By the time winter is over your car would have been exposed to freezing temperatures, bombarded with snow, and splashed with a ton of dirt and salt. When the next season comes in, many vehicles end up worse for the wear.
Being proactive will help make sure your car stays in one piece. Here are five things you should do to prepare it for spring.
- Wash the Exterior
In many areas, salt is used to keep the roads safe during winter. However, it can cause all sorts of nasty corrosion on your vehicle. You need to make sure none of it sticks around.
Head to the local car wash and have your vehicle cleaned from top to bottom. That includes the undercarriage, where a lot of the salt is likely to have built up. When it’s done, your car will have a sparkling finish and stay rust-free.
- Clean Up the Interior
It’s not just the outside of your car that could use a good cleaning. After months of all taking in the packed snow and mud stuck in your boots, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the interior has built up its own share of dirt.Depending on how messy it is, washing the carpets and a little vacuuming inside can do the trick. But if you really want a thorough cleaning, get the interior taken care of too when you take it to the car wash.
- Swap Out the Tires
During winter, you needed some extra grip on the road to keep driving safe. If you switched to snow tires, you should go back to using all-weather or summer tires when the conditions are no longer as cold and slippery.Why? Because tires made for winter don’t perform as well during other seasons. They’ll wear out much faster and your car’s handling won’t be as responsive. Fortunately, you can save some money next winter if you reuse your existing set of snow tires instead of buying new ones – provided they’re still road-worthy, of course.
- Check the Brakes
Getting through the winter also takes a toll on the brakes. The slick roads meant that you had to rely on them a lot more. That’s why it’s a good idea to get your brakes checked out, especially if you plan on going on any long trips in the spring.If you hear any squeaking or grinding noises when your foot is on the brake pedal, you definitely need to get them inspected. Other signs to look out for are taking longer to come to a full stop and needing to apply more pressure on the pedal.
- Replace the Wipers
Another part of your car that gets worn out is the wipers. After all, getting rid of all that ice, snow, and salt splashed on the windshield can tear the wiper blades up in the process.Wipers are inexpensive and easy to replace. If you ever get hit by a surprise spring shower, you won’t have to worry about being able to see out of your car.
The flowers will be blooming soon and the outdoors will be full of life. It’ll be the perfect time for a scenic drive to enjoy the colors of spring. Follow these suggestions and your car will be ready for the journey.