Top Six Ways to Ensure Your Car is Summer Ready

Summer is a great time to do a general check-up on your car’s health. Especially, if you’re planning fun activities or long road trips.

It turns out there are many precautions you can and should take during the increasing heat of the summer. That's because — although many drivers think winter is the peak season for car troubles — hot weather has considerations of its own.

For example, the heat shortens the life of your car battery more than the cold. More batteries fail in July than in January, according to experts, because summer heat can kill a battery 33% faster than winter cold.

We've put together tips to help you take necessary summer precautions. So, slather on the sunscreen, find your coolest pair of sunglasses and let's check under the hood. Here's what you can do:

1. Inspect your battery.

Don’t wait until you’re stranded on the side of the road to have the overall health of your battery checked. Having your battery checked for winter wear and tear can mean all the difference between the best road trip and the worst. Inspect the brackets to make sure they secure the battery adequately and tighten any loose cables — loose brackets shorten the lifespan of the battery and can damage other components. As well, if the brackets or trays are heavily corroded, they should be replaced.
Tip: If your car's battery is more than three years old, it's smart to check on its condition and see if it needs to be replaced.

2. Check the battery case.

Make a visual inspection of the outside of your battery case. Is it bulging, cracked or leaking fluid? If so, it needs to be replaced immediately. While you're looking, check to see if your battery is the older type with removable filler caps on top. If it is, hot weather can make the battery fluid inside evaporate faster. A good idea is to have your old battery replaced prior to summer driving with a maintenance-free, high-performance flush-top battery.

3. Flush your cooling system with fresh coolant periodically.

Your cooling system can deteriorate over time and become acidic. This acidity can eat away at hoses and seals, cause damage and overheat your engine. Also, check your owner’s manual to see your coolant replacement interval.

4. Check the tension and condition of the drive belt.

A loose drive belt can diminish the battery's ability to charge. If a drive belt is frayed or cracked, have it replaced.

5. Have your A/C checked before a summer road trip.

Maintaining your car’s air conditioning system and proper ventilation is important to avoid temperature extremes which can be uncomfortable for a long haul drive.

6. Maintenance matters.

Performing regularly scheduled maintenance, such as oil changes, battery tests or having a full mechanical inspection, is recommended.

Following these steps will help keep your vehicle and car battery healthy. However, if battery problems do get the best of you, we can help. You can give us a call at *222 for roadside assistance. CAA Mobile Battery Service¹ will test, replace and recycle your old car battery from your home, workplace or even the side of the road! Plus, CAA Premium Batteries are backed by a 6-year total warranty.² Get a battery quote online. Delivery and installation fees are included at no additional cost.