Memorial Day always seems to open the door to Summer in Ohio. As the new season approaches, and more people take to the road, it is important to make sure your car is ready for the change in weather.
In Ohio, the Winter months are very rough on our automobiles. After months of driving in freezing temperatures and through mounds of salt and snow, cars require maintenance. Failing to properly maintain your car isn’t just detrimental to its value, it can also be dangerous to you and others on the road.
As you ease into Summer, the following are five car maintenance tips that will help you prevent car accidents and other road dangers:
1. Check your tires. Temperature affects the air pressure in tires. As temperatures increase, air pressure in tires increase. Incorrect tire pressure levels can be extremely dangerous, and as such, it is important to routinely check the air pressure in your tires to make sure they are properly filled.
- Over-inflated tires make less contact with the road, which can cause hydroplaning in the Summer months when thunderstorms and rain are common.
- Under-inflated tires bulge and put pressure on the sides of the tires, which will eventually cause the tires to blow.
2. Replace your windshield wipers. In Ohio, we use our windshield wipers excessively during the winter months. The harsh conditions can wear the wipers down, causing them to be ineffective. Check your windshield wipers so they are in proper working order to handle sudden summer storms.
3. Check the coolant, radiator, hoses, and belts. Today, cars come equipped with advanced cooling systems to prevent engines from becoming too hot to function properly. Even new cooling systems can struggle on a hot, summer day. That is why you have to make sure every part of your cooling system is working properly before taking the road this season.
4. De-Winterize your car. If you properly prepared your car for winter, there are some things you must do before the weather changes:
- Change out your winter tires – they are unnecessarily heavy, and will weigh your car down.
- Check your fluid levels – oil, coolant, transmission, differential, power steering, and brake fluid.
- Change your oil – oil collects condensation and gets thick.
- Change/clean/recharge your car battery.
- Clean the undercarriage of your car.
5. Check your brakes. No matter what season it is, your brakes have to be in perfect working condition. If they aren’t working well, they can cause serious car accidents resulting injury and death. The following signs may indicate you need new brakes:
- Extremely loose brake pedal
- Extremely resistant brake pedal
- Very high or very low brake pedal
- Brake warning lights on car
- Grinding or scraping sound
After a long Ohio winter, it is always a treat to get out and enjoy the warm weather, but before you do so, make sure your car is ready for the road.
Protect yourself and others on the road by performing these five summer maintenance tips, and you and your car will be ready to jump on the open road with the windows down. Don’t become a victim because your car wasn’t properly prepared.
If something does go wrong, and you or a loved one are involved in an accident, you have to call me right away at 1 (800) 556-4769. I can help you navigate the legal process, and I will work hard to get you the compensation you deserve.
As your Ohio car accident lawyer, I’ll be there for you, and I’ll Make Them Pay!®
Author: Tim Misny | For 33 years, personal injury lawyer Tim Misny has represented the injured victim in birth injury, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury/wrongful death cases, serving “Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Columbus & Cincinnati, Ohio.” You can reach Tim by email at tmisny@misnylaw.com or call at 1 (800) 556-4769.
