasn’t been used much since last summer. It is important to check your air conditioning because if it is working halfway (meaning it’s not cooling properly), it may cause you issues in hot weather. You can check the system yourself to see if it is really working or have your favorite service shop check it out. 

 

Some newer car models have cabin air filters that clean the air entering the heating and air conditioning system, but they also need to be replaced. You should check your owners manual for these intervals. 

 

A Functioning Cooling System Is a Must

A common cause for cars breaking down during the summer is overheating. It might sound silly, but your coolant should be cool. To ensure this, your car’s cooling system should be completely emptied out and refilled every 12 to 24 months. The condition of the coolant, as well as its level and concentration should be checked regularly. 

It is important to check your coolant levels. If you are doing this on your own, remember to never remove the radiator cap until the engine is completely cooled off. Just beware if you have dogs; they love glycols sweet flavor, but it’s toxic if ingested. You should also get a professional to check the tightness and condition of the drive belts, clamps and hoses of your car, to ensure everything is working properly. 

 

Get Working on Your Tires

Tires are one of the most important safety concerns of your car. You should always check the condition of your tires, since they can be dangerous if not in proper working condition. Worn or under-inflated tires can be harmful to the handling and braking of your car and can lead to blow-outs when driving at high speeds. If you have winter tires, makes sure to swap them out for seasonal ones and inspect them beforehand. 

Even if you use all-season tires, check for bubbles on the sidewalls of the tire, which is usually a sign of a broken belts in the tire. Also make sure you check for uneven wear. If you see any of these, your best bet is to replace the tire and to have your alignment checked. You might even want to take a look and make sure your spare tire is properly inflated. You should check your tire pressure at least once a month and have your tires rotated every 5000 miles as well.

 

Safety First: Check Your Brakes

On the topic of safety, it is important to check that your brakes are working properly, since summer traffic is very common in this area. Winter also gives your brakes a real test and they are definitely overused during the cold months. Brakes usually suffer from extreme thermal cycling, which are massive temperature changed due to the high heat of break use mixed with freezing water or snow. 

If you notice pulsations, grabbing, noises, or longer stopping distance, make sure to get a brake inspection and have your wheels removed so it is easier to get a full, thorough inspection. Check your brake pads by removing them and checking for wear and cracking or just check them for crumbling or discoloration. If you see anything your not sure about, take a visit to your favorite service shop to double check or replace anything. 

 

Pamper Your Car: Get a Car Wash

Winter takes a toll on every part of your car, including your break lines and engine after getting blasted by salt, ice, water, sand and just filth in general. Not only does the outside of your car suffer, but your interior also becomes filled with dirt, salt and tracked-in grime. When entering the summer, do yourself a favor and pamper your car: clean it from top to bottom, inside and out. If you are washing it yourself, make sure to use high-quality cleaners and high-pressure water to get rid of trapped salt and sand. 

Clean all the junk you might have accumulated in your trunk and remove litter from under the seats. Make sure to vacuum and wash the carpets as well, which might be filled with funky dirt and clean the inside of the windows. If you are really into cleaning, take the time to properly wash the engine bay. But be careful not to spray high-pressure water into your engine compartment. It sounds unnecessary, but it’s so much easier to spot leaks and failing parts when everything is clean. 

 

Be Sure to Check Your Oil

Check your oil level and color for a better working car. You can do this by pulling out your car’s dipstick and checking the fill mark. If its amber and meets the fill mark, your level is fine. If its an amber color but low, top off the level. If it’s black, you need to change your oil immediately. 

Regular oil should last you 4000-5000 miles before changes with no problems, while synthetics can go for 6000-7000 miles between changes. These may change depending on your driving style, how much weight you put on your car (luggage or tow a trailer) and the climate, but this is generally the case. You should also change your oil filter every time you change your oil. 

 

Renew and Change Your Windshield Wipers

Wiper blades are designed to work better in a specific temperature range, so wipers designed for warm weather are different than those designed for winter. They are usually more flexible and efficient but less durable. Winter blades are more flexible at lower temperatures but get too soft at high temperatures, making them fail prematurely. They are also usually beat up after scraping over ice. Be sure to change your windshield wipers. They are most likely worn out by spring, so changing them is a good idea. Get a summer and winter pair just to be safe.  Greater visibility means more safety and less stress. 

 

Check Your Battery

Not only is this necessary for long summer road trips, but year round. Batteries can fail at any time of the year, so check your battery periodically. If the battery cap is removable, carefully check your fluid levels monthly and make sure there is no visible discharge or leakage around the top. Sealed batteries do not need this, but most traditional batteries do. 

Make sure to scrape away any corrosion from the posts and cable connections, as well as clean all its surfaces and retighten its connections. For the DIY’ers, make sure to avoid contact with corrosive deposits and battery acid. ALWAYS wear eye protection and rubber gloves when working on batteries and never do any checking while the engine is running. 

 

Fix The Little Things

To make sure your car looks good to go for summer, fix all the little things you may have accidentally done to your car during the winter or the year. You’ve may have hit a snow pile or a hidden curb or two too hard, a door trim might’ve broken off from freezing temperatures, the trunk light might be out and, of course, potholes always take their toll.  All this doesn’t really affect the performance of your car, but makes your life easier with less things to worry about. While giving your car the summer check-up, take care of these things so as to have a brand new working car without having to buy a brand new car. A completely functional car is much more satisfying to drive. 

 

So there you have it, our list of To-Do’s to get your car in tip-top shape for the summer. These ideas will not only make your life easier (and safer) but will make long, hot summer days so much better to deal with when you’re on a daytrip to the beach or full-blown roadtrip to a cool summer destination. So buckle up and go get your car ready for summer!

 

If you need any help getting through this list, our Nutley Goodyear Auto Technicians are certified and trained in all makes and models of vehicles, and can handle ALL of your service requests. If you have questions about any service related issues please call 973-667-0010 or visit our website at https://www.nutleykia.net/service.aspx

 

Sources

https://jalopnik.com/11-tips-to-get-your-car-ready-for-summer-5503109

 

https://www.ase.com/News-Events/Publications/Glove-Box-Tips/Getting-Your-Vehicle-Ready-For-Summer.aspx

Tags: car for summer, preparing your car for summer, summer roadtrip
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