Getting the Car Ready for Summer: 10 Top Tips
Every time winter rolls around, I see guides popping up here, there and everywhere with tips for keeping your car safe in the colder months. What about keeping your car safe in the summer though. Well, that’s exactly what you’re going to find out in this post!
Depending on the age of your car, you may not need to do all, if any of the tips listed below. This is because newer cars require less maintenance. This is mainly due to advances to in technology. Gone are the days where you’d need to change the oil in your car every 3,000 miles, most manufacturers now advise doing so every 5,000 miles.
Alternatively, if your car is second hand it’s important to keep your car regularly maintained for safety and to avoid any further problems that could end up costing you more than it would initially costed.
In comparison to this, contract hire lease cars are a good way forward. If you drive one of these then you’re always in a new car with less chance of something going wrong or needing maintenance. If it’s a 2 year contract or longer then it’s advised that you carry out a maintenance cover for a hassle free travel experience. There’s less chance of a new to a relatively new car going wrong.
You many wonder why you should do anything to your car in preparation for summer, but it’s actually pretty important. With the heat of the summer sun, stop and go traffic and of course the effects that the previous winter has had on your car, it’s essential to make sure you give your car the once over.
The highway code has a section all about vehicle maintenance, safety and security which would make some added essential reading.
Check your tyres
The first thing you should do is check your tyres. A worn tyre is dangerous, as is an under inflated one. You should start by inspecting them for visible signs of wear. Cuts in the walls of the tyres can be detrimental and dangerous so be vigilant when checking your tyres.
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You’ll also need to make sure that the tread of your tyre is of a legal limit. You can check this by using a special measuring tool known as a tyre depth gauge which you can pick up in any major super market or car specialists.
Check your brakes
Just as important as checking your tyres, it’s also essential that you check your brakes. If you’re not sure how to do this, or if you don’t feel comfortable in doing so yourself, then take your car to your local garage as most will offer you a car safety check for a fee.
The best way to check your brakes is to remove your wheels. You can also remove the brake pads to inspect them for signs of wear. You’ll need to look out for cracks, heavy discolouration and also make sure that the edges aren’t crumbling.
Change your oil
If you run out of oil in your car, the engine can seize up so make sure your oil levels aren’t running low. It’s important to change the oil in your car to help keep the engine clean and to ensure your car runs smoothly. You should also change the oil filter as specified by your car manual.
Check your lights
I don’t know why, but quite often people forget to check that their lights are working properly. You should inspect all of them, as well as the bulbs and replace any that don’t work.
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Be prepared for an emergency
You should always carry some supplies in your car in case of an emergency. Important basic tools include:
- Torch
- First aid kit
- Reflective clothing
- Flares
- Fire extinguisher
- Three reflective warning triangles
- Gloves
- Blankets
- Jumper cables
These are just a few to name. You may also want to carry some food and drink with you too – make sure they’re fresh and in date!
Wash your car
Who wants to drive a dirty car around in the summer? Not only does it not look very nice, dirt can also get stuck in areas of your car that you wouldn’t want it to get stuck. I’m not talking about your basic car wash here, but a really good clean inside and out.
Check your battery
Take your car to your local mechanic so that they can check your battery. There are a few things you can do yourself such as scraping away corrosion and cleaning the surfaces, but you should always ask an expert to check your battery as they have the equipment required to carry out a thorough and proper check.
Make sure your windscreen wipers work
During the summer months, we can go for months without a single drop of rain. This means that our windscreen wipers don’t get much use, but when the rain does start to fall, the last thing you want is to be caught out by wipers that don’t work.
Top up your screen wash
There’s no point having windscreen wipers that work, but no screen wash. Quite often I’ve been driving down a country lane and had some dirt flick up from the road onto the windscreen meaning I have to use my screen wash. There’s nothing more frustrating than realising you’ve run out!
Check your air conditioning
If you’re lucky enough to have air conditioning in your car, then make sure it works. You could do a quick test yourself, by turning it on, but to ensure that there aren’t any faults it’s always a good idea to get it examined by a qualified technician.
