If your car breaks down, do you discover it yourself or request maintenance immediately?

Checking your A/C is the first thing on the list especially if you haven’t used it in a while, and you don’t know if it’s broken or performing poorly. Diagnosing the unit is easy to do, but the system is complex.

The most common cause of a malfunctioning air conditioning unit is a low level of refrigerant. This could be caused by a leak somewhere in the system. Since modern air conditioning systems are complicated creatures, it's best to have a professional check out the problem.

 Engine overheating is the number-one cause of breakdowns during the summer months. if an engine gets too hot, the moving metal parts can actually start to melt and fuse together, causing a variety of internal problems for your engine. Internal problems such as low coolant levels, cracked hoses, loose or broken belts, a leak in the radiator or even a loose or missing radiator cap can cause your car to overheat and break down. You can check under the hood and make sure that your coolant levels are fine. If you are checking the coolant yourself, do not remove the radiator cap until the engine has completely cooled! Other routine checkups (belts, clamps, hoses) should be checked by a technician.

Tire pressure changes with the rising temperatures. Check the pressure on all tires every month. Examine the tires closely for tread wear. Look for worn spots, bald patches, radials poking through. Also check the sidewalls for nicks, cuts, or cupping. Be sure to also inspect your spare tire and your jack.

Hot weather can be tough on your battery. Summer heat can speed up the chemical reaction inside a battery, causing the battery to be overcharged. You may also notice corrosion starting to occur, resulting in your battery not being able to sustain a charge. So, If you suspect that your battery is being overcharged or isn't holding a charge well, take it to a service shop where they can run a quick battery inspection. And if you need to replace the battery, make sure that it's the right battery type for the model of your car.

Brakes are the most important safety feature on your car. You should know that brakes need to be replaced when the lining on your brake pad or brake shoe is worn down past the minimum thickness specified by the car manufacturer. Also If you feel any sort of softness or pulsing when you apply pressure to your brakes, get them checked out immediately.

If you haven’t changed your engine oil for a bit, now would be a great time. Most of us do a lot of heavy driving during the summer so the engine is more likely to overheat. That’s why owner's manuals suggest that you change your oil and oil filter every 7,500 miles (12,070 kilometers). Oil change specialists suggest every 3,000 miles (4,828 kilometers) or three months. This is a very important part of your car maintenance.