Summer is the time of year when everyone wants to be heading somewhere. With the onset of the pandemic and people choosing to avoid getting on airplanes, the highways are even more full of people traveling this year. Between driving in extreme heat, to dealing with high volume of traffic, to various road hazards, here are some summer care care and maintenance tips to consider and address during the summer months.
Handling
Do you feel like you run into road construction more during the summer than you do the rest of the year? That’s not a coincidence — summer is the main season for road construction, and what is known as “cone zones.” Areas where roads are under construction usually have rough road conditions. Rough road conditions due to road construction can also be tough on your vehicle’s steering and suspension system, and can throw out the alignment. The main symptoms of steering/suspension or wheel alignment problems are pulling to one side, uneven tire wear, and noise/vibration while cornering or loss of control. If you experience any of these in your vehicle, you should have it checked immediately.
Exterior
Loose gravel and stones are a common concern in cone zones, as they have the potential to cause damage to your car’s exterior or windshield. If you are driving through one or more cone zones, do frequent visual checks of your car’s exterior and windshield to identify any chips, dings, or cracks.
Battery
Contrary to popular belief, battery life is threatened more by the high temperatures of summer than the freezing low temperatures of winter. Heat shortens battery life, so be aware that if you’re feeling the heat of summer, so is your battery. Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, which damages the internal structure of the battery. To get the most life out of a battery, we suggest the following simple steps:
- Make sure the electrical system is charging at the correct rate. Overcharging a battery will damage it just as quickly as if you undercharge it.
- Check your battery regularly if it is the type that needs to be topped off. This is especially important to do in hot weather. Add distilled water when necessary.
- Keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt on the battery acts as a conductor, and this will drain the battery’s power. Also, accumulated corrosion on the battery terminals will act as an insulator and inhibit current flow.
Brakes
Last, but not least in summer care care and maintenance, make sure to check your brakes. August is Brake Safety Awareness Month, so now is the perfect time to have your brakes checked and make sure that they are in safe working condition. To learn more about how you should be ensuring that your brakes are in good working order, check out our post here.
Summertime is a great time to enjoy fun, but remember, it’s also a great time to make sure that your vehicle and its components are working in tip-top shape. By following these summer care care and maintenance tips you can avoid a number of mishaps or potentially dangerous situations that can result from your vehicle suffering from the heat.
