Summer Maintenance Tips | Lafayette LA
Summer Maintenance Tips in Lafayette, LA
Summer is here, and there’s nothing better than the feeling of hitting the road for a summer vacation. The car is packed and your family is ready to go — but wait, why won’t the car start? Don’t let unexpected car problems ruin your road trip. Check out our summer maintenance tips below to find out how to inspect your vehicle and identify problems that should be fixed, either at home or by expert technicians (like those here at Giles Subaru), before heading out on a road trip.
Air Conditioning
Turn on your vehicle and start the air conditioning. Even if it takes a few minutes to cool down, cold air should eventually start blowing from the vents. If the air never gets cool or your A/C doesn’t seem to be working properly, you might have a leak in the system that is causing a low refrigerant level. This is something you’ll want to address quickly for the safety of you and your family, considering the extreme heat that’s typical during summer here in Louisiana. You can either find and repair this leak yourself using a leak sealant or bring it in for a service appointment and our team will take care of it.
Tire Condition
It’s important to check your tires at the start of a new season, due to the fact that tires lose or gain pressure as a result of outside temperatures. Maintaining the right pressure is essential because tires that are underinflated wear out more quickly. Because we’re entering a hot season, now is the time to ensure your tires are still at the correct PSI (as indicated in your owner’s manual). While you’re checking their pressure, make sure there aren’t any nails or other debris stuck in your tires that could cause a slow leak. You can also check if the tread is still deep enough for safe driving by using the penny test. Just grab a penny and insert it into your tire’s tread, with Lincoln facing you and turned upside down. If you can’t see the top of Lincoln’s head, your tread depth is excellent. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head and his hair, your tread is too low. Driving on overworn tires puts you at great risk for blowouts, so get them replaced at our tire center as soon as possible if they fail the penny test.
Fluid Levels
It’s also important to check your vehicle’s fluid levels at the start of a new season. These fluids include oil, windshield wiper fluid, brake fluid, power-steering fluid and coolant. Coolant is one of the most important fluids of all, as it keeps your engine cool and protects it from overheating — an extremely common car issue during the hot summer months. If you aren’t sure how to check these fluids, our team will be happy to help.
Windshield Wipers
You probably used your windshield wipers heavily over the winter and spring months, due to heavy rains and pollen sticking to your windshield. This can cause your wipers to wear out more quickly. If your wipers aren’t effectively clearing off your windshield anymore, or if they’re making loud squeaking noises as they pass over the glass, they probably need to be replaced.
Cabin Air Filter
The cabin air filter cleans the air that enters the interior of your car — in other words, the air you and your passengers breathe as you drive. It’s important to regularly change your cabin air filter in order to have fresh air circulating inside your car. This filter is located behind your glovebox, and it’s not too difficult to replace on your own. Here at Giles Subaru, we sell genuine OEM parts that will fit your vehicle specifically, and we’d love to help you find the right filter for your model (or you can just ask our service technicians to replace it for you!).
Other Vehicle Issues
If your Subaru is experiencing major issues such as an overheating engine, a dead battery, squealing brakes or any other problems indicated by dashboard lights, we recommend bringing it in for service as soon as possible. Our service team will thoroughly investigate the problem and fix it for you quickly and efficiently. We’re also happy to answer any questions you may have about your vehicle's condition and how to prepare it for all types of weather .
If you’d like to learn more about summer maintenance or have any other questions, contact us today or stop by Giles Subaru at 100 Town Center Parkway, Lafayette, LA, 70503. We look forward to serving our customers near New Iberia, Abbeville, Youngsville and Broussard.
