Winter can take its toll on your car. Salt, slush, and freezing cold temperatures can cause wear and tear to your tires, paint, undercarriage, battery, and more. So, as spring is here, you should give your car a good once-over for the road trips ahead. If you’re not sure what to check or what to do to shake off the wintertime blues, here are some helpful tips to get your car right as rain and ready to tackle the freshly thawed open road.
1. Give It a Good Scrubbing Inside and Out
It may not be fun, especially if there’s still a nip in the air, but you should give your ride a thorough cleaning both inside and out. Salt, sand, and exposure to the elements can damage your car’s paint. So you need to wash it well and give it a good wax.
When washing the car, make sure to scrub the bottom area of the car, which is prone to collecting dirt and grime. You should also clean the window channels and apply a quality silicone spray to lubricate and repel dirt from the windows, allowing them to operate more smoothly and let you enjoy the spring air.
While you’re at it, steam clean the carpets to remove all of the salt and sand from the interior of your car as well. These elements can break down certain fabrics and lead to obvious wear and tear.
2. Don’t Forget the Underbody
In most places, wintertime driving results in a coating of sand, salt, and who knows what else on the bottom of your car. This leads to corrosion and rust, which can damage the integrity of your car and make it more difficult to resell.
To solve this all too common dilemma, simply spray the bottom of your car with a hose or spend a few bucks at your local car wash for an undercarriage power washing. If you choose to do it yourself and have a jack available, use it to raise the vehicle up a few inches for a more thorough washing. Just spraying it will usually suffice and there’s no need to apply soap or use any type of cleaner.
3. Take a Look at the Wipers
Sleet and winter snow can crack wiper blades and cause them to break apart, so you should inspect them for any signs of damage. To clean them, you can mix some white vinegar and water together and wipe them down with a rag or towel.
If they’re worn out from the snow, new wipers are an easy and inexpensive fix. In fact, some people like to replace their wipers blades each and every year, usually in the spring in preparation for vacations, weekend beach trips, and summer monsoons.
4. Check and Clean the Battery
Bitter cold mornings can do a number on your battery. In addition to the extra strain and premature wear, the moisture and cold can corrode the cables or connections. You may need to top the water off as well.
Good news is, these are all simple things you can do yourself. To clean the battery connections, a toothbrush and some baking soda will do the trick. However, you may need to take a trip to your local auto parts store to check the battery’s charge.
5. Inspect the Tires
Cold weather can cause perfectly good tires to underinflate, so checking the tire pressure is a must. An underinflated or overinflated tire can easily blow and cost up to $300 to replace. It’s a good idea to check your tire pressure regularly for the best ride and longer tire life. While you’re at it, visually inspect each one for any signs of uneven wear.
6. Check the Alignment
Speaking of uneven wear, proper wheel alignment will help ensure even wear and better handling. If you notice your car pulling to one side or another and it doesn’t track straight, you should make it a point to visit your local mechanic or tire shop. An alignment may cost $70, but it’s better than spending hundreds on a new set of tires.
7. Inspect the Belts and Hoses
Imagine being 1,000 miles from home on a summer vacation and suddenly your vehicle starts overheating, or worse yet, completely dies due to a burst radiator hose or snapped alternator belt. Rather than letting this happen to you, carefully inspect all of your car’s belts and hoses and replace any that are cracked or showing obvious wear. A little simple and inexpensive maintenance can save you a lot of headache down the road.
8. Give the Fluid Levels a Look
You should regularly check your car’s oil, transmission fluid, coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid, and even the windshield wiper fluid. However, considering how tough winter can be on all of these, it’s particularly important to check their levels come spring.
9. Check the Brakes
Winter can do a number on your brake pads and linings, so don’t hesitate to take your car to the brake shop if you can’t stop as well or hear any squealing or grinding noises. Since icy roads and harsh winter conditions can give the brake pedal quite a workout, it’s also important to have them checked in the fall before winter arrives in full force.
10. Have the Air Conditioning System Looked At
Whether you live in Arizona or Tennessee, it can sometimes get unbearably hot during the summer months. This means your car’s air conditioning system needs to be in tip-top shape. From low Freon levels to compressor issues, there are a handful of potential problems that could arise. Rather than being stuck in traffic and baking to death in the July sun, spend a few dollars and get you’re A/C system checked. You’ll be glad you did.
Spring is definitely in the air. By following these tried and true spring car maintenance tips, you’ll be able to enjoy it to the fullest and keep your car on the road where it belongs!
