Summer Maintenance: You're Ready for Hot Weather...But is Your Car?
By Teresa Ambord
When big seasonal changes are approaching, smart drivers get their cars ready. Mechanics will tell you, if your car has an unseen weakness, a drastic weather change, in summer or winter, may turn the weakness into a failure.
As the weather heats up, prepare your car, inside and out:
Exterior Preparation
Start with a wash in a cool, shady place. Use a car-washing product, not dish soap. Household detergents may damage your paint, because of their acidic or alkaline nature. If you live in a beach area, there may be a build-up of salt on the underside of your hood that can damage parts of your engine.
After the wash, get the paint ready for the hot sunrays by applying a good wax with UV protectant. If there is no applicator, use a damp terry cloth to apply. And remove with a soft, dry towel, shaking it frequently. Keep in mind, speed is the key, not pressure. If you apply too much pressure, you could cause scratches. To remove wax around lettering, use a soft toothbrush.
After the wash, here are the main areas to focus on:
- Windshield and wipers: Check windshield washer fluid level and ensure that your wiper blades are intact after a long rainy winter. If you’re about to take a long drive, remember that a bug-spattered windshield causes eye-fatigue.
- Lights: Do all of your lights work? Clean the lenses once in a while, but don’t clean them with a dry rag or you may scratch them.
- Brakes: If you haven’t had your brakes checked in 12 months or 15,000 miles, it’s time. If the car pulls to one side or the brakes feel spongy or just different than usual, or if you feel pulsations, hear grabbing noises, or notice that it takes longer to stop, don’t hit the road till you’ve had them looked at. Also check your hydraulic system for leaks, and your brake fluid level to see if it has changed.
- Tires: Take a good look at your tires, checking for uneven or excessive wear, and for bulges, tread separation, and breaks in the sidewalls. Driving on hot roads can be very demanding on your tires, so make sure they are up to the task. After a winter of potholes, you may need to have your wheels aligned. A good indication of alignment or suspension problems is when your car pulls to one side while driving or braking. Keep an eye on your tire pressure so you get better mileage and wear. Don’t rely on the maximum tire pressure listed on the sidewall. Instead check the recommended pressure in the manual or on the driver’s doorpost. Rotate your tires after 5,000 for even wear. And while you are checking, make sure your spare is usable, and ensure that you have tire-changing equipment.
Washing and waxing makes your car look fabulous. But don’t go far until you’ve done a thorough check under the hood. Anything that is weak in moderate weather may very well fail when weather gets drastic.
Under The Hood
Here are the main areas to focus on:
- Belts: Your belts operate various engine components, like the alternator, air conditioning, water pump, and power steering pump. Before a belt breaks on the road and one of these components quits working, check them for cracks, glazing, frayed edges, uneven wear, and dry rot. If your car has a timing belt, check your manual for replacement time. If you wait till it breaks, the process of breaking can cause tremendous damage to your engine.
- Battery: Make sure the connections between battery cables and terminals are tight and corrosion-free. If your battery caps are removable, check the fluid level monthly. Be sure to wear protective gloves and eyeglasses while checking your battery.
- Air Conditioning: Check your vents for good flow before a long trip. If it is barely working, hot weather may do it in. Your air conditioning system needs to be checked periodically and maintained for proper functioning. Nobody needs to remind you how miserable hot weather trips can be without air conditioning.
- Cooling System: Check for leaks and keep the proper level of antifreeze. Have drive belts inspected and adjusted, and watch for cold steam air from your air-conditioning vents. This could indicate low refrigerant levels. Flush your cooling system every 24,000 miles (or the recommended mileage in your owner’s manual). If you add coolant, be sure to check the ground below your car for drips. Dogs and cats like to lap up the sweet-tasting fluid, but it can be deadly.
- Transmission: Before a long trip, especially if you are going to tow something, have a technician look at your transmission. Uneven shifting or slippage needs attention. Check your manual for the recommended time to have your transmission fluid changed. Changing it gets rid of the contaminants and sludge deposits that have built up and cleans out the metal shavings that wear away your engine. It also adds fresh fluid and conditioners that keep seals and o-rings in good condition.
- Oil: Of course you keep your oil changed, every 3 months or 3,000 miles (newer cars may have longer intervals, check your manual).
