9 Tips To Prepare Your Car For Spring
What with the chill and inclement weather of winter, it seems like it’s been a long time since any of us have got behind the wheel, buckled up, and taken a leisurely cruise in our vehicles. But with the arrival of spring, that’s all about to change. Everything it’s better when the sun returns, and that includes driving. Long journeys, scenic trips, even just driving around is more enjoyable! Before you get to enjoy those things, however, you’ll need to ensure that your car is up to standard — winter might have done quite a number on your poor old vehicle! Below, we take a look at nine tried and tested tips for readying your car for spring.
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Take Care of the Tires
It’s always important to ensure that your tires are in full working condition at all times of the year, but especially during two periods — the transition from summer into winter, and from winter into spring. If you live in an area that requires winter tires, then you need to remember to switch them back on. Many people leave them on, believing, incorrectly, that these “super tires” are suitable for all seasons. It’s not true; they’ll struggle on dry roads. Get those summer wheels back on, making sure that they’re the right pressure and tread before starting up the vehicle.
What’s Going on Underneath?
If you live in an area that receives a lot of snow or rainfall during the winter, then you’ll need to pay extra attention to the undercarriage of your vehicle. Deep snow, for instance, can find its way into nooks and crannies of the underside of your car, and may need to be cleared by hand. If you don’t, you run the risk of rust setting in. It won’t damage your vehicle for spring, necessarily, but will compromise the long-term health of your vehicle.
Deep Cleaning
You can’t help but get your car a little bit dirty, both inside and out, during the winter. You’re trying to make it from A to B without feeling the cold, and it’s just normal to have some old coffee cups and snack wrappers left behind when you leave the vehicle. But when the warm weather returns, you’ll have no excuse. The outside, too, has been left to the fend off the elements, and it’s likely been months since you scrubbed it clean. Give it a thorough seeing to — with a vacuum inside the car, and a thorough job outside. Take it to a professional car wash if it’s extra dirty.
Ready for the Warm Weather
Everyone’s the same. When the temperatures are freezing, they can’t wait for spring and summer. And then when the temperatures begin to creep up to an uncomfortable, they look back and think “I wish it were cold again.” Luckily, we live in an age where we don’t have to be subject to the whims of the weather. Our comfort is in our control, including in our vehicles — but only if everything’s working as it should be. If your car’s AC system isn’t working as it once did or should, then have it repaired by experts like Certified Car Clinic. When it’s in full working order, it won’t matter how warm the temperatures become — you’ll be able to navigate the heat in comfort.
April Showers
Having said all that about warm weather, it’s also true that before we’re able to enjoy the full power of spring and summer, we’re first going to have to endure those April showers. It might not seem like it’s going to do much to your vehicle, but there is a safety aspect to think of. Your windscreen wipers will have been put through their paces during the winter because of the snow and ice, and may not work as well as they once did. To ensure that you’re always able to clear away the rain no matter how heavy it falls, replace your wipers. You should be replacing them every six months or so anyway, so this transition period is a good time.
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Test the Battery
Winter doesn’t just get into your bones and make you long for the summer — it also does a pretty big number on your car’s battery. There are reasons why so many batteries seem to fail during the winter months; it’s because of things like the cold engine and the need to warm your car up quickly. However, just because your battery made it through the winter, there’s no guarantee that it’s in perfect condition. The arriving warm temperatures (which affect batteries but to a lesser degree than the cold) could be what kicks your battery over the edge. Have its health checked out by a mechanic. You’ll be grateful if they spot that’s something wrong before you break down on the way to work!
Change out the Fluids
The fluids in your car will also have been working overtime during the winter, and may be all but depleted once spring arrives. Even though people should replace the fluids in their vehicle during the winter, not many people can face standing under their hood when it’s so cold. Once the warm weather returns, get to work and check that your car’s oil, radiator fluid, brake fluid, and washer fluid at all at the correct levels.
Full Car Service
You never quite know what damage the winter has done to your vehicle, especially if you live in particularly snowy conditions. It might be that the problem only presents itself once you’re back driving in “perfect conditions.” If you suspect that something has gone wrong through the winter, then take your car to the garage for a full-service checkup.
Road Trip Tunes
Finally, let’s keep in mind that we’re entering the best seasons for driving. Is your car ready? And by that, we mean is ready to play all those classic road trip tracks? If not, look at upgrading your car’s infotainment system. It’s much more enjoyable to drive under a cloudless sky when you have your best-loved tracks playing.