Friday, June 16, 2017

Summer Car Maintenance Checklist




Summer is almost here! If you’re anything like us, you can’t resist taking a road trip or two at this time of the year. Before heading out of Orlando for a long trip, it’s important to make sure your car is properly prepared to handle the long journey ahead. Here at Toyota of Orlando, we’ve put together a checklist of car maintenance services that are important for getting your vehicle ready to travel.

seasonal car maintenance

Prepare your Orlando Toyota for summer driving!


Things are beginning to heat up here in Orlando—and fast! During the summer, your car will take on a ton of harmful elements; rising temperatures, sand and dirt from the beach, and those unpredictable Orlando thunderstorms can be just as harsh as the cold. Let’s take a look at our summer car maintenance checklist:

1.Maintain your air conditioning
Broken air conditioning is one way to ruin a road trip! This first car maintenance tip is vital to keeping you and your passengers comfortable while driving this summer. Rolling down your windows definitely doesn’t cut it in the brutal Orlando heat. The most common cause of a malfunctioning air conditioning unit is a low level of refrigerant, which could be caused by a leak. Additionally, the belt that is powering your air may also be powering parts of your engine. This means that ignoring your broken AC could actually cause your engine to overheat—making this car maintenance step a must.

2. Check the coolant and radiator
The number one cause of summer car breakdowns is overheating—and although cars are designed to run hot, they can only get so hot before it becomes a major issue. Coolant prevents the water in a car’s radiator from boiling, which can lead to a mechanical breakdown or engine failure, so this car maintenance service is vital. 
3. Replace your windshield wipers
A true Floridian knows that Orlando summers are notorious for some hardcore thunderstorms. When the rain is coming down in buckets, it is essential that your wipers are efficiently clearing your windshield. A storm can decrease your visibility by up to 20 feet in front of your car during a torrential downpour, making driving extremely dangerous.  This car maintenance step is so simple, yet it could prevent you from getting into serious trouble. 

Orlando Toyota service trips


4. Maintain your car battery
Although dead batteries are common during the winter months, the hot summer can be tough on your battery, too! Heat can actually speed up the chemical reaction in your Orlando Toyota’s battery, causing the battery to be overcharged and reducing battery life. Heat can also cause your battery fluid to evaporate, which can lead to corrosion. In general, if it’s been a while since you last changed your car battery, it may be time to add this car maintenance step to your personal checklist. 
5. Inspect your tires
The fifth and final car maintenance tip is to inspect your tires before hitting the road. Your car’s tires put on a lot of wear and tear when putting on a lot of mileage. Hot roads can intensify the heat buildup and cause weak tires to weaken even faster. Additionally, as temperatures start to rise, so does your tire pressure. Make sure that your tires are properly inflated to ensure the best gas mileage on your road trip—this will also lower your chances of facing a potentially life-threatening tire blowout.

Hit the road with these car maintenance tips!


Our Toyota of Orlando service specialists are here to help! If you’re planning on taking a road trip this summer, we can help you make sure your car is in tip-top shape before heading out. Want to schedule a service appointment? Give us a call at (866) 945-0493, or swing by and see us at 3575 Vineland Road.

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