Planning For Your Summer Adventure

7/7/2017

The snows of winter are long gone and the joys of summer have settled in. You've knocked off your spring checklist and are ready for the open road. We recommend you take a moment before you load up the car for that epic road trip to think about your vehicle. Run through this checklist to make sure your memories don't include finding a mechanic on Yelp.

Maintenance Schedule

Check your maintenance schedule and make sure you're not due for an oil change, annual maintenance, or an inspection 1 or 2 while you're away. Car troubles are not the adventures you're looking for.

Fluids / Wiper Blades

Have you checked your fluids lately? Although dust happens - you want to have some windshield fluid to clear the view. And while you're at it, think about the last time you changed your wiper blades. The general rule of thumb is get a new set every 6 months.

Air Conditioning

This is a big one in the summer. If you're noticing your AC doesn't seem to be cooling properly, or possibly that the air coming out of the vents is cooler on one side than the other, this is an indication that the car's system is low on Freon. Some shops might recommend getting by with a simple top up of the system. We believe the best recommendation is to evacuate the system, leak check, recharge with oil and dye mixture, and add new Freon. We've found that due to the properties of R134a Freon, a simple top up of the system can cause overfilling and higher than normal pressures. Eventually the Freon charge ends up being blown out the pressure pop-off valve on the compressor and you are back where you started - not our style.

If you need help with any of these items we're ready to help. Schedule a Service Request or give us a call.  Wherever your travels take you, enjoy - we look forward to hearing about them on your next visit.

Tags: bmw maintenance, MINI Cooper maintenance

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