The winter months can be rough on vehicles. The colder temperatures can affect tire pressure and your vehicle’s exterior and undercarriage may have salt, snow, and ice residue. Now that the last bits of snow are melting, trees and flowers are starting to bloom, and the temperatures are warming up, we can feel spring in the air. The changing seasons are the perfect time to schedule your routine vehicle maintenance. We’ve put together a spring car care checklist to ensure you get the most out of your automotive service appointment and that your car, truck, SUV, or van is ready for the warmer weather.
Our spring car care checklist includes eight routine auto services to consider as the weather warms up and the seasons change,
1. Clean the interior and exterior
Winter can certainly make a mess of your vehicle! With all the snow, slush, salt, and ice, the inside and outside of your car, truck, SUV, or van may look less than pristine. Once the temperatures start to warm up, it’s a good idea to thoroughly clean the inside and outside of your vehicle at the car wash. In addition to washing the exterior, consider vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning the interior as well.
2. Replace windshield wipers
Your windshield wipers work hard during the winter months clearing away rain, snow, and sleet. Once spring hits, inspect the wiper blades for cracks or signs of wear and tear. Give them a good cleaning, then check their functionality with a quick window washing with wiper fluid. If the wiper blades are leaving streaks on the windshield or not gliding smoothly, replace them for the spring and summer.
3. Flush and replace fluids
Speaking of wiper fluid, spring is a great time to have your fluid levels checked and flushed if needed. Our certified technicians can help with this routine auto service. They’ll check your oil, brake, washer, steering, coolant, and transmission fluids. If there are any signs of contamination, they can flush the fluids and refill them.
4. Check the filters, hoses, and belts
This is also a good opportunity to have your filters, hoses, and belts inspected. Hoses and belts that feel brittle or show signs of cracking will need to be replaced. Harsh weather can affect your air and cabin filters, so you may need to have them changed more frequently. If your vehicle’s filters are clogged with dirt and debris, now is a good time to change them so you don’t experience a weird smell every time you run the air conditioning.
5. Inspect the brakes
Driving in inclement weather may put more stress on your brakes. Traffic may become more stop and go when it’s snowing, raining, or sleeting. Once the weather warms up, an auto service to check off your spring care car checklist is a brake inspection. You want to make sure the brake pads haven’t worn down too thin, and that the rotors and other components are all still in good working order.
6. Inspect your tires
The rain doesn’t stop once spring arrives. Just the opposite, as it’s a famously rainy season. Having properly inflated tires that provide the right amount of traction is crucial when the ground is wet. This auto service ensures your tires have the correct amount of pressure and that the treads haven’t worn down too much. Winter driving can also cause more wear and tear on your tires, so having a tire rotation can help balance that out and allow them to wear more evenly. Regular tire rotations can extend the life of your tires.
7. Check the alignment
Winter weather can lead to uneven road conditions with snow and ice build up. Driving on uneven surfaces may affect your wheel alignment and cause your steering to become uncentered. If your vehicle starts pulling to one side when you take your hands off the wheel, it’s time to schedule an alignment as part of your spring car care.
8. Test the battery
Winter is tough on car batteries. Low temperatures and cold weather make the battery work harder, and it could leave you with a battery that’s almost dead come springtime. You can check your battery at home, or you can have our auto service technicians check it for you. They’ll find out if the battery is still putting out enough power or if it needs to be replaced.
Scheduling professional automotive services ensures that your car, truck, van, or SUV is serviced properly. The certified technicians at our Whitten Brothers Automotive service centers are highly trained in the maintenance and upkeep of Mazda, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and RAM vehicles. Contact us to learn more about spring car care or schedule your routine auto service online. Check out our service specials to see how you can save!