In the heat of summer, we’re sure you remembered basic vehicle maintenance tips for helping your car deal with sunlight and increasing temperatures. The rising mercury level in your thermometer isn’t the only thing that makes summer so hard on your vehicle. Summer weather brings extreme temperatures and heavy thunderstorms, which can lead to unique hazards. Here’s a list of things you might have forgotten in preparing your vehicle for the summer conditions.
Tires
When the weather gets hotter, the air in your tires will expand, so the first thing you’ll want to do is make sure they are not over-inflated. You will also need to check your tires for cracks, low treads and other imperfections that could be dangerous in the long run. The heavy, sudden rains that can often happen in the summer can test your tires, and the worst time you want to discover your tires need to be replaced is during the middle of one of these storms. This is also a good time to get your tires rotated, since the heat of the asphalt can cause more wear and tear than usual.
Windshield Wipers
Remember those heavy summer rain storms? Your windshield wipers give you the necessary visibility to navigate the slick roads during one of those downpours. Get your wipers checked sooner rather than later to avoid danger in these conditions.
Protect Tour Paint Job
The heat of summer can beat down with a vengeance, and your car’s exterior takes the brunt of it. To protect it, give it a wash and a nice coat of wax to start out the summer, so that the paint doesn’t start to fade or crack in the heat. The paint protects your car’s exterior, so even if you don’t care about how your car looks, you should still try to preserve the outside of your vehicle. You can also opt to have a professionally installed paint protection application with a precision-cut film at your local Alta Mere store.
Test Tour Battery
Heat can cause your car’s fluids to evaporate. Your battery is especially at-risk, as any fluid that evaporates can begin to cause corrosion on the terminals and cable clamps. Additionally, any dirt that enters the battery by accident can act as a conductor and slowly drain power from your battery. Get it tested at the beginning of summer, and if it’s more than three years old, consider having it replaced to avoid getting stranded.
Just in Case
Regardless of the season, it is always wise to pack an emergency kit. Even with preventive measures, the worst can still happen, and you could experience a breakdown or car accident. To make sure you’re prepared for this, pack a kit that has the basic necessities, such as a jumper cable, a flashlight with extra batteries, road flares, and a first-aid kit. A sealed water bottle and some non-perishable food will ensure that you remain comfortable while you wait for help. You should also include items such as cooling towels, portable spritzing fans to help cool down in case your air conditioning stops working.
The fastest way to ruin a fun summer day is realizing damage to your car could have been prevented with the proper planning. To make sure your car is ready for the summer, visit your local Alta Mere and Milex Complete Auto Care to take care of the interior and exterior of your car’s insides and outsides.