Smart drivers are headed to the service center at their local Wilmington car dealership in preparation for summer. Whether you’re looking at used cars for sale in Wilmington, NC or doing regular maintenance, the dealership has your back. Ask your technician for a summer checkup. As the weather drastically shifts, your car’s tires, coolant, and battery could use some extra attention.
5 Maintenance Tasks for Great Auto Care Service This Summer
1. Check Your Brakes
How do I find auto repair near me to service my brakes? The first step is to have them looked at before it becomes urgent. The winter is harsh on your brakes, so it’s smart to schedule a regular check up before any summer road trips.
On your own, you’ll want to watch for strange feelings and sounds. Apply your brakes while driving with the radio off and listen for any grinding noises. Also take note of whether they feel squishy when you press the brake.
2. Check the Battery
Your car battery is more likely to die when exposed to the summer heat. Check the battery itself for oxidation, which will appear as a white buildup on the terminals.
3. Tire Tread and Pressure
Check the air pressure in your tires first thing in the morning. As the day heats up, the pressure in them will change considerably.
Take a close look at your tire tread. It needs to be above 2/32”. An old trick is to stick a quarter into one of the larger grooves with George Washington’s head pointed down. If there is space above his head, you need new tires.
4. Replace the Coolant
Your coolant works a lot harder in the summer months. Generally, you’ll want to replace the coolant every one to two years. If you can’t remember when it was done, ask your mechanic to test it.
5. Check Your A/C
Don’t wait until the weather gets too hot to use your air conditioning. Get in the car and turn the system on max. Make sure that it gets as cold as you expect it to and blows evenly.
Wait it out inside so you can listen carefully for any odd noises. If you have your doubts about the air conditioning’s condition, ask your mechanic to run a diagnostic.
For the best summer auto care, bring your car to our service center at Matthews Motors of Wilmington. We have years of experience maintaining quality cars. If you’re ready for a new ride, we’ve also got you covered. Check out our premiere selection of used cars at Matthews Motors of Wilmington.
