If the winter cold has you down, it’s time for something you’ll look forward to. We’ve got some great ways to get your car ready for spring.
The warmer months are ahead. That doesn’t change the cold and gray weather you’re facing during the winter months. As you look ahead to the warmer time of the year, you’ll want to have your car ready so that you can enjoy driving and get ready to spend some time out in the sunshine. The beauty of warmer temperatures and a renewed sense of life awaits you in the spring. Make sure your car is ready.
1. Get your tires checked
If you’ve faced temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit or prolonged periods during the winter, you’ll need to get your tires checked before spring. The colder temperatures can cause cracks and damage to all-season tires, which aren’t as flexible as snow tires. Now is the time to have your tires checked to make sure they’ll last through the spring and summer. While doing this, you should have your tires rotated and the air pressure checked. These activities will make your tires last longer.
2. Remove the road salt from the undercarriage
One of the best ways to get your car ready for spring is to wash away the winter salt that builds up on your car. Road salt is harsh, and coarse, but it has its purpose, which is to melt ice on the roads. This material also eats away at the undercarriage of your car. Either pay the car wash the premium for an undercarriage wash or use a garden hose with the highest level of water pressure to remove the winter grime and salt from under your car.
3. Pay for a full detailing of your car
If you don’t normally wash and detail your car, now is the time to pay a bit more to have this done. You might pay as much as $100 to have the car fully detailed and deep cleaned, but it’s worth it to do this once a year. As the winter fades away and the warmth of spring begins, put out that little bit more and get your car detailed properly to make it look and feel great.
4. Check and top off the fluids
Spring comes with rain, but it’s also a great time to make sure all of your vehicle’s fluids are topped off. One of the best ways to get your car ready for spring is to refill fluids that have been depleted during the winter months. Typically, you’ll need to add windshield washer fluid, but this could be the right time for an oil change and to check your brake and transmission fluids. If you don’t want to do this, it’s easy to take your car to a service station to have it done.
5. Get your battery checked
Even if your battery has performed at championship levels all winter long, it’s time to have it checked to make sure it’s still in good shape. You don’t want to come out to a dead or dying battery in the morning. When you check your fluids or have your tires checked, go ahead and check that battery. Many service stations will do this as part of the other services.
6. Check your air conditioning system
If the weather’s been cold for several weeks, you haven’t used your air conditioning system since the last time the temperatures were high enough to require its use. One of the best this to do to get your car ready for spring is to check the AC system. You can easily do this by running it for about 15 minutes to make sure it’s still working. In fact, you should do this once a month regardless of the temperature to make sure it stays fresh and active. You don’t want to face blazing hot summer days with a nonfunctional air conditioning system.
7. Flush and refill your cooling system
The cooling system of your car should be flushed and refilled about every 24,000 miles. For most, this is approximately once every two years, but for some, it’s much more often. This might not be an activity you want to undertake. If you’ve got perfect service records, you’ll want to find out when this was last done. If it’s been a while, ask for this service with some of the others listed.
8. Remove your winter emergency gear
If you’re one of the few people that smartly keeps an emergency winter kit in your car, it’s almost time to remove that kit from the trunk. You won’t need winter items during the spring and summer. Of course, if you’ve used any of the items, you need to replenish the kit with new flares, bottles of water, or nonperishable food. This is a great way to get your car ready for spring and summer driving.
9. Replace the wiper blades
Typically, your windshield wiper blades should be replaced twice a year. Many drivers will do this in the fall and spring to ensure they have working blades for the winter weather and spring rainstorms. Typically, windshield wipers that face snow and ice during the winter get worn and need to be changed when spring arrives. These items are pretty easy to replace on your own, but this is another part of the service you can request to get your car spring ready.
10. Check your cabin filter
The air filter for your cabin should be replaced every 12,000 to 15,000 miles, which means approximately once a year for most drivers. This filter should be replaced as spring arrives to keep the air clean and filter out dirt, impurities, and pollen. If you’re susceptible to spring allergies, you’ll want to keep the pollen out. This is easily one of the most important things you can do to get your car ready for spring. You’ll want to breathe clean air all spring and summer long, and changing the filter allows that to happen.
It might not be time yet, but spring is coming soon. Use these ten tips to get your car ready for spring so that you’ve got a clean car to drive and enjoy during the warmer months of the year.
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