Spring (March – May)
This is the window before the heat hits. Use it.
- Get your AC checked. Recharge if it's not blowing cold by April. By August, every shop in DFW has a 2-week wait for AC work.
- Check coolant level and condition. The thermostat that worked last summer may not survive this one.
- Inspect belts and hoses. Heat will kill anything that's already cracked.
- Battery test. Heat kills batteries faster than cold. If your battery is 4+ years old, replace it preventively before it strands you.
Summer (June – September)
100°F+ days for weeks at a time. The hardest season on a car in this state.
- Watch your temperature gauge daily. Any creep above normal is a warning.
- Check tire pressure monthly. Heat raises pressure; under-inflated tires fail sooner in heat.
- Don't ignore squealing belts — that's the AC compressor or alternator pulley telling you something.
- If your car has stop-start technology, the battery is working overtime in heat. Watch for slow cranks.
Fall (October – November)
The mildest season here. Use it to catch up on anything you put off in summer.
- Annual inspection if it's due — the lines are shorter than spring or summer.
- Brake check. Heat fade and stop-and-go summer driving wears pads faster than people realize.
- Wiper blade replacement before fall thunderstorms.
- Check headlight aim and brightness for shorter daylight.
Winter (December – February)
We don't have real winters most years, but the rare hard freeze does damage that warmer states never see.
- Check antifreeze concentration before any forecasted hard freeze.
- Tire condition — cold tires lose pressure and grip; ice and sleet are unforgiving.
- Battery test again — cold cranking is the second-hardest thing on a battery after sustained heat.
- Don't ignore a 'low coolant' warning. A frozen coolant line cracks blocks.
What kills cars early in North Texas
- Skipped oil changes during summer — hot oil breaks down faster
- Skipped AC service — when the compressor goes, it's $1,500+
- Ignored battery warnings in heat — sudden no-starts in August parking lots
- Letting tires go bald — heat plus bald tires plus rain equals hydroplaning
