Car Guides - Your Ultimate Summer Checklist

Ah summer, it’s a beautiful time, full of exciting social events and days out. Your trusty, reliable car will get you and your family around this season - so it’s important to look after it. It’s important to check your vehicle before every long car journey but with the increasing temperatures there are extra things that you need to look out for. This is why we’ve put together this handy guide… so you know what you should keep an eye on in your vehicle this summer!

Tyres

Tyres are one of the most important parts of your car because they keep you in control of it. We recommend checking the sidewall to see what the overall condition of your tyres are. If you spot any cuts or bulges - you need to get your tyres replaced as a matter of urgency. You should also ensure that your tyres meet the minimum tread depth requirements of 1.6mm.

Overheated Engines

Overheated engines are one of the most common occurrences of breakdowns in summer due to the rising temperature. This is due to the engine’s coolant system having to cope with higher operating temperatures. It can be avoided by checking your vehicle’s coolant level regularly - if it’s low, we suggest that you take it to your local garage to get it checked over. If you’re unsure where the reservoir is you can locate it by simply referring to your vehicle’s guide.

Flat Batteries

Our car batteries are vital for our vehicles and run everything from your air con to your car’s music speakers. It’s something that we put a lot of strain on during our day to day driving and is often forgotten about. However, if they’re not looked after properly - it can lead to a flat battery. To avoid this we recommend driving your vehicle regularly for a minimum of 30 minutes once a week - this will improve the power supply and circulation. If your battery is over five years old we suggest getting a new one fitted at our garage.

The Clutch

The combination of warm weather and lots of traffic can put a strain on your vehicle’s clutch. And over time, they’re prone to wear and tear and need to be replaced. While you can’t avoid it breaking at some point - there are warning signs to be aware of to prevent accidents. For example, if you accelerate with a bit of strength and you see the engine revs rising but the car doesn’t move forward. Another thing to look out for is if your car judders when you lift the clutch pedal to pull away. If either of these things happen, you should speak to a mechanic at your local garage so that they can fix it for you.