Spring break has come and gone and summer is just weeks away!!! That means vacation travel time and the scorching high temperatures of summer are just around the corner for Brevard County residents. Cassels Garage, your local full service independent automotive repair facility located in Melbourne, is always ready to service your vehicle providing reasonable rates and quality guaranteed work for our valued customers. We know the high temperatures in Florida can wreak havoc on cars from cooling systems to batteries, to tires and paint jobs; your entire vehicle can be affected by the dog days of summer!
Here are some tips and suggestions for getting your vehicle summer time ready. The last thing you want to happen when the family is packed up and ready to go on vacation is to experience car issues. Imagine traveling with children and the air conditioner is not blowing cold air! Or piling back into the car at a rest stop only to turn the ignition and the car battery is dead. Or getting caught in a torrential afternoon thunderstorm with dry-rotted windshield wiper blades that are scraping across the glass. It is important to assess your automobile for summer time readiness and bring it in to Cassels Garage if you need any servicing or assistance.
Summer Time Prep Tips:
- Purchase a quality sun shade to protect the interior, center console, and dash board of your car from the harsh damaging UV rays of the Florida sun.
- If your car windows were not tinted when purchased, consider doing so. Window tint can keep your car cooler, enable your air conditioner to run more efficiently, protect your car upholstery/interior, as well as shield passengers/driver from the sun’s harmful rays.
- Have your air conditioner serviced. Also replace your cabin air filter to improve cooling and to increase the longevity of the AC system.
- Check your fluids including: oil, coolant, transmission, and power steering. During the summer months, keep a watchful eye on your temperature gauge to prevent overheating; especially in stop and go traffic.
- Excessive heat can shorten the life of your battery and cause battery fluid to evaporate. Check for corrosion at terminals and travel with a set of jumper cables just in case. Have your battery tested at the beginning of summer.
- Hot pavement with hot tires necessitates checking your tire pressure and/or monitoring your dashboard for emergency operating systems notifications. Don’t ignore these lights. Over or under inflated tires can lead to dangerous driving situations. Blow out and flats are hazardous situations.
- Replace your windshield wiper blades. Blades can dry rot, wear down, or become nicked. To protect your windshield and to guaranteed clear vision during rain storms, be sure to periodically assess your windshield wipers.
- Wax your car. Protecting your vehicle with a nice coat of wax helps to prevent oxidation and protect your car from the elements and sun. A layer of wax repels water, dirt and debris, and helps keep your car looking new and shiny. Park in the shade whenever possible and keep your windows cracked if the weather permits.
We hope you find these summer time tips helpful. Cassels Garage is open Monday-Friday from 8-5. Contact us at 321-727-2111 and let us service your vehicle, making sure it summer time prepared and road trip ready.
