May is Be Car Care Aware Month, a national campaign that's been running for decades to remind drivers that a little preventive maintenance goes a long way — especially before summer. With Memorial Day weekend coming up and millions of Americans planning road trips over the next few months, now is the time to check the things that will strand you on I-95 if you ignore them.
This isn't about spending money on stuff you don't need. It's about not spending a lot of money on an emergency you could have avoided for $40.
What to Check Before Summer
Air conditioning. If your AC hasn't been tested since last summer, run it now. Not on a short drive around the block — run it for 20–30 minutes on a hot day with the car actually warmed up. If it blows lukewarm air, takes a long time to cool down, or smells musty, get it looked at before July. An AC recharge or evaporator cleaning in May is a scheduled, low-cost appointment. A breakdown at a rest stop in 95-degree heat is a much bigger problem.
Coolant system. Heat is the number one killer of engines in summer, and a failing cooling system is how it happens. Check the coolant level in the overflow reservoir (not the radiator itself — only open that when the engine is cold). If it's low or the coolant looks brown or rusty instead of green or orange, it's time for a flush. Coolant breaks down over time and loses its ability to handle temperature extremes.
Tires. Heat causes air inside tires to expand, which raises pressure — and overinflated tires on hot pavement increase blowout risk significantly. Check your tire pressure cold (before driving) and compare it to the spec on your door jamb sticker, not the max pressure molded into the tire sidewall. While you're there, look at tread depth and the sidewalls for cracking. A blowout at highway speed is not a minor inconvenience.
Battery. Most people associate dead batteries with winter, but summer heat is equally hard on them — sometimes harder. Heat accelerates the chemical degradation inside a battery. If your battery is more than three years old, have it tested before a long trip. A load test (not just a voltage reading) will tell you if it still holds a charge under demand. This is a two-minute test at any auto parts store, usually free.
Belts. Your serpentine belt drives your alternator, power steering pump, and air conditioning compressor. If it fails, so does everything it powers. Check for cracking, fraying, or glazing on the belt surface. If it's been more than 60,000 miles or five years, it's worth replacing before it decides to go on its own schedule.
Wiper blades. Winter strips wiper blades. Summer afternoon thunderstorms — especially in the South and Midwest — hit fast and hard. You do not want to find out your wipers are smearing at 70 mph in a downpour.
What a Mobile Mechanic Can Handle vs. What Needs a Shop
A qualified mobile mechanic can handle most of this checklist in your driveway: battery test and replacement, belt inspection and replacement, tire pressure and visual inspection, fluid level checks and top-offs, and a general pre-trip inspection.
What typically needs a shop: AC recharge (requires refrigerant handling equipment), coolant system flush (requires a flush machine), and anything involving a lift for undercarriage inspection.
If you want a comprehensive summer check done without taking a day off work to sit in a waiting room, a mobile mechanic pre-trip inspection for $75–$150 is often the most practical option.
Plan Before Memorial Day
The week before Memorial Day is the worst time to try to get a shop appointment. Make your appointment or book your mobile mechanic now, while there's still room on the calendar and time to address anything that comes up.
Find a vetted mechanic ready for your pre-summer check at /find-a-mechanic/.