02 January 2026This is it, Plant City!
We are standing on the edge of the new year,
with the Strawberry Drop at McCall Park just hours away and the winter harvest
just around the corner. While most folks are busy scribbling resolutions about
gym memberships or finally organizing their garage, there’s a different kind of
resolution worth taking for the vehicle sitting idle in the driveway.
Let's think about all the miles your vehicle
has put on this year. The countless trips down Alexander Street, hauling the
family to Christmas Lane, and navigating the dust of the backroads
during the spring harvest.
So, let’s treat this moment like a reset
button. As we roll into 2026, your vehicle deserves its own set of resolutions,
the kind that keeps it dependable through festival traffic, winter harvest
roads, and every daily drive in between.
That’s why we at Jarrett Scott Ford put
together a simple and practical Auto Resolution Checklist, a preventive
maintenance guide designed for Plant City driving conditions. Think of it as
the smartest resolutions you can make for the car this coming year.
Your 2026
Preventive Maintenance Checklist
Before diving deeper, here’s a simple, big-picture look at the preventive
maintenance resolutions that keep your vehicle reliable through Plant City
traffic, Florida heat, and sudden downpours.
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What You Should Do
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Why It Matters
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How Often
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Pay attention to changes
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Catch small noises, vibrations, or handling changes before they
turn into costly repairs.
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Weekly
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Replace Engine and Cabin Air Filters
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Helps your engine breathe better and keeps pollen, dust, and
allergens out of the cabin.
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Every 10,000–15,000 miles
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Check Tire Pressure and Tread
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Improves safety in heavy rain and helps tires wear evenly and last
longer.
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Monthly
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Inspect Fluids (Oil, Coolant, Brake, Transmission)
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Prevents overheating, poor performance, and long-term engine or
transmission damage.
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Every 3,000–5,000 miles
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Use OEM Replacement Parts
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Factory-approved parts are built to handle Florida heat and last
longer.
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Whenever parts need replacement
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Test Battery and Replace Wipers
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Avoids no-start mornings and poor visibility during summer storms.
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Battery: every 3 years / Wipers: annually
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Let's break these down one by one.
Resolution 1:
Perform a Weekly "Silent Drive"
We often tend to treat our car audio systems
like a shield. If we hear a weird noise, we just turn up the music or the
latest podcast until the noise "disappears." This year, let’s resolve
to listen.
Once a week, perhaps when you’re driving down
a quieter stretch like Cork Road or Sam Allen Road, turn the
radio completely off. Roll the windows down for a minute, then back up. Listen
for anything that wasn't there last week.
- Squealing when braking: That’s your wear indicator. It’s a literal alarm clock telling you it’s time for pads before you ruin your expensive rotors.
- Whirring or growling: This often points to a wheel bearing or an alternator bearing. Catching this now means you won't be calling a tow truck on the side of I-4.
- Rhythmic Thumping: This usually indicates a tire issue, either an alignment problem or a "flat spot" starting to form.
Why this is a must: Being in tune with
your car’s "normal" sounds is the fastest way to save thousands of
dollars.
Resolution 2:
Replace All Filters Every Spring
In Plant City, our "pollen season"
coats every car in a thick layer of yellow dust. That dust isn't just on your paint, it's being sucked into your engine and your
lungs.
- The Engine Air Filter: Think of it like a surgical mask. When it gets clogged with Florida dust and grit, your engine has to work harder to "breathe," which kills your gas mileage.
- The Cabin Air Filter: If you turn on your AC while waiting in line at the Strawberry Festival and it smells like a wet basement, your cabin filter is the culprit. It’s responsible for keeping allergens and dust out of your seating area.
Why this is a must: These are two of the
cheapest parts of your car, yet they have a massive impact on your comfort and
your car’s efficiency. Most can be swapped out in your driveway in under five
minutes.
Resolution 3:
Optimize Tire Pressure and Tread
Florida’s asphalt can reach temperatures over
140°F in the summer. That heat does two things. It causes the air inside your
tires to expand, and it softens the rubber, making it wear faster.
- Check the Sticker, Not the Tire: Ignore the "Max PSI" on the tire sidewall. Instead, look at the sticker inside your driver’s side door jamb. That is the manufacturer’s recommended pressure for your specific vehicle weight.
- The Penny Test: We get some of the heaviest rainfall in the country. If your tires are balding, you will hydroplane. Take a penny, turn Lincoln upside down, and stick him in the tread. If you can see all of his head, your tires are legally bald and dangerous for Florida summers.
Why this is a must: Proper tire pressure
can improve your gas mileage by up to 3%. More importantly, good tread is the
only thing keeping you on the road during a July afternoon monsoon.
Resolution 4:
Flush and Fill Critical Fluids
Your car has several "lifebloods,"
and in our tropical climate, they don't last forever. The humidity in Plant
City can actually cause moisture to build up in systems like your brake lines.
- Brake Fluid: This is a "hygroscopic" fluid, meaning it absorbs water from the air. Over time, this lowers the boiling point of the fluid, making your brakes feel "mushy."
- Coolant (Antifreeze): In Plant City, we care more about the "anti-boil" properties. If your coolant is old and acidic, it will eat away at your radiator from the inside out.
- Oil: Don't just follow the "5,000-mile rule" blindly. Check your oil levels at the gas station. Engines can consume a little oil between changes, and running low is the fastest way to kill a motor.
Why this is a must: Fluids are the
cheapest insurance policy you can buy. A $100 coolant flush is much better than
a $3,000 engine replacement because you overheated on the way to Lakeland.
Resolution 5:
Commit to Quality (OEM) Parts
It’s tempting to hop online and buy the
cheapest possible sensor or belt from a random warehouse. But the reality is
that cheap parts often don't account for the extreme heat we deal with in
Central Florida.
- What is OEM?
It stands for "Original Equipment Manufacturer." These are the parts your car was built with and have the best compatibility.
- The "Buy Once, Cry Once" Rule:
A cheap $20 alternator might last six months. A $150 OEM alternator will last ten years.
Why this is a must: Labor is expensive. If
you have to pay a mechanic to replace the same "cheap" part twice,
you’ve spent more than if you had just bought the quality part the first time.
Resolution 6:
Annual Battery and Wiper Refresh
These are the two most common "failure
points" for Florida drivers.
- The Battery: Heat is actually much harder on batteries than cold. Most batteries in Plant City only last 3 years. If you don't know how old yours is, take it to a local shop for a free "load test" before the first week of January is over.
- The Wipers: Even if it doesn't rain for a month, the Florida sun "bakes" the rubber on your wipers until it’s hard and brittle. When that first New Year storm hits, you’ll be glad you spent $30 on a fresh set of blades.
Why this is a must: There is nothing more
frustrating than being ready to head out to a community event or a dinner at The
Corner Store and finding a dead battery or being caught in a storm with
wipers that just smear the water.
Starting 2026
on the Right Track
As we prepare to watch that giant strawberry
drop in McCall Park and toast to the future, let’s make a pact to stop
"reactive" maintenance and start "proactive" care. Our cars
do a lot for us, they carry our families, our groceries, and our memories.
This year, treat your vehicle to the care it
deserves. You’ll save money, reduce stress, and ensure that the only thing
you’re worrying about this year is whether you want whipped cream on your
strawberry shortcake (the answer is always yes).
From all of us at Jarrett Scott Ford,
Happy New Year Plant City!
