How to Keep Your Car in Good Shape This Summer
As summer begins and trips to Lake Lanier or your go-to hiking trail become a weekend tradition, it’s time to make sure your car is in good shape. You don’t want your trip to end on the side of the road, and this car care list can help you prioritize what you need to check.
An important note: You’ll want to schedule repair or maintenance appointments before the week you leave on your trip, so it’s finished before you leave.
Check Your Car’s Fluid Levels
As the weather changes, your car’s fluid levels can, too. Before you head out on your next trip be sure to check transmission fluid, coolant, windshield wiper fluid, and power steering fluid. You can check these levels yourself, and auto repair shops should be able to refill the harder-to-access fluids.
These levels could lead to poor vehicle performance. The worst case scenario is overheating, which is one of the leading causes of summer breakdowns.
Check Your Car’s Tire Pressure
Just like your vehicle’s fluid levels, tire pressure can also vary with seasonal changes. This is one of the most important things you can do to keep your car running well! When your tires are properly inflated, you’ll experience better gas mileage and less tire wear.
Checking your tire pressure is a quick process, and only requires a tire pressure gauge. Your car will have the optimum PSI in the owner’s manual, as well as on the door frame. Many gas stations have an air pump available, making it an easy problem to resolve.
Schedule an AC Tune Up
Summers in Marietta can certainly get hot, so it’s time to make sure your AC is ready to go. If your AC isn’t blowing cold air or it’s taking a while to cool down, bring your car into an auto repair shop for a tune up.
Two of the most common reasons your AC isn’t blowing cold air is low refrigerant or low Freon. Along with the AC compressor, these are the critical parts of your car’s AC unit. While it’s possible to recharge the refrigerant yourself, many repair shops will be able to check the entire AC system and make repairs accordingly.
Test Your Car’s Battery
Your car’s battery can take a beating in hot weather, which means it’s important to check the level periodically throughout the summer. You don’t want to take a trip to the lake then be stuck without a way to get home!
Auto parts stores are often able to quickly check your battery level for free, which means you can get it done and be on your way. And even if your battery is at the proper level, always make sure you have jumper cables available just in case.
We want you to have a safe and enjoyable summer with all that Georgia has to offer, but first you need to make sure your car is in good shape. Ensuring your fluid levels are within range, your AC is working well, tires are filled, and your battery is charged can be the difference between enjoying a weekend away and breaking down as you’re leaving town.
At Auto Innovations, we service all vehicle types and provide complete auto collision repair services in Marietta. Contact us today for more information.