Friday, August 5, 2022

Do These Simple Summer Maintenance Hacks on Your Kia From Santa Fe, NM

 

While summer is everyone’s favorite season, it’s not the best time for vehicles. This is when tire blowouts and mechanical failures occur more frequently. The extreme heat might even boil away essential fluids in your car’s engine and transmission system. Fortunately, you can avoid these problems with proper maintenance. Follow these simple summer maintenance hacks for your Kia in Santa Fe, NM.

Tire Check and Replacement

Roads, especially in cities, get very hot during summer. They can burst heavily worn-down tires pretty quickly. Check if your tires still have enough tread to handle the rubber-melting temperature. Rotation may do the trick if only one side of each tire is scuffed and the other is still thick enough—no need to replace them yet. Also, check the pressure. Make sure to pump not too much or too little air. The general rule is to keep the pressure at 35 psi before you start driving; better yet, check your car’s manual to see the recommended tire pressure. If you think your tires won’t last the season, replace them immediately to avoid tire blowouts, which can lead to fatal accidents.

Brake Test and Maybe a New Rotor or Brake Pad

Does it feel hard or mushy when you step on the brake pedal? If it’s mushy, odds are the brake pads and rotors are severely deteriorated and must be replaced immediately. It’s also possible that the braking system is running low on hydraulic fluid and needs a refill. If you need to pump in new brake fluid, make sure a trusted mechanic performs this to get the best results. Make sure to check the rotors for grooves. They are the clearest indicator of failing rotors. Don’t hesitate to replace them with a set compatible with your Kia when necessary.

Protect Your Battery

Unfortunately, you cannot do anything to prevent the summer heat from reaching your vehicle’s battery and messing with its charge. However, there are some things you can do to give your battery a fighting chance. For instance, you can avoid short drives to reduce the need to restart the engine. You should also park your vehicle in the shade to prevent exposing your car to excess heat. Your Kia in Santa Fe, NM summer weather will definitely heat up under direct sunlight. Batteries are also prone to corrosion, especially when corrosive substances or fluids are on their surface. Prevent rust from forming by keeping its surface and contact points clean.

New Wiper Blades and Fluids

With a dry climate comes dust and bugs. They’ll bump onto your windshield and blur your view of the road. You’ll need your windshield wipers to scrape them off. And it’s not just insects and dirt you have to worry about. The extreme heat also brings a fair amount of thunderstorms. In other words, you will use your windshield wipers and fluid more often in summer than in any different season. So this is the best time to replace them if you haven’t already.

Maintaining your vehicle requires commitment. It’s hard work and can be expensive, depending on your car’s make, model, and age. If it’s already too old and has several worn-out parts, you might want to leave the maintenance to a mechanic. They can take care of your vehicle more efficiently. Check out Fiesta Kia for more helpful tips.

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