Springtime is near and it is time to start thinking about how you can get your vehicle ready for the season. Winter can take a toll on our vehicles, and getting ready for spring will protect the safety of your ride as well as your car's integrity overall. So, what type of maintenance items are good for preparing your vehicle for spring? Here are some of our most recommended.
Check Your Lights
Inspect all of your car's exterior lights, from brake lights to headlights. During the winter, we are constantly using our exterior lights, so checking to make sure that no bulbs have gone out and that all lights are clear and visible is important.
Test Your Battery
Pre-spring is an excellent time to have your car battery tested for charge. Batteries typically last 3-5 years, so if it has been a while since your last battery replacement, you may want to consider this service. Also, check for corrosion around your battery terminals.
Tire Tread Test
Ensuring that your tires have proper tread is important to your safety on the road, especially in rainy weather. Spring brings showers, so you want to be sure that your tires can handle the wet conditions. A penny test is always a good idea or even just bringing your car into our shop for a quick inspection can be helpful.
Check Your Fluids
After a winter of driving, it is always a great idea to check all of your vehicle's vital fluids for proper fill, condition, and to check for leaks. This includes brake fluid, transmission fluid, engine oil, power steering fluid, and more.
Inspect Your Brakes
How are your brakes operating? Do you notice any strange sounds or symptoms while braking? Also, are your brake pads at least 1/4 inch thick? You'll need good working brakes during the rainy season (and every season)!
Test Your Climate Control System
Is your A/C working well? How about your defroster or heater? Spring can bring many different forms of weather, so ensuring that your climate control system is working at its best is important.
Replace Your Windshield Wipers
Most importantly, don't forget to replace your windshield wipers before Spring. With the rain, you'll definitely want a good set of wipers so that you'll be able to see clearly even in a rainstorm. Wipers can tend to wear out quickly, and usually need to be replaced every 6 months to a year. Plus, the harsh winter weather can try out wipers and render them ineffective.
When you need to get your vehicle ready for spring, come into Honest Wrenches!