What do you need to do to get your car ready for summer? Here’s my top 10…
1. Read your owner’s manual. It’s that small little booklet in your glovebox that probably still has the plastic shrinkwrap on it. The owner’s manual has tons of great information in it. Most importantly, service schedules. Find out where your car is at in regards to servicing and perform the necessary maintenance as needed.
2. Check and readjust (if needed) your tire pressure. Always check tires when they are cold. The correct tire pressure is on the tire placard, usually on the driver’s side door or door jamb. Do not rely solely on your tire pressure monitoring system (if equipped, cars manufactured after September 1st 2007 are required to have this system). While you are fiddling around with the tire pressure gauge and valve stem, take a gander at the tread. You don’t want to be hydroplaning the next time it rains. Check your spare tire too! Put a quality tire gauge
3. Inspect your belts and hoses. One of the most common roadside failures is a broken belt or a bursting hose. You don’t want to spring a leak, do you?
4. Complete a light inspection. Replace any burned out bulbs. How often do you see an oncoming car with only one headlight? You don’t want that to be you! Check the bulbs all the way around and inside your car.
5. Assemble a roadside safety kit or purchase one online. Here’s a good one – AAA 73 Piece Adventurer Road Assistance Kit
6. Clean your battery and have it load tested. Many auto parts stores and service centers will complete a load test on your car battery for free. Here is a link to a video on how to clean your battery yourself.
7. Replace your wiper blades…it’s time if they are cracked or skipping across your windshield and adding a new rhythm to your sound system.
8. Wax your vehicle. (Yeah, that includes washing the road salt off first!) Waxing protects the finish from the summer sunlight. Your car needs sun block too! If you don’t have supplies, this is a good place to start – Meguiar’s Complete Car Care Kit
9. Go to the clinic! Many auto repair centers and educational facilities host “Car Care Clinics”. See if there is one in your area!
10. Find a reputable technician if you don’t know how to open the hood and don’t have a desire to learn. Look for shops that display its employees’ Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications. You have three different types of repair facilities to research: dealerships, chains, and independents. Use websites from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, AAA, and Motorist Assurance Program to find quality repair facilities.
That’s it! Now get on the road and stimulate this economy with your traveling dollar. And if you want to learn more about basic car care, go to www.AutoUpkeep.com.
