Service Tips and Tricks for the Summer
Check the headlamps and light bulbs. Properly working light bulbs and LEDs can increase your visibility during foggy, hazy weather and rain - a common occurrence during summer thunderstorms and hurricane season. Make sure all of your car’s headlights and exterior lamps as well as interior lights are working properly at full brightness. Give their outer acrylic casings a good cleaning, too, removing any muck, grit, and salt that may be leftover from the late spring weather.
Change your cabin filter and test your AC. Spring and Summer are notoriously bad for allergy sufferers, and the cabin air filter is a great way to clean the air and reduce pollen and allergens in your car’s interior. Don’t wait until the sweltering heat is already in full-force. Make sure the fans and cooling unit are working, and get it tuned-up before you embark on your vacation travel!
Check those tires and inflate to pressure. Be sure that your tires have been inspected for cracks, tears, leaks, worn treads, and proper inflation. Replace any worn or damaged tires or have leaks patched. Refer to your vehicle manufacturer’s manual for proper inflation rate, as well as the listing on the physical tire itself to ensure they're at the right pressure. Make sure that you get a tire rotation to ensure even wear and tear as you’re out and about for your summer plans. Bonus tip: if you're going on any lengthy trips, it is always helpful to invest in a USB/Cigarette Lighter powered tire inflation motor in case of emergencies.
Monitor your vehicle’s belts and hoses. Winter and spring have come and gone, but those temperature changes from freeze-to-thawing can cause the rubber and plastics to crack or split, thus weakening their ability to move properly. Before you drive off to your dream destination, have a mechanic give the belts, hoses, and connections a once over. This can save a lot of money and aggravation by ensuring they’re in perfect working order or get replaced before they cause your vehicle to stall or your engine seizes.
Don’t ignore those dashboard warning lights. Bring your car in for a general tune-up and check-up and get a reading on all those blinking lights you keep trying to ignore. Get things taken care of now, so you can enjoy all of your post-lockdown road trips with confidence. Don’t wait until your car breaks down or strands you on your summer road trip!
Detail and condition the interior fabric and leather. With all of the summer beach trips and camping road trips, it’s a good bet that your car’s interior fabrics need a little TLC! Make sure you get a good shampoo and vacuum all the nooks and crannies to clear out the grit, grime, and gravel. If you opted for leather or leather-blend interior, it’s important to condition the fabric so it doesn’t crack or peel during hot weather. Installing all-weather silicone or rubber floor mats and a set of backseat and trunk fabric liners can help reduce mess and damage so you can adventure on without a care in the world.
