These 6 Maintenance Tips Can Get Your Car in Peak Condition for Spring

By Product Expert | Posted in Service, Tips and Tricks on Monday, February 29th, 2016 at 10:01 pm
Spring Maintenance Checklist for Your Car

Spring Maintenance Checklist for Your Car

With spring coming into bloom, drivers will want to make sure their vehicles are prepared for the warmer months. Winter can take a toll on your car, which is why we’ve put together a spring maintenance checklist for your car, helping you keep it clean and in optimal condition no matter what season it is.

Read more tips and tricks from the Joe’s Auto Sales blog

6 Car Maintenance Tips for Spring

how to inspect your tires for spring car maintenanceThe first thing you’ll want to do now that winter is on its way out is to take care of any needed maintenance. The following list shouldn’t replace any regular maintenance needs, like oil changes or fluid fill-ups, but it is a great place to start caring for your vehicle after winter.

  • Inspect your tires: In addition to getting regular tire rotations, you’ll also want to inspect your tires’ tread depth and PSI. While harsh roadway conditions can do damage to your tires during the winter months, the fluctuating temperatures that come with early spring also mean your tire pressure could fluctuate, increasing the need to regularly check the PSI.
  • Replace windshield wipers: There’s no doubt that this is a must after the icy winter months. Hard ice and snow can damage your wiper blades, decreasing their effectiveness. To ensure you are able to see clearly when the rains come, check their condition and replace if necessary.
  • Inspect the brakes: Though snow and road salt can do damage to any part of your vehicle, one area you will want to make sure to inspect for corrosion are the brakes. Usually it is best to let a professional technician handle this so that a thorough inspection or cleaning can take place.
  • Test your air conditioning: In the winter, most drivers go so long without using the air conditioning that they forget to make sure it works before warm weather arrives. To make sure you’re not stuck in the heat, be sure to test this out ahead of time and fix it if needed.
  • Inspect hoses and belts: Most drivers won’t think about this, but extreme shifts in temperatures isn’t great for the rubber on hoses and belts in your car. Look for any cracking or wear, or have an automotive professional take a look.
  • Deep clean: Lastly, put your car through a deep clean. It can be a lot of work to clean off the salt and dirt that winter left behind, but it’s worth it. In addition to washing the exterior body and the interior carpet, be sure to adequately clean the undercarriage, wheels, rocker panels and door jambs.

[Read more: Do you save more on car insurance buying a used car?]

There are plenty of other ways you can prepare your car for spring, but this spring maintenance checklist for your car should be a great start for preparing for the warmer months. You can share your own suggestions for automotive spring cleaning and maintenance in the comments below or contact us at Joe’s Auto Sales to learn more.