Mon – Thur | 8:00am – 5:30pm

Fri | 8:00am – 4:00pm

Prepare Your Vehicle for Summer with a Spring Tune-Up

Prepare Your Vehicle for Summer with a Spring Tune-Up

Arizona isn’t known for having especially brutal winters. Still, the temperature changes are still significant enough to affect how we dress, how much time we spend outside, and even how our vehicles perform. To get your vehicle ready for the hot summer months and any upcoming road trips, we recommend that drivers get a tune-up in the spring. This allows you to make sure your car is in good condition, and a skilled mechanic can nip issues in the bud before they turn into costly repairs. Every spring tune-up should address some key components in your vehicle.

Tire Pressure

Every 10°F change in temperature will affect tire pressure by about 1 pound per square inch (PSI). The difference between the coldest winter night and the hottest summer afternoon in Gilbert is normally more than 70°F, so your tire pressure can change dramatically with the seasons. Inflating your tires to the proper pressure will lead to a smooth ride, superior handling, and better fuel efficiency. It’s also recommended to rotate the tires at least once a year depending on how much you drive, so the spring is a good opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.

Cooling System

For most vehicles, it’s recommended to flush and refill your cooling system every two years or 24,000 miles. Failure to do so can increase the likelihood of engine failure, which is why this process is so important. Flushing the system with a radiator flush product will remove rust, grease, and other undesired substances. From there, it’s important to refill with a mixture of coolant and water that has been fine-tuned for the environment.

Air Conditioner

There’s a good chance you haven’t been using the air conditioning in your vehicle very much during the winter months, but it’s important to make sure it’s in working order before summer arrives. Leaks, clogged filters, and faulty AC compressors can all lead to a hot vehicle that just doesn’t cool down like it used to. That’s a big problem here in the Gilbert area, so a lot of drivers like to get their air conditioning tuned up before it gets beastly hot.

Car Battery

Extreme temperatures are hard on batteries. Most car batteries last for about five to seven years, but the lifespan can vary based on how much you drive your vehicle and how extreme the environment is. Before you hit the highway for a long summer road trip, your Gilbert car mechanic can inspect your battery to verify that it’s in working condition.

Oil Change and Oil Filter

Ask your mechanic which type of oil they recommend for summer driving in Arizona. Some manufacturers even recommend switching to a heavyweight oil when temperatures are especially hot. You can find this information in the owner’s manual or simply trust an experienced mechanic to determine which oil is best for your vehicle. Also, change the oil filter to keep your new oil clean.

Hybrid Vehicle Service

Hybrid and electric vehicles function a little differently than traditional cars, so you want to make sure you are getting your ride serviced correctly if you have one of these models. A spring tune-up will include the same elements for a hybrid model as it does for a traditional vehicle, but you’ll also need to check a few additional systems to make sure your hybrid car or Tesla is running its best all summer long. At Highline Car Care, we perform the following services as part of a spring tune-up for hybrid vehicles.

  • Oil check: If the pistons on the engine fail to seal correctly, your vehicle will begin to use more oil than it needs to. By checking your oil levels in the spring, we can keep this problem from occurring during the hot summer months.
  • Battery check: A dead car battery is always inconvenient, but it is especially frustrating when you have an electric vehicle. Just as we would check the battery in a traditional vehicle to ensure it shows signs of life, we will also check the battery in your electric car.
  • Air Conditioner check: Riding in any vehicle without air conditioning is stifling and inconvenient, but because electric vehicles power the AC unit with electricity rather than fuel, repairs can quickly become expensive. Try to catch potential issues early with a spring tune-up. The air conditioning system should be serviced every 5 years.
  • Navigation System check: The navigation systems in older hybrid vehicles often fail, so as part of a spring tune-up, we’ll check both your navigation system and your instrument cluster to ensure neither element is showing signs of failing.
  • ABS check: The ABS system on your hybrid car is one of the most important elements of your vehicle because it is responsible for braking. If this system fails, it could be disastrous, so we check to make sure all of your braking elements are in good condition and replace them if necessary.
  • Converter check: The converter in your engine is responsible for recharging the battery in your hybrid car, so you need to make sure it stays in good condition. We make sure it is working properly before the summer hits.
  • Cooling system check: The process of charging your hybrid battery gives off a lot of heat, so you need a cooling system that can counteract that heat. By checking your radiator, water pump, coolant control valve, and heat tank, we can ensure your car doesn’t get overheated during the summer.

While electric and hybrid vehicles are great for the environment and help you save money on the cost of fuel, they require a little special attention during an annual spring tune-up. You don’t want to trust just anyone to service your ride because you need a professional with knowledge about electric vehicles. By checking all of the components and systems listed above, Highline Car Care can help you keep your hybrid vehicle running smoothly for many years.

Other Types of Vehicles We Service

In addition to providing spring tune-ups to hybrid vehicles, we also service trucks and domestic cars. Our tune-ups are designed to check essential systems in your vehicle to make sure everything is working smoothly. If we find any issues, we can correct them quickly and prepare your vehicle properly for the scorching summers that Arizona is known for. If you want to be a responsible vehicle owner, it is important to include annual spring tune-ups in your regular maintenance schedule.

Tune Up Your Vehicle Near Gilbert

At Highline Car Care, we serve drivers from Gilbert, Mesa, and all of the surrounding valley. We know what it takes to keep a vehicle running as smoothly as possible here in the desert. Come visit us when it’s time to get your car ready for another hot summer, and we’ll pay special attention to components like the air conditioning and engine cooling system. To make the entire experience as convenient as possible, you can schedule your car maintenance appointment online.

Image by kadmy from bigstockphoto.com

Reach Us

Business Hours

Mon – Thur | 8:00am – 5:30pm

Fri | 8:00am – 4:00pm

Sat - Sun | Closed

Download the Apresto App

Accessibility Toolbar