Your Auto Maintenance

Summer Vehicle Maintenance

Air Conditioning Check / Recharge:

How many of us have reached to turn on the A/C for the first time over that long winter only find that little to no cold air is coming out? Air conditioning works with a condenser pump to transport freon gas through a series of metal tubes and rubber hoses to an area called an evaporator. The evaporator changes the condensed liquid into a cold gas that is channeled through air foils where a fan takes the air in the vehicle and turns it into cold air, then blows it through the vehicle’s interior vents. Over time, especially during winter, the rubber gaskets and hoses dry out and crack.  This will eventually lead to loss of pressure and freon gas. An A/C inspection can detect pressure leaks and freon levels and an air conditioning service can replace the leaked freon once the leaks have been detected and repaired. If the condenser pump or evaporator is not working then your vehicle will not blow cold air. After years of use the freon gas may have evaporated through extremely tiny leaks and a simple A/C recharge service will have your air conditioning blowing cold air again. We all know how enjoyable our air condition is during the hot summer days, so you should have your A/C checked on a seasonal basis, not just if you notice any change in the air conditioning cooling abilities of your vehicle. 

Radiator coolant fluid check and flush:

In order to keep your engine from overheating during the hot summer days with stop and go traffic, it’s key to make sure your coolant levels are correct so the coolant can flow through your radiator freely. If your vehicle is losing coolant (usually a green or orange liquid) then those leaks need to be repaired to ensure the proper engine temperatures. Over time, radiator fluid will break down due to the cycling temperatures and create deposits in the radiator that will, in turn, clog the free flowing coolant to your engine block. A radiator coolant flush can remove these deposits and exchange your old fluid for new fluid. This allows your engine to remain at the proper temperature and increase your engine’s life span.

Air filter check and replace:

It’s the best practice to change your engine air filter at least once a year, and the beginning of summer is the perfect time to do it. The fall and winter are extremely hard on engine air filters because of the debris from the falling leaves and all of the road salt dust during the winter. Combine that with higher temperatures in the summer, you might get a dirty or clogged air filter that could leave your engine struggling for some much needed high quality air. An engine with less air for combustion will result in poor drive-ability and less gas mileage. You should have your air filter checked regularly, or better yet, to be on the safe side, replace it annually.

Tire/wheel check including spare:

During the winter your tires face extreme weather conditions and road salt, not to mention the rough surfaces and pot holes. You may acquire some heavy hits to a wheel because of this and that may also affect your wheel alignment. Bent, unbalanced and misaligned wheels will quickly and adversely affect your tire tread wear. This can lead to a good set of tires going bad quickly if left unchecked throughout the summer. In order to prevent hydroplaning, your tire tread depth should also be checked to assure that your tire’s sipes and channels can dissipate water when driving in wet conditions. If you use a specialty set of winter tires on your vehicle, then you should make sure to switch to your summer tires. It is also a good time to check that your spare tire is properly inflated in the chance that you may have to use it. Help increase the longevity of your tires and your own safety by having your tires checked before the long hot summer.

Windshield wipers check and replace:

Your windshield wipers work extra hard over the winter months due to heavy snow and ice. Combine that extra hard work with road salt that dries out the rubber compound of the blades and you may end up with poorly working blades that are cracked or ripping off. Being able to see through your windshield when it’s raining is a must for you being able to drive safely. It’s a simple fix, and one that should not go overlooked.

Brake check:

It’s a good idea to have your brakes checked at least twice a year, due to the changes in temperature and road conditions. Brakes work harder during the summer from the increase in vehicle speeds and temperatures. Brakes performing properly will increase your safety and confidence in controlling your vehicle.

Battery check:

Chances are that if you were having issues with the battery you would have noticed during the winter. So it’s a good idea at this time to make sure the dirt and corrosion that occurs over the winter is cleaned off of the battery posts.

Winter Vehicle Maintenance

Radiator Coolant / Anti-freeze Check:

You should always have the antifreeze / coolant checked to make sure that the freezing resistance of the fluid is adequate to below -30 degrees and that the levels are correct without any leaks. The mixture should be about half water and half antifreeze to make sure it has freezing and heat absorption protection. If your car is new to this climate, running too little antifreeze in your mixture or just water alone will freeze in your engine and possibly crack your engine block. At Gandrud Service we always use the optimal antifreeze mixture for Wisconsin's subzero winter temperatures. We test and then top off your antifreeze when you come in for an oil change.

Tires/Wheel check including spare:

Your tires have to perform well in the snow and ice to keep you in control and on the road. For optimal performance it is best to switch to snow tires in the winter. When it comes to handling the most hazardous winter driving conditions there is no real substitute for snow tires. Snow or winter tires perform best at colder temperatures over summer or all-season tires. Summer tires will lose traction as the freezing temperatures affect the tire compound. If you use regular all-season tires, then it is best to check the tread depth and make sure it isn't below the wear indicators or less than 4/32nds of tread depth. You can stop into any of Gandrud Auto Service departments and have your tires checked any time without having to make an appointment. 

Battery Check:

Make sure you have a properly rated cold cranking amps battery for this areas climate. Most average batteries will do well in the coldest of cold weather. Your car may start fine every time because you park it in a heated garage, but leave that car out in the -30 below weather all day and that average battery will have very little chance of turning over a frozen starter. If your battery posts are corroded and dirty, you may get a bad connection between the battery and the cables. It is best to have your battery posts and cables cleaned at least once a year to assure a good connection.

Windshield, Wipers and Washer fluid check:

Now is the time to make sure you don't have any windshield chips or spider cracks in your windshield.  In the winter months when you are defrosting your windshield, that can cause the chips and cracks to grow. We can repair windshields when the chip is fresh and prevent it from spreading across the windshield. If the cracks have spread too far then we will replace your wind shield at our glass center. It is best to make sure that your windshield washer fluid is full and that all the cleaning sprayers are working. Also check your wiper blades to make sure they are not ripped or cracked. If they are we can replace them in our quick lube drive.

Heat and Ventilation Check:

This should just be a simple check to make sure your heater is working and is being ventilated  without any blockage. At Gandrud, our check includes:

-Engine temperature gauge is normal, but the vents have no heat.

-Engine temperature gauge is higher than normal, but the vents have no heat. The air is cold when the car stops, but warms when driving.

-The engine will take a long time to warm up, or never warms up

You should schedule an appointment to have these items checked out. It is not safe to drive in the winter if your car does not have heat coming from the ventilation ducts. 

4WD Check (For Vehicles with 4WD)

Many of us have 4WD vehicles but rarely use the 4WD during the summer, so it’s a good idea to check that it is working correctly before winter arrives. Make sure that with the system engaged that there are no unusual noises coming from the drivetrain when driving and that the system engages and disengages smoothly. It is also a good time to make sure the transmission and gear oil fluid levels are correct.