Summer Vehicle Maintenance Tips

Posted June 15, 2017

School is almost out and you and your family are ready to hit the open road. Whether you’re travelling to the mountains to go hiking, visiting Ottawa for the Canada 150 celebrations or visiting a local farm to buy fresh produce, you want to ensure that your vehicle can get you there safely. Here are some tips for summer vehicle maintenance:

Check Your Coolant

Summer weather can be hard on your vehicle, especially in high temperatures or clear sunny days where the sun can overheat your vehicle. It’s important to ensure that your coolant levels are optimal. You can look under the hood and you should be able to see if your coolant levels are at the full line. If they aren’t, your coolant may be leaking and you should bring it into your local Integra Tire to have it inspected.

Check Your Belts

Winter weather may have eroded your belts. First, listen to your vehicle when you start the engine. If you hear a squealing noise, it could be coming from your belt. The belt may just be loose but it could be cracked. Open your hood to take a look at your belts. If the belt appears to be cracked, bring it into your local Integra Tire and we can replace it for you.

Check Your Wipers

Your wiper blades may have worn out over the long winter so check them to ensure that they don’t leave streaks on your windshield. If they aren’t properly cleaning your windshield, you can easily replace them for little cost. Wiper blades usually will pop off and the new ones can be snapped on. Check your owner’s manual for details on how to replace them.

Test Your Air Conditioning

You don’t want to find out that your air conditioning system isn’t working when you go to use it so test it before you leave on your road trip. If you don’t get cold air blowing out of all your vents, bring it into your local Integra Tire and we can fix it for you.

Check Your Lights

Before you leave for your road trip, turn on your vehicle and test all of your lights to ensure that they are working. Remember to also test your fog lights and high beams in case you will be driving on the highway at night.

Test Your Battery

You may not realize that your battery is losing its charge until it’s too late and your car won’t start. Bring your car into your local Integra Tire and we can test your battery to ensure that it’s running at maximum capacity.

Check Your Tires

Before any road trip, inspect your tires for any sign of unwanted material lodged in them. Also check for cracks or bulges. You should also test your tire pressure before each road trip to ensure that it’s at the optimal level. You can find what PSI your tires should be filled to by checking the sticker on the side of your door or in your owner’s manual.

Clean Your Car

Before any road trip take a few minutes to clean the inside of your car so your passengers will be comfortable. After any road trip clean the outside of your car to remove any dirt, dust, and bugs. This will help prevent your car from rusting.

Drive Safely

Anytime that you’re on the road remember to drive safely. Always follow the speed limit and road signs. Never drive when you are tired or have consumed alcohol or illegal substances. Try to drive mid-day and avoid driving when the sun is low in the sky because your visibility could be diminished. Also avoid driving at night.

If you follow these maintenance and safety tips, you and your passengers will have fun on the road and get to your destination safely. Remember that any of our Integra Tire locations across Canada will be happy to help you with all of your tire and maintenance needs.

Questions? Our Advisors are Happy to Help!

If you have questions about anything you've read in this resource page, contact your nearest dealer for more information. We are passionate in assisting our customers make the best choices to keep their vehicles in tip-top shape and keep their families safe.