It's important to take time to think about maintaining your vehicle when the seasons change. During the winter, you might have let maintenance fall to the bottom of your priority list, though. People don't tend to drive as much during the winter, and you might have spent more time at home than road-tripping.
Then spring comes, and everyone is ready to get out and about, which means you need to prepare your car to come out of its hibernation as well.
The following is a guide to spring maintenance for your vehicle to get it ready for the warm weather months.
Check Your Tires
One of the most important things you can do on a regular basis to ensure that your vehicle is safe and road-ready is to check the tires.
Remember the following as far as tires go:
- Check your pressure. Checking your tire pressure is easy, and it can make a big difference in how safe your vehicle is, as well as things like your gas mileage. The best time to check tire pressure, according to experts, is when your car has been sitting for two to three hours. When tires heat up, the pressure builds. Check the tire pressure you measure against the specs on your tires to make sure they line up with one another.
- Next, check the tread on your tires. Your tire needs enough tread depth to be able to grip the road, no matter the weather. However, in spring, when it can be rainy, and there are thunderstorms appearing out of nowhere, you definitely don't want to slip on the roads.
- Get your tires rotated. Rotating your tires prevents excessive wear and tear and keeps your vehicle operating smoothly. There are options available for rotating your tires, and a professional can help you decide what's best for you.
- Replace your spare tire because even though you're not driving on it, it still ages. Air quality and temperature can contribute to the degradation of the materials of your tire and its physical integrity. Check the manufacturer warranty for your spare tire to determine when you should replace it.
- Consider scheduling a wheel alignment. When you're regularly hitting bumps and potholes, it can throw the wheels of your vehicle out of alignment and cause a cascade of other problems. For example, it can lead to too much stress on the suspension system or uneven wear on your tires.
Replace Your Wiper Blades
If you've ever been stuck in a heavy spring rainstorm and your windshield wiper peels off, you know how hard the icy conditions of the winter can be on them. Check your blades, and even if they look okay, but they're leaving streaks on the windshield, you should replace them.
This is something you can do yourself, but you just need to figure out the right size, which should be listed in your owner's manual.
If you don't want to replace them yourself, an auto tech can do it.
Check Your Brakes
If you're driving your car and you hear a grinding sound when you use the brakes, they may need to be replaced. You can go to a lot of mechanics and get a free brake inspection, even if you don't think there's a problem.
Check Your Other Fluids
Your car needs several key fluids to run properly, and you may not even realize that yours are dirty or low until they fail, damaging your car.
There aren't so many warning signs associated with low or dirty fluids, which is why you need to proactively check them or have them checked.
If you're taking your car in for spring servicing, ask the technician to check your power steering, brake, and transmission fluids. They should also check your coolant and your windshield washer solvent.
Inspect your cooling system overall and make sure the connections are tight, and look for cracks or leaks in the hoses or radiator.
Change the Cabin Air Filter
If you feel like the interior of your car smells funny, it may be time to change your cabin air filter. You can locate it and do it yourself, and it's fairly easy. You can also ask a technician to change it for you.
Do a Battery Check
We often associate dead car batteries with the winter, but there's also the risk of this happening in the summer.
You might find an auto shop that offers free battery testing if you don't know how to do it yourself.
Check the Air-Conditioning
Even in the winter, a good rule of thumb is to test your air conditioner by letting it run for at least 15 minutes once a month. When you run your air conditioner at regular intervals, it helps it stay active and fresh, and it can help you ensure it works, particularly before you hit the hottest days of summer.
Consider Getting Your Car Detailed
Car detailing can be like a spring cleaning for your vehicle.
Car detailing isn't the same as simply getting your car washed. Both involve cleaning it, but there are significant distinctions.
When you're washing a car, you're removing the dirt and grime on the outside, including underneath, but often not inside.
When you get your car detailed, a professional in car detailing Manteca is bringing your car back to its optimal state, similar to when you first bought it.
Detailers use special equipment and cleaning products. A car detail includes:
- Interior cleaning: Detailers spend a lot of time on the interior, and that's where their focus lies compared to traditional cleaning. Everything is thoroughly cleaned on the interior.
- While the interior clean is what sets detailing apart, your exterior is cleaned too. Detailers will do a high-powered wash and dry, and they use a clay bar to get rid of watermarks and soap scum. Detailers also do a thorough polish, and they then apply a sealant which gives a car a glossy finish.
- If you get your car detailed, along with looking great, when done regularly, it can boost your resale value.
Car detailing isn't the same as simply getting your car washed. Once you do the above, you should be ready to hit the road on any warm-weather adventures you have planned.
