Summer Driving Advice
Everyone loves the summer- the warm weather, the bathing suits and the opportunity to put the top down on your convertible, etc. But what about the condition of your car? When I first bought my Jeep, it was during the summer. I bought the car brand new, but no sooner had I driven off of the parking lot, that that was when I noticed that the air conditioning wasn’t working. If you haven’t spent a summer in North Carolina, then you have no idea how bad it can be to not have air conditioning working in your car. I had to turn right around and go back to the dealership to have the issue addressed.
After sever trips back and forth to the dealership, the issue with the air conditioning was successfully resolved. However, you should keep in mind the fact that things like this will come up when you own a car; and more often than not, it always seems as if these sorts of things happen when you least expect them to. Therefore, when you are driving during the summer months (and even before), you should make sure you have your vehicle inspected. For some people, having their car inspected is something that happens at least twice a year. There is something called preventive maintenance for the summer as well as preventive maintenance for the winter months. For example, before the winter months hit, my mother always has her Honda checked out at the dealership to make sure that it is ready for the winter months. This can mean something as simple as having the oil changed, the hoses checked and the coolant levels checked. For other people, this may mean having their tires rotated, a fuel injection, changing air filters and having their alignment checked.
Something to keep in mind for summer driving regarding the maintenance of your vehicle is making sure that you wash it regularly. While no one likes to drive around in car that is externally dirty, it is more important to make sure that you pay close attention to the undercarriage of your car- especially if you live near the beach. For instance, when I was growing up on Long Island, we were right on the ocean. Because of this, there was significantly more salt water in the air. As many people are already aware of, salt water in the air can actually contribute to the erosion of your car’s paint. It can also cause damaging rust and other types of erosion and wear and tear to the underside of your car. When you wash your car, you are washing off the salt water residue that can sometimes hang heavy in the air. This is, perhaps, why you will see car washes located so conveniently close to the beach. It is because people are washing the salt water off of their vehicles.
Other advice for driving during the summer is to use a sunshade so that you decrease the temperature of the interior of your vehicle. Other bits of advice include getting tinted windows as well as making sure that you are always fueled up. Never drive around on a gas tank that is almost empty!
Harold