Summer is fast-approaching, but is your car prepared to take the heat? Summer days are the best days to plan long road trips to the beach and parading your brand new auto in quiet anticipation of the sweltering days and the warm summer breeze at night. It’s the time you have to cruise around the city, to shop and to get a tan. Even the constant increase in gasoline prices shouldn’t put a damper on your sunny days, bright days lie ahead, and don’t we all know it.
If you purchased your vehicle before winter, then there’s a high chance that your precious auto is in need of a seasonal check-up. The following are some easy steps and tips on how you can ensure that your “baby” won’t overheat and will be just as reliable as it was the day you bought it.
Ladies and gents, check your fluids to see if they are in need of changing or refilling. Check your coolant, engine oil, transmission, brake, differentials, clutch, battery electrolyte and power steering fluids. If you’ve recently refilled these fluids but you later find that after a few days these fluids are already drastically low, then there’s a chance that you have a major leak. Find out the problem, and be sure to have these parts repaired or replaced prior to hitting the road.
Next, check your tires. Are your tires in need of a little inflating? Use your owner’s manual to check the right air pressure needed by your vehicle’s tires. Check the sidewalls for dry-rot or cracking and dried up rubber. If there’s rotting, then there’s a high need for replacing. Also make sure your vehicle’s tire treads are in great shape. If your tires are running almost tread-bare, then replace these tires as soon as possible.
Have a look at your vehicle’s braking system. Are you having troubles braking? Is your brake pad too low? Are those pads in need of re-lining? If yes, then it’s best to head to a professional mechanic to have these adjustments, repairs or replacements done before you take your beloved auto for a long road trip. Check your rotors and drums to see if they are still in good condition. If they’re looking too scored or too smooth, then have them resurfaced or replaced.
Check out your wheel cylinder. Pry up its rubber cap and check if there’s brake fluid under it. If you find that the wheel cylinder is wet, then you need to replace this cylinder as soon as possible. Check them all for this problem, and replace all the parts that need replacing.
Look at your disk caliper. Is it leaking and in need of rebuilding or replacing? Also have a look if there are signs of axle lubricant and excess grease on them. If this is the case, then now is the best time to replace these seals. Your brake pads might also be ruined if these seals are leaking, so make sure your brakes are well adjusted and all its parts are in excellent travel condition.
Inspect your chassis. Don’t forget to grease your driveline fittings and your suspension. Also check all the small details like your tie rods, king pins, wheel bearings, rubber ball joints and bushings for signs of wear and damage. Even the slightest damage on these parts can compromise your ride’s safety. Repair or replace when needed.
Lastly, look at your exhaust system, auto mirrors and auto lights to make sure that all their components are still working at their best.
