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With wildfires becoming more violent in the state of California, we have to make sure that our car is in top shape in case of an evacuation. Although nothing beats checkups with a professional mechanic, here are some bullet points to help you determine if your car is ready if disaster comes in your region:
Check your tires. If your tires have dry rot or are coming apart, it’s best to replace them immediately if you can. If your tires have hard rubber in some places, that’s also an indicator of worn-down tires.
Avoid soft brakes. Soft brakes can be caused by a couple of things, but most oftenly, they are a sign of contaminated brake fluid. It’s a rule of thumb to change your brake fluid once every two years at a minimum. If it’s not changed over a long period of time, the brake fluid accumulates moisture that is bad news for your brake performance.
Don’t ignore the steering! Luckily (unlike some other vehicle systems) the steering system provides you with a lot of warnings before it fails. Here are some of the most common warning signs:
Looseness in steering wheel
Excessive steering wheel vibration
Grinding/Screeching noise when turning the steering wheel
Alertness to these issues will ensure you far less expensive trips to the mechanic!
If there’s a leaking fluid, fix it immediately! Checking fluid levels regularly and ensuring there’s no leak anywhere is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your car’s (and your) health.
We hope you’ll be safe in these wild times. Our beautiful state has been put to a test with these raging wildfires, but if there’s anything we have proven as Californias, it is that we never run away from problems. We relentlessly pursue them until they are fixed!
Stay safe. We implore you to not ignore evacuation orders. Wildfires are fast and brutal, if you are in an evacuation area, there’s no point in refusing to listen to authorities. If you are on your way to evacuation and you need an experienced mechanic to help you out with your car, we’d love to chime in. Please schedule an appointment today. Or give us a call at 858-221-4742. We are located at 7171 Ronson Rd Ste B, San Diego, CA 92111, and we're open Mondays through Fridays, from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM.