It's a known fact that seasonal car repair and inspections are inevitable, which means that as the season changes, the need for maintenance arises even more. Because a car is a complex machine, it needs proper maintenance; a lack thereof can result in serious accidents or costly repairs. That’s why during the season change, auto garages face an influx of repairs and inspections so that they can ensure the safety of their customers on the road.
However, for auto garages, the major concern arises when a customer doesn’t come back for the required maintenance or quarterly inspection. It can lead to several problems. Whether it's poor gas mileage in winter or a radiator that keeps overheating in the summer season, the root cause needs to be analyzed.
In this blog, we have highlighted the most common car problems that auto repair shops take care of during seasonal change.
5 Most Common Car Problems When the Season Changes
During the season change, it's worth being prepared to face car problems, especially in extreme weather conditions. These can include, but are not limited to:
Tire Problems
One of the most crucial parts of the car problems is related to tires. These need to be changed as the seasons do. You will need to switch back and forth in summer and winter so that customers can experience smooth driving. Tire change can be easily neglected by the car owner, which is why auto garage owners must send emails and call their customers once the winds shift.
Technicians can easily inspect everything from engines and brake systems to tire health with a digital vehicle inspection system to identify if the tires are wearing out or showing signs of tears. In this case, rotating car tires can prevent the wear and tear that can lead to uneven driving. Technicians can easily inspect a tire’s health.
Braking System
Once spring onsets, one of the biggest car problems will revolve around the brakes. During winters, brakes are used hard and rough, which is why when the season change is around the corner, technicians notice that brake pads are badly worn down.
Brake pad replacement is commonly observed at this time. Also, the predicted rainfalls in several states nationwide are another reason to get the brakes replaced, if need be. Technicians often recommend brake replacement if they hear them squeak or grind when being used.
HVAC Systems
The use of the HVAC system is significantly higher when the temperature rises. So, it's not surprising for an air conditioning system to break down during summer. Car owners more often face this issue, especially if they are owners of a used car. At such times, experts prefer to work on the air filter, compressor, or condenser.
In any case, a replacement is required using the DIVs they can analyze the issue right away and replace the problematic part instantly.
Cooling fan and fan clutch can be troublesome too in summer, along with the timing chain, due to excessive dust in the air. Therefore, auto garage managers are always keen to check the HVAC systems when spring is at its peak. Some areas are hotter than others, like Texas, where most car repair shops have the skilled workforce and spare parts to resolve these issues.
Oil Change
In the spring and summer seasons, additional debris collects on the vehicle. The presence of certain environmental factors, such as rusty roads, rain, and insects, makes it twice as hard to take care of the car, making it the right time to get an oil change.
Oil not only becomes dirtier over time, but in the long summer months, it depletes other fluids a lot quicker, too. So if not changed on time, it can become clumpy and sticky, making it useless. It affects the car's performance on a longer drive. Technicians advise getting an oil change every six months.
Radiator and Overheating
A standard operating temperature for a vehicle engine is between 195 to 220 degrees. If the engine gets warmer, overheating can occur, causing the car to break down in the middle of the road. According to the AAA, overheating is one of the top five reasons for vehicle breakdowns. 30% of the drivers experience cooling system issues in hot months.
To avoid even the slightest mechanical problem, technicians recommend getting regular maintenance and flushing the radiator to check the coolant levels. It helps to prevent breakdowns, which helps to retain engine life.
Conclusion
Regardless of the season, it is important to get your car checked at regular intervals throughout the year to prevent serious breakdowns. After all, the last thing a driver needs is their vehicle to have unforeseen problems. Therefore, one must always take proper measures to maintain and protect their car and not miss the repair and inspection appointments.