Spring Car Maintenance
Spring has sprung, and that means it’s the perfect time for a little vehicle maintenance. Make sure your vehicle rolls smoothly all summer by following these 10 tips.
Winter is over, and for many of us that means it’s finally time for some serious adventuring in the sunshine. Whether it’s trips to the lake, family vacations, road trips, hiking, or camping, there is probably a considerable amount of driving involved. While you might be preparing yourself for some fun in the sun, have you been preparing your vehicle to get you out and back safely and efficiently?
Your vehicle may be showing signs of wear and tear from Canada’s harsh winter conditions – especially the salted roads. Spring is the ideal time to bring your car into the shop for an inspection so small problems can be identified and fixed before they become major issues.
Here are a few things you can do to make sure your car runs smoothly this spring and summer:
- Replace torn or cracked wiper blades. Those unrelenting spring showers can pop up without warning and seriously reduce visibility, so it’s best to take care of your wiper blades right away.
- Check and top up fluids. While changing your oil, check your power steering, transmission, brake, and windshield washer fluids, as well as your coolant. If the levels are low, top them up. Your owner’s manual will tell you if you need to flush the systems. Low fluid levels in your power steering, brake, or coolant systems may indicate a leak because these are all close systems.
- Tint your windows. There are numerous benefits to having your windows tinted, including keeping the interior of your vehicle cooler, protecting yourself and the interior surfaces of your car from harmful solar radiation, reducing glare, and improving the overall aesthetic of your ride. If you have more questions about what tinting can do for you, give us a call, we would love to chat.
- Get an oil change, and change your oil filter. Neglecting this simple task can harm engine performance, increase fuel consumption, and cause severe engine damage.
- Windshields often get cracked during winter. If yours is damaged, you should definitely have it replaced. A damaged windshield can reduce the effectiveness of other safety features of your vehicle, such as airbags, seatbelts, and roof strength.
- Give your vehicle a walk-around and check to make sure all the lights are working. Lights are important for communicating to other drivers on the road, so you should make sure that they are all in working order.
- Check your battery and alternator. Wold temperatures are known to mess with batteries and charging systems. You don’t want your battery to suddenly give up when you are out adventuring in the woods, so it’s best to check everything now. Check to make sure your battery is securely mounted and the connections are free of corrosion and tightly fastened. Have your battery’s charge tested, and consider replacing it if it is more than 5 years old.
- Cold temperatures can cause rubber to degrade and crack, so check your vehicle’s belts and hoses. With your vehicle turned off and cool, inspect them for visual or tactile damage such as hardening, leaking, softening, blistering, cracks, looseness, glazing, or frays. If you have to replace a belt, you may also need to replace the tensioner and pulley so that the new belt fits properly.
- Check your engine air filter, cabin air filter, and fuel filter. If you notice any damage or clogging, get them replaced as these filters are important to your health and the health of your vehicle.
- Check your tire pressure, and inspect them for any damage (including the spare). Replace your tires if you notice uneven wear patterns, cuts, or bruises and have them rotated every 10,000 kilometres.
Vehicle maintenance is the best way to keep you safe during your summer activities and make sure you don’t have any unexpected delays. If you are interested in learning about the many benefits of window tint, keep reading or contact us today.
