Spring is here, and that means it’s time for warmer weather and driving with the windows rolled down. You may have heard of winterizing your car, but did you know that it’s just as important to get your car ready for spring? Preparing your car for spring will not only ensure that you’re ready for summer road trips ahead, it will help keep your car in top condition year-round. Here are our top tips for spring car maintenance.

Top Tips for Spring Car Maintenance

Winter can be very hard on cars between difficult driving conditions and the added demands of cold weather. Preparing your car for spring helps ensure that your vehicle stays in the best shape possible for the warmer weather ahead.

Spring Cleaning… for Cars!

If your car is regularly parked in a garage, then you likely don’t have to worry about this step. But if you park outdoors every night, especially if your driveway or parking space is below trees, then it’s important to clear out any leaves, pine needles, nuts, and other debris that may have accumulated along the seams between your windshield wipers and runoff channels. You may want to pop open your engine compartment too – debris can accumulate inside the engine compartment without you realizing it.

You may also consider cleaning out the inside of your vehicle and replacing your winter emergency kit for a summer kit. That way, you can lighten up the load and save on gas mileage, which in turn means fewer dollars spent at the pump.

Have Your Car Washed

During cold weather and snow, salt is added to the roads to help prevent freezing and ice. While this makes roads safer to drive in the short term, salt can corrode the undercarriage of your vehicle. Corrosion takes time to cause significant damage, but when it does happen, it can lead to expensive repairs. Having regular car washes can help prevent the buildup of salt so you can avoid corrosion down the road.

Car washes also provide your car with a fresh coat of wax, which not only keeps your car looking great, it helps protect the paint as well. Regular applications of wax will ensure better visibility during rainstorms as well, since water will slide right off instead of beading up on your windows.

Replace Your Windshield Wipers

Windshield wipers work extra hard in the winter to remove the extra salts and grime that are a byproduct of inclement weather. It’s generally a good idea to replace your windshield wipers twice a year. If you can coincide them with the start of spring and the end of fall, you’ll be able to keep track of how new they are, easily. The result? A perfectly clean and clear windshield no matter how many spring showers you encounter.

Top Off Your Fluids

Regularly replacing your vehicle’s fluids is an essential part of preventive maintenance. Keeping up with this part of car ownership helps prolong your vehicle’s life. Spring is the perfect time to check your vehicle’s fluids.

Fluids to check include:

• Brake fluid
• Cooling system fluids
• Power steering fluids
• Window washing fluids
• Oil

Check Your Belts, Hoses, and Lights

Taking regular care of your car will help your vehicle stay in top performance and extend its lifespan. Stop by T3 Atlanta for a routine check of your belts, hoses, and lights. We’ll be able to assess how much life is left in these parts so you can plan for the future and avoid unexpected repairs. Preparing your car for spring is a snap with T3 Atlanta!