I’m glad it’s getting warmer. I’m sick of my feet being constantly cold, and I’m sick of everyone whose warm, dank armpits I try to clandestinely shove my two-degree-Kelvin feet into screaming like I’m trying to both murder them and convert them to Scientology. I like seeing the trees grow leaves again, the flowers push through the soil like zombie arms from graves, and while I’m not exactly thrilled about all the pollen around, I’ll happily do a few fat yellow rails of the stuff just because. Plus, summer is a great time to be driving, which I intend to do plenty of. So what are you doing to prepare your car for summer?
Compared to winter, summer seems like a pretty low-lift sort of prep, but is it? What sorts of things are you doing to your respective fleets to prepare them for the glorious heat?
I know for many of our readers there will be the somber ceremony of swapping out knobbly winter tires for glistening all-seasons or summer tires. I know I need to recharge the A/C in, I think, all my cars that actually have working A/C, and I’ll be hoping that’s all they need. I might also take advantage of it no longer being so damn cold out to change the oil in the Pao, too. What else does summer demand? Wiper blades? Cooling system checks seem a good idea, since those will finally have to be working. And working harder.
I’m sure there are many things I’m not considering – spraying anti-stick coatings like Pam non-stick spray on vinyl seats, or trimming another inch or so off your Daisy Dukes, or fixing your window regulators. The point is, I’m nosy as hell, and I want – no, need – to know what you are doing.
How are you prepping your cars for the joys of summer? Tell me! Tell me, dammit! Let’s discuss!
Summer here sucks.
All I’m doing is scheming on how to get out.
I pulled the engine from my Oldsmobile to replace the crank and rod bearings along with the oil pump and some other crap while I was in there. While doing that I found that one of the crank bearing journals are screwed. Replaced all the bearings and shit and hoped the crank would hold,but still fucking bearing noises. I guess the summer preparations are not necessary anymore.
Oh,almost forgot, I also have to replace all fluids and filters in our Tahoe and replace a mirror and door-stop springs.
I’ve reached a point with the explorer (98, currently at 87k) where I either need to cut the suspension out and put a set of Dana 44s. Or stop where I am and just enjoy what I have.
Most all fluids are fresh so basically nothing besides oil change and fixing the A/C- it still works, it just takes a while to cool down for some reason (Last year I had a shop “recharge” it and they put that dye in it and said bring it back if it doesn’t cool so they can see if there’s a leak. It’s been working fine all winter in TX (sometimes it’s needed!) So I think it’s just during the summer when it’s a hundred fucking degrees every day and miserable, it just takes a while to cool down- doesn’t help that they’re shorter trips too. So it may need something & maybe not. If it gets too damn hot even w/ the windows open then I’ll fix it. It’s the 1st car I’ve ever had that had A/C that actually worked after having about 8 shitboxes over about 20 years w/ A/C that didn’t work. I didn’t even care to fix it since I would do lawn care all day and was already hot, plus it was a straight shot on the highway 20 min home w/ windows open. If I fixed it, it would have probably been what the whole car was worth!
Recently, Mark had a Showdown and said: “Seller says it just needs a “recharge”…yeah, sure it does”
That made me laugh out loud
Just added ARB Solis 32 Intensity aux lights (one spot, one flood) to the toy (2012 Pathfinder). They are good for lighting up a campsite, seeing wildlife offroad before they become a hood ornament, and signaling Mars.
Next up, a GMRS install with speaker instead of having to deal with handhelds flopping about the cabin.
I’ve been getting my 97 PLYMOUTH Neon back on the road. Been in the back of the garage for 8 years. All fluids, brakes, turbo lines, fresh injectors, and remove the dead mouse from the trunk. 63k forgettable time capsule, but it’s mint.
My BMW still needs an A/C compressor and has recently become the primary daily due to my 342,000 mile Subaru developing a severe oil leak from probably the head gaskets. It also needs every fluid changed.
My F250 needs shocks and hub lockers, which are easy but just really expensive.
Lastly, I’m probably selling my $200 Crown Victoria and buying something somewhat reasonable to replace the Subaru as my daily driver.
The Subaru will be back and better than ever, but probably not this summer.
Cruze needs a charging system issue hunted down. RAV4 needs a new 7 way trailer socket thingy installed after the old one left the running light pin in the trailer connector. Camper needs the wheel bearings repacked and some trim pieces replaced along with a full exterior detail.
I have to:
(1) put up the carport I use for shade in the summer
(2) swap the full doors for my half doors – I drive a Wrangler
(3) install my new flooring and new seat covers to complete my baby-proofing of the inside
(4) tire rotation and change oil (and remember to put in my new handy “ölablassventil” aka easy-oil-change-forever thingy
(5) clean up and install the used pair of KC lights I picked up for $25 on FB
(6) get a wire-to-synthetic rope swap kit for the winch I bought, and install that on the Jeep, then got take a class to learn how to use it!
Now, if it only stopped being nasty wet, windy and cold here I could get started!
Swapping out the winter air in my tires for that sweet smelling summer air.
I’m rebuilding the cylinder head of my BMW, replacing the oil pump on my Fiat, and installing larger carb jets in my Corvair. And oil changes for the Tundra and the Miata.
I have to put a knock sensor in the ’06 CR-V, but other than that it just got four new tires and rear brakes done, so it’s good.
I tightened up the exhaust manifold bolts on the Scout and made the leak go away, but she needs a good spring freshening when it stops raining around here—oil change, new oil in the diffs, a good lube job, and some carb adjustment. And then I’ll take the hardtop off.
Once I’ve got the motor in, aiming to pull the hardtop and slap the new spats on the Roadster.
The YJ might be finally getting out of the shop after blowing the transmission by driving in a straight line in 2WD Hi at barely highway speeds (curse the AX5 and everyone involved). To my great sadness, the folks selling an AX15 conversion kit never came through, even after waiting several months, so we’re installing another piece of junk AX5.
The 2000 XJ is getting a new front drive shaft and new tires. Maybe some new shocks too. I suspect the front pads may need replacing and if I end up doing them it’s getting new brake fluid. I’m also taking the time to go over every bolt in the suspension and steering.
The Kia K5 just got new tires and now has a slight vibration over 80mph. I have to go back to the shop that put them on have them recheck their work.
The WL Trailhawk needs a trip to the dealership to diagnose creaking in the front as well as an oil change (free) and to take care of a few recalls before I start towing the camping trailer again.