Tips for getting your car summer ready

With summer less than a month away, it’s time to get your car ready for summer. Summer is not only a time when we expect our cars to perform through extreme heat, but summer is typically the time when we travel the most and take vacations.

In addition to expecting our engines to get us to where we need to go in the heat, car exteriors and windshields are exposed to all kinds of additional threats in summer. These include harsh sunlight, hailstorms, bugs, and more. If you are taking your car on vacation, it will likely be exposed to sand if you’re going to the beach. Rocks, pebbles, and tree limbs can be a problem if you are traveling to the mountains.

Regardless of where you go, and what you do, you should make sure all aspects of your vehicle are performing their best before you hit the road.To ensure your car is ready for the upcoming summer on the inside and outside, we wanted to provide you with some helpful tips. Some of these you might want to tackle yourself, while others may be best left to a professional installer (like us).

Check the brakes

We know you’re eager to get to your destination. But you want to stop when you get there, right?

Window Tint

If you don't have window tint, it is something you should consider getting. Window tint helps to protect your car’s windshield and windows. It is also an affordable way to improve the comfort of your car in the summer by keeping it cooler. XPEL PRIME window tint products block 99% of ultraviolet rays that attempt to stream in through the glass and damage the dashboard, leather, fabrics, and plastics. Additionally, UV rays can certainly damage skin as well – cancer and premature aging are common effects. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends XPEL PRIME XR PLUS Window Tint as an effective UV protectant.

Each vehicle is different, we can help you decide what's right for you.

Paint Protection

Paint jobs take a lot of abuse in the summer from the hot sun and more. Paint protection film helps protect your car’s finish from dirt, dings, and scratches, and are designed to withstand a variety of weather conditions, temperatures, and driving conditions. XPEL Ultimate Plus Clear Bra Self Healing Paint Protection has a high gloss mirror smooth finish and protects your paint against rock chips, scratches, and more. This film is completely transparent and is safe on your paint. It will never yellow or peel! Built to last, has impact protection and backed by a 10 year warranty.

Check out the below video and prepare to be AMAZED!!

Check and add fluids

Check the coolant and other fluids including oil, brake fluid, water in the car battery, and windshield wiper fluid.

Check the tire pressure

Checking your tires is crucial in the summer. Long road trips with big loads and high temperatures can stress your tires to the max. Hot weather causes the tire pressure to increase which can cause tires to be over-inflated. To get the most accurate tire pressure reading, it is best to check it early in the day before it gets too hot. Tire pressure can be inaccurate if checked after a car has been sitting on hot pavement or in the sun.

Remember the jack that came with your car? Get it out, and try it out. Make sure you have all the parts that came with it, and get comfortable using it.

Check the air conditioning

Let's face it: when it's 95 degrees and humid outside, and you've been stuck in the car for hours with rowdy kids, a dog and a grouchy spouse, having a working AC might just be the only thing that keeps you from wanting to jump out of the car. That might be a little dramatic, but the moral of the story is don’t wait until it gets hot to make sure that your air conditioning works. To check, turn it up to the maximum coolness, crank the fan up to high, and then open the vents all the way. Holding your hand in front of the vent, the air should feel cool.

Want to know something really cool?

We, at Auto Trim Design can install aftermarket ventilated seats and heated seats on whatever vehicles you drive. Katzkin offers OEM quality seating temperature control systems that can be incorporated into your premium leather interior. Katzkin has a state-of-the-art heating and cooling system that provides 3 levels of heat and 3 levels of air-conditioned comfort. Degreez heating and cooling can only be installed on a Katzkin perforated leather interior.

Give us a call and we can help you out!

Steering and Suspension

The steering and suspension systems are important for both your safety and comfort when driving as they ensure a smooth ride as your car travels over bumpy roads. It’s a good idea to schedule regular inspections of your steering and suspension systems.

Change the Oil

Make sure you stay on top of your oil changes. Oil changes are absolutely necessary for a healthy engine, as is all forms of scheduled auto maintenance.

Bring along some extra items

Bring some extra coolant, if you find yourself traveling through the boonies, where service stations are spaced farther apart. It's always good to keep some extra on hand.

There are times you may be out of cell reception for some of your trip, so your GPS might not get service, so print out a hard copy of your plans using Google Maps or bring along a good old fashioned map.

Toss in a roll of duct tape. It has a number of great uses, such as temporarily repairing a hole in a leaky hose, or for slapping it over the mouth of your kid or husband when he's talking your ear off. (Of course we are kidding!)

Well, that should be about it. Please feel free to drop a line or give us a call to learn more! (425) 277-9000

Safe Travels!