Autumn is finally here in full force in Tucson, AZ—and along with the dropping temperatures, changing colors, and smell of pumpkin-baked goods, you’ll want to give your car special attention to help ensure your ride can keep up with the new season. Stick with us today as we cover virtually all the basics with our top fall car maintenance tips—and check out our 5-Year Maintenance Plan at The Car Lot near Oro Valley, AZ, to see how you can score some savings when you schedule car service in the area.
Arizona might be known for its ultra-warm temperatures—but that doesn’t mean you won’t see cold days in the autumn months—especially since it’s not uncommon to kick off a morning commute or evening adventure in 40-degree weather. So, to get started, it’s always a good idea to check your antifreeze levels to help ensure your fluid temperatures remain regulated and your ride continues running in healthy condition—especially if you plan to travel to colder areas this season.
Even if you plan to stick nearby, you’ll still want to get your headlights and fog lights inspected and replaced when needed. During the fall, wildlife is more common on the roads—and you’ll even occasionally hear stories of deer walking through the Tucson roads in the late evenings, and making sure you have functioning headlights is one of the best ways to spot and safely react to animals and obstacles in the road.
Don’t forget about your personal comfort—as we mentioned, it’s not always warm in Arizona—especially during late night and early morning cruises—so, make sure your heater and defroster are working in peak shape to help keep your windows clear and you warm. Also, check up on luxury systems like dual-zone climate controls, heated seats, and more to help ensure you and your passengers cruise with a first-class experience.
After you’ve taken care of the fall car preparation tips above, you’ll still want to keep up with your basic maintenance to help your ride continue to cruise like new. One of the best places to start is with an oil change roughly every 10,000 miles, as this simple service helps you prevent wear and tear in your powertrain while also helping your motor properly cool.
Next, give your tires a quick look. As a rule of thumb, insert a penny head-first into your tread grooves—can you see the top of Honest Abe’s head? Then you’ll want to replace your current tires to help keep your safety and performance on point while minimizing excess sliding.
Remember your battery—after all, when temperatures begin to drop, your power source can drain up to 60% faster. So, have our technicians perform an inspection to see if it’s time for a new battery to help you avoid waking up to a car that refuses to start.
Get your car ready for the autumn weather—check out our 5-Year Maintenance Plan at The Car Lot near Marana, AZ, and schedule your service when possible. As your local Tucson dealer, we want to help ensure your ride continues to cruise like new for years to come, so feel free to ask us any questions that pop up—and if you need a new ride to keep up with the upcoming holiday bustle, explore our inventory for adventure-geared SUVs or legendary sports cars to reward yourself this season.