How To Prepare Your Vehicle For Summer

Spring has sprung, and summer is right around the corner, which means longer drives and warmer weather, making it essential to inspect your vehicle before going on that road trip or driving to the beach this summer. Luckily, Mazda of Lodi's service center is ready to check your car a few weeks in advance to ensure it's prepared for the upcoming months. As a way to help review your vehicle, we developed a list of 5 things you should consider inspecting so you can get on the road as quickly as possible in the safest manner.

Check Tires And Tire Pressure

One of the most crucial components of your vehicle is the tires, and inspecting all four is a must to ensure your car runs smoothly. Search for cuts, gouges, or sidewall bulges when checking your tires. You can inspect your tires further by utilizing the "Quarter Test," which involves inserting a quarter into the tire tread upside down. If the tread covers the top of George Washington's head, your tires are in good condition. If not, it may be time to visit a service center to ensure they are appropriately replaced. You can also check your vehicle's tire pressure to meet the vehicle manufacturer's recommended pressure. This information can be found in the owner's manual and on the sticker of the driver-side door jamb.

Top Off Engine Oil And Other Fluids

Another way to keep your car running at its prime is to top off vehicle fluids. This includes the engine oil, coolant and brake, transmission, and power steering fluids are at the correct levels for safe vehicle operation. Staying up-to-date with the engine oil will ensure your vehicle runs smoothly and properly, which can get rid of harmful bits of dirt and debris out of the engine before it does significant damage. Additionally, you can change the transmission fluid. The frequency of this is not as much as other components, but getting it changed now can prevent dirty and grimy fluid that will fail to lubricate and disperse heat. To inspect this, you can locate a dipstick under the hood and find the measurement of the fluid.

Test Your Battery 

The battery is a critical component within your vehicle and has many uses for it, explicitly including the technology within the cabin as well as providing power for starting your car. To inspect the battery, lift the hood and confirm the cable connections are clean and tight, ensuring the cables don't slip out of place. A simple solution to clean the terminals is to use water and baking soda, which can rinse away corrosion immediately. If issues still arise, the next step would be to schedule an appointment with a service center. At that point, technicians can check your battery's remaining capacity to decide whether it needs to be replaced. 

Feel And Listen To Your Brakes

Lastly, the brakes within your vehicle are crucial to keeping you and your passengers secure on the road. If you notice your brakes make a grinding noise and vibration or are pushing down more on the brake pedal, it may be time to get them checked. Mechanics will inspect the brake systems pads, rotors, shoes, and drums. Additionally, our technicians will search for any fluid leaks to ensure your brakes are running as smoothly as possible.

Replace Wiper Blades and Refill Windshield Cleaner

Over time, windshield wipers will deteriorate and need eventual replacing. Some ways to tell if they need replacing include the wipers leaving streaks when in use and the inability to clear the water off the windshield thoroughly. The next step is refilling the washer fluid. Utilizing formulated cleaner is vital for your vehicle to remove debris and use water breading technology. Once the reservoir is filled, test the wipers and ensure nothing is blocking the nozzles to prevent them from spraying correctly.

Why Choose Mazda of Lodi As Your Primary Service Center?

With the new season arriving, ensuring your vehicle is in pristine condition is just one of the ways you can have a seamless driving experience this summer. Although you can follow these tips at your leisure, visiting our state-of-the-art service center in Lodi can provide more assurance when needing a repair. Our professional technicians will be waiting to get your vehicle serviced adequately and promptly. Customers can also view discounts and promotions for service through our website, one of which includes the Summer Special bundle that can tackle some of these tips mentioned! So be sure to contact Mazda of Lodi to get started or schedule an appointment online to prepare your vehicle for summer!