Car Tips for Drivers in the Kitchener Waterloo area

While most homeowners are very aware of the mechanical workings of their home air conditioner, your car’s air conditioner may be more of a mystery.

It isn’t serviced as often and, since the air filter and other mechanical components are housed under the hood, they don’t get much attention from the average car owner.

Observing routine air conditioning and auto repair maintenance schedules is the key to ensuring comfortable interior automobile temperatures all season long.

Air Conditioning Car Repair is Rarely a DIY Project

If you are super car savvy, you may be able to repair some of your car’s AC issues on your own. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case.

And, performing DIY A/C car repairs can end up violating your vehicle’s warranty, meaning you’ll pay out of pocket for future repairs that may have been covered originally.

Unless you feel the A/C repair is a no-brainer, we always recommend bringing your car to a licensed automotive repair shop to ensure your repairs are done correctly the first time around, and to protect your warranty.

5 Basic Tips for Maintaining the AC in Your Car

1. Run the AC every week

Mechanical parts require a happy medium – enough activity to keep the proverbial juices flowing, but not so much action that it leads to excessive wear-and-tear.

An A/C that sits unused for months at a time can wind up with compounded mechanical issues.

Try to remember to run your car’s A/C for a handful of minutes every week or so to make sure it’s running correctly.

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As fuel prices continue to increase, finding ways to save money on gas can put a remarkable amount of money back into your wallet.

In addition to saving money, reduced fuel consumption is beneficial to Kitchener’s air quality and the planet at large.

Of course, some of the most obvious gas saving tips are things like purchasing a more fuel efficient vehicle, driving slower (the “sweet spot” is between 50 and 80 kph), and reducing the amount of time your car idles. However, there are lesser ­known tricks for keeping your car running as efficiently as possible.

The following are 7 lesser ­known tips to decrease fuel consumption and save money on gas

1. Keep your tires at the proper pressure

Properly inflated tires can increase your tires’ lifespan by up to 10,000 kilometers and can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 4%. Low­ tire pressure is most often an issue during the winter months.

Read the manual provided by your vehicle’s manufacturer to verify the recommended tire pressure for your make/model. Keep your tires inflated to the specified pressure posted on the driver side door post or in the owner manual and have them rotated and aligned regularly.

You’ll save money on gas and other costs associated with wear­ and ­tear.

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