Summer Maintenance Tips in El Dorado, AR
Summer Maintenance Tips in El Dorado, AR
If you have travel plans this summer, you’re probably counting down the days until you can finally clock out, pack up and hit the road. Imagine this, however: You’ve loaded everything in the car, your family is strapped in, and you finally try to start the car — and nothing happens. What a buzzkill! Don’t let a breakdown ruin your road trip. Take a look at our tips below on how to take care of your car this summer. We’ll help you learn to inspect your car and identify problems so that you can fix them yourself or bring them to our service team here at Karl Malone Ford. With a little attention and service, your car should be good to go in no time.
Air Conditioning
To inspect your air conditioning, turn on your vehicle and start the A/C. If it’s a hot day, it might take a few minutes to cool down, but eventually you should start feeling cool air streaming from the vents. If you never feel cool air, or the A/C is exhibiting any other problems, you could have a leak in the system that’s leading to a low refrigerant level. For the safety of you and your family, you definitely don’t want to take a road trip — or even run errands — in a vehicle with no air conditioning, since scorching heat is common during Arkansas summers. Be sure to find and repair this leak yourself using leak sealant, or if you’d rather have professionals handle it, schedule a service appointment with us.
Tire Condition
It’s important to inspect your tires regularly, whether you haven’t driven your vehicle in a while or if you just haven’t looked closely at the tires recently. Outside temperatures can cause tires to gain or lose pressure, and when tires are under- or overinflated, they can wear out more easily as you drive on them. Check your tire pressure to ensure they’re at the right PSI (as indicated in your owner’s manual), and look over your tires to make sure there aren’t any nails or other debris stuck in the tread that could cause a leak. It’s also a good idea to check whether your tire tread is still deep enough to drive on with the penny test. All you have to do is take a penny and put it in the tire tread, upside down with Lincoln facing you. If you can’t see the top of Lincoln’s head, that’s great! Your tread is deep and safe to drive on. If you can see the top of his head and hair, your tread is too low. When you drive on tires with thin tread, you’re at great risk for blowouts. Get your tires replaced as soon as possible if they fail the penny test.
Fluid Levels
Take a look at your fluid levels at the start of every new season and before road trips. These fluids include oil, windshield wiper fluid, brake fluid, power-steering fluid and coolant. During the summer, it’s vital to have enough coolant in your vehicle, as this fluid keeps your engine cool and stops it from overheating. If you aren’t sure how to check these fluid levels, bring your vehicle to our service department and our team will help you out.
Windshield Wipers
If your wipers are squeaking every time they pass across your windshield, or if they don’t seem to be effectively clearing off water anymore, it’s probably time to replace them. These parts are usually inexpensive and easy to replace, and they make a big difference in the quality of your driving experience.
Cabin Air Filter
Many of our customers aren’t aware of how important the cabin air filter is. This filter cleans the air that enters your cabin, so in order to ensure you have fresh air to breathe, it’s vital to replace the cabin air filter regularly, especially if you or your loved ones have allergies. You can find this filter behind your glovebox, and it’s not difficult or expensive to replace it on your own. If you want to make sure you buy the right one, just let us know and we’ll be happy to help you find the filter that fits your model in our inventory of genuine OEM parts. Want our team to replace it for you? No sweat, we’ll take care of it for you.
Other Vehicle Issues
Having any other issues with your Ford? Major problems such as an overheating engine, a dead battery, squealing or unresponsive brakes or any other issues indicated by dashboard lights should be looked at by service professionals. Bring your vehicle to our service team as soon as you can, and our technicians will inspect your vehicle and make repairs you can rely on. For more peace of mind as you drive, trust Karl Malone Ford for all your service needs!
If you’d like to learn more about summer maintenance or have any other questions, contact us today or stop by Karl Malone Ford at 1730 West Hillsboro Street, El Dorado, AR 71730. We look forward to serving our customers near Magnolia, Smackover, Strong and Monticello.