IS YOUR CAR READY FOR SPRING?

   

 Help your car recover from old man winter and be prepared for spring.  Here are a few tips for saving time and money over the long haul with a few quick tips. 

• Wash your car inside and out. 

Winter can be fun and exciting when weather is great for skiing, boarding, cross country and polar plunges! However, it's not easy keeping the interior clean when you've walked through mud, slush and half melted snow and ice. Cleaning your interior early in spring can help keep your car clean and dirt free. Sometimes, if this is neglected, salt and dirt dries out and is then rubbed so deep into the interior carpets and seats that its almost impossible to get out. In the long run this can lower the value of your vehicle. 

• Check tire pressure.

The cold dense air can play games with your tires, dropping the tire pressure and causing more wear and tear per mile to your tires. Once weather warms up it's great to make sure pressure is good and that snowbanks, ice and slush haven't knocked your car out of alignment.  

• Top off fluids.

Most quick lube and oil changing facilities do this for free. Summer is right around the corner from spring and  it helps to stay confident in knowing your car has plenty of coolant, oil and washer fluid for the upcoming high-temp days.

• Windshield Wipers.

Check your windshield wipers before the first big rainstorm hits. Winter ice and snow can be brutal and shred the fine cut rubber on your wipers. We've all done it, setting the defroster on full blast and wipers are on, in a frantic rush to clear the windshield so we can be on our way.

• Wash the under body of the vehicle.

Snow covers roads and salt melts snow on roads. It's a viscous cycle. Nonetheless salt is essential to clearing the roadway from snow and ice. But salt is notorious for corroding and rusting up the under body of your car. A good strong wash from a pressure washer can do wonders in keeping corrosion down.

• Brakes.

Harsh conditions cause slower, more cautious driving. The more cautious a driver is the more braking is usually involved. Brakes can be under constant pressure during winter months and its best to check them out before they start squealing at every stop light and stop sign.