After Winter Car Care

Now that Christmas is out of the way and winter is beginning to fade into spring, it is the perfect time to take stock of your vehicle and perform some essential checks before the seasons change again. During the winter your car may have taken a bit more damage than throughout the summer, so you may need to replace a few parts.

Should I book a service?

You don’t necessarily need to book a service, however, if you do notice anything which seems to be a bigger issue on your car, you might want to get the professionals involved to take a look and give you some advice. Here are some of the things you will want to check up on with your vehicle this weekend…

Check the wipers

Even if you haven’t had a particularly harsh winter as far as snow and sleet are concerned, the lower temperatures can put a strain on the rubber of your wipers and can cause them to split. They can also become dirty during the winter months when it is damp. You can clean them using a mix of white vinegar and water. If they seem to be damaged, you can pick some up from shops like Costco at any time.

Remember your battery

A lot of people seem to forget that their battery can run out, and during the winter your battery runs through more power because you have the heating on and the wipers are moving more frequently. Make sure that you check if your battery is running low because the last thing you want is for it to run flat while you are out on the road.

Tires

In the winter, having a good set of tires is kind of essential. It doesn’t matter whether or not you will be experiencing snow every day, the roads, in general, are much wetter and much icier. This means that if you don’t have the right tire pressure or your thread is nil, then you could end up sliding off the road and causing an accident. Take a bit of time this weekend to check the pressure and fill up your tires and also to check the tread.

Belts and hoses

The last thing that you want when you are driving on the road is to hear that dreaded sound which indicates that your belt has snapped or your radiator hose has burst. You can easily avoid this issue by making sure that you check your belts and hoses regularly, and this will make your life so much easier when you come to driving around.

Fluid levels

During the winter you will likely have stocked up on the antifreeze to protect your engine as well as the screen wash to wipe your windows. Make sure after the winter has gone that you top these levels up again, and also check the levels of coolant and oil you have in the vehicle. Once you get to the summer you will need a good level of coolant to avoid your engine burning out.