While a Southern California winter won’t take as harsh a toll on your Volvo as in other parts of the country, spring is always a good time to check to take a fresh look around.
As Mike Kefalas, longtime owner of JK Volvo told Pasadena Weekendr recently, it’s a good time to check a few specific things, like your cooling system.
“You’re going to start using your air conditioner a lot soon, as the weather gets hotter,” said Kefalas. He recommends making sure that your car has the coolant that it needs.
Make sure that your coolant reservoir shows a level of coolant above the minimum line all the time. And while a cold engine and a warm engine might show slight differences in the coolant level, says Kefalas, it’s always a good idea to make sure that the level never drops below the minimum level, to prevent any danger of overheating.
Ever notice leaves in the cowl section of your engine? That’s a wide vented section just between the engine itself and the passenger area. There are air intake valves along there, where leaves and other debris can gather.
Kefalas recommends taking a vacuum cleaner to that area the next time you’re at a car wash. It could save a lot of problems down the line.
Newer Volvos also contain “cabin filters,” says Kefalas. These are located behind the dashboard often up underneath and behind the glove box. These keep the air in the car from gathering pollen and molds.
There are two types of filters, explained Kefalas. Charcoal-activated filters and paper filters, which essentially perform the same task of keeping your car’s interior from becoming moldy or smelling musty. While a handy do-it-yourselfer could replace the filters on their own, Kefalas suggests that most Volvo owners might want to have an expert replace these parts.
It’s a west coast winter, but it’s still winter, says Kefalas, and a quick check of these key parts of your engine can make your Volvo run longer with fewer problems.
JK Volvo is at 1587 Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA. (626)792-2240.
