April is Car Care Month. Check Out these Valuable Tips for Spring Car Care:
Spring is a great time to wash your vehicle’s exterior and apply a coat of wax. This warm-weather ritual helps extend your vehicle’s good looks and its value. But don’t overlook your vehicle’s interior spring-cleaning; the benefits of shampooing the carpets go well beyond making the inside aesthetically attractive. A thorough shampooing helps prevent rust caused by the moisture and ice treatments your shoes carry into the vehicle. Cleaning the carpet can also prevent corrosion to the internal wiring system; a step which helps prolong the life of your vehicle.
Seek Professional Services for These Spring-Prep Steps:
- Flushing and refilling the engine coolant system (radiator, heater core)
-To eliminate the possibility of not refilling the system completely, it’s wise to have a repair shop handle this - Before traveling in warmer weather, the condition of accessory drive belts, hose clamps, and hoses should be professionally checked every spring
- Was the vehicle’s air conditioner working properly last summer? If performance was marginal, then spring is the smart time to have the AC checked:
-Many repair facilities provide money-saving specials on air conditioning service in spring - Battery condition should be tested—warmer weather can create a strain on its capability
- Have vehicle suspension and steering components checked for damage caused by pothole-plagued roadways
- Brake components should be inspected (brake lines, rotors, and brake drums)
-This eliminates the corrosion created by road and ice treatments that could lead to brake failure
Do-It-Yourselfer Level Spring Maintenance:
- Spring is a good time to check the level, condition, and concentration of the engine coolant
– For a complete flush and refill of the cooling system, take your vehicle to a professional - Change the oil and oil filter as specified in owner’s manual (properly dispose of used oil)
- To reduce the possibility of issues in the warm months of summer, replace these filters: air, fuel, PCV, and cabin
- Check the condition of tires, including the spare
-Always check tire pressure when tires are cold - Colder weather and the use of corrosive substances during winter can cause vehicle lighting to fail, so perform a quick inspection of the vehicle’s lighting
-Doing so can eliminate possible dangerous situations created by inoperative lighting - Replace wiper blades
-Once nighttime temperatures stay above 40˚ Fahrenheit, keep your washer reservoir filled with fluid designed to clean and remove bugs from your windshield