We are nearing the end of a tough winter where we experienced a lot of snow and ice. As difficult as it was for us to navigate, our vehicles had to go through some struggles as well. Now that the spring season is approaching, it’s time to start thinking about things you can do to prepare your vehicle for summer road trips. Here are some tips to consider.
Start Spring With A Full Vehicle Detail
Beginning the spring with a full detail or at least a quality car wash is the first place to start. Once the vehicle is clean, take a slow walk around the vehicle and check for any paint chips or dings and invest in a repair kit to get those fixed. It’s important to ensure there’s no exposed bare metal, which can cause rust and more extensive damage over time.
Replace Your Wiper Blades
Snow and ice can be brutal for your wiper blades. They are usually only effective for six months at a time anyway, so it’s a good practice to replace them ahead of the rainy spring season. You don’t want to be caught in a rainstorm with ineffective wiper blades, so put that on your list of car spring cleaning activities to do.
Check The Exterior
Check the lights, mirrors, and other exterior components on your vehicle to ensure everything is working properly. You may have missed certain things during the wintertime so now that the weather has become more stable, it’s important to get anything fixed that needs attention and ensure you’re driving safely at all times.
Change The Oil And Check Fluids
Spring is the perfect time to get a fresh oil change since you’ll likely be driving much more in the coming months. You never want to experience a roadside breakdown when you’re on the way to a vacation spot, and getting ahead of your oil change is a great way to avoid it. Your transmission fluid is also important to get checked since it tends to get dark during the wintertime when it has to work overtime. Coolant checks, as well as power steering fluid and brake fluid are all valuable checks to make this spring.
Examine The Shocks And Struts
Damage to suspension components during the winter is very common, and you might not even know you’ve experienced it. You can test your shocks and struts by exaggerating some turns safely while driving. If there’s more sway in the vehicle than you’re used to, then you may consider getting the vehicle inspected for shock and strut damage. You could also slam on the brakes while driving and see how much the nose of the vehicle dips down.
Verify Tire Tread Is In Good Shape
Spinning tires on ice and snow can wear them out prematurely, so check the tread depth this spring. You don’t want to feel unsafe on the road during spring rainy conditions so invest in new tires if your tread has worn down extensively.
DeBoer’s Auto can help prepare your vehicle for a safe spring and summer and give you peace of mind as a result. Be sure to contact us today to schedule an appointment to get you ready for the fun ahead.
