Get Ready for Spring With This Car Maintenance Checklist

Sometimes, it can feel like spring is never going to rear its head here in Vermont. There are plenty of joys in the winter months, like skiing, snowmobiling, and even just going for a walk in this winter wonderland. Around March, though, if you’re like many people, the joy of watching the snow fall and the cozy feeling of being inside when it’s too icy to drive starts to wear off. The winter can be tough on both you and your car. We recommend getting ahead on your spring car maintenance list to get into the spring spirit. You’ll be glad these routine maintenance tasks are out of the way by the time summer gets here so that you can be off to the lake or mountain without a hitch.

At Faith’s Automotive, we do more than have great new and used cars for sale; we can also get your vehicle in top working order at our Faith’s Ford and Faith’s Toyota locations. Here are some suggestions for your spring car maintenance list: review the different tasks and see why each is important in its own right. If you’ve got questions, you can always pop in, and our friendly and knowledgeable teams can help you determine which maintenance tasks are necessary for your specific vehicle.

Washing and Waxing

This one is easy, but it’s one of the most important things you should prioritize on your spring car maintenance list. Road salt is especially hard on your vehicle, and it’s unavoidable. While it keeps you safe on the road when conditions are snowy and icy, it can harm your vehicle if left to sit there. Letting road salt sit in the nooks and crannies of your vehicle can cause corrosion and devalue your car. This is especially true for the undercarriage of your car.

Just because you gave the outside a good wipe-down doesn’t mean your vehicle is safe from salt and sand. Make sure to wash and treat the undercarriage, too. A wax can seal up and protect your vehicle from further damage. Spring is often wet around here, so adding a wax will help protect your vehicle if it did sustain any damage from salt and sand during the winter. A quick wash and wax is a great start to your spring list.

Check Your Tires

Lots of us put off tire maintenance during the winter simply because it’s too cold to want to stand around filling up your tires. But with the temps warming up, our excuses for putting off tire maintenance are dwindling. Changing temperatures also mean that the pressure in your tires is likely changing. Many modern cars show the actual pressure in each tire, but if you’re driving an older used car, you’ll want to manually check your tire pressure. Use the information written on your wheels to determine the appropriate PSI and inflate your tires the right amount. Inflating them too much can be dangerous, so make sure to stay within the appropriate range.

If your tires have had uneven pressure for some time, they might have experienced some uneven wear during the winter months. It’s also possible that the ordinary course of time has caused your tire treads to become bare. Check to make sure that your tires are both wearing evenly and have good tire treads left. If not, it’s probably time to invest in a new set. A professional can help you determine if your tires are still safe.

Many folks choose to use winter tires when the temps are cold. If you have winter tires, it’s about time to have your regular tires mounted and balanced. Driving during the warmer months with winter tires isn’t ideal and can shorten the lifespan of your investment. If you’re in a used vehicle, getting new tires can also be a great way to boost your vehicle’s performance without needing to upgrade.

Test the Battery

Did you make it through the winter without needing a jump? If you did, congratulations! Even if you didn’t have any battery trouble on the coldest days, your battery still might have been negatively affected by the temperatures. It’s best practice to have your battery tested to make sure it’s still performing correctly. You don’t want to find yourself with a dead car one random day because you didn’t see to it ahead of time. A professional can test your battery’s charge and ensure it’s holding power the way it’s supposed to. That same person can also check to see if it’s sustained any corrosion and remove any found from the battery terminals. This will help you get the longest life out of your battery.

Replace Wiper Blades

Freezing temperatures and ice buildup can all affect your wiper blades during the winter. If you’re guilty, like many of us, of using your wiper blades to clear off that last bit of stubborn ice instead of scraping it, you’ll probably need to replace your blades this spring. And with spring bringing back the rain, it’s paramount that your windshield wipers have fresh blades so you can stay safe during storms. Replace them now before you get caught in the rain with bad visibility.

Check Your A/C Before You Need It

To many New Englanders, we turn the AC on in our cars the second it becomes warmer outside. It might be 50 degrees, but we’re so used to it being freezing cold that we have to ease back into the warmer temps. And actual warm weather is right around the corner. You want to avoid that 90-degree day creeping up on you before you realize that your AC is not functioning properly.

Have your AC checked for leaks or damage, and make sure your refrigerant levels are high so you can avoid this sticky situation when summer comes. Technicians can also replace the cabin air filter so that any mold or mildew that builds up during the winter is gone, and you get clean air when you start blasting the AC. Regularly maintaining your AC will help avoid a situation where you need to replace the whole thing, so act quickly to ensure it’s in good working order.

Oil and Fluid Check

This one isn’t specifically spring-related but is an important maintenance activity that might as well be completed while your mind is on it. Make sure that your oil and fluid levels are correct so that you can protect your vehicle for the long term. If you don’t routinely replace your engine oil, you can leave your engine exposed to particle buildup that causes friction, which can cause harm to the engine. Fresh oil will help keep it lubricated and prevent unnecessary friction.

Topping up other fluids in your car should also be done periodically. If you’re seeing other spring-specific needs, it’s also a good time to check the transmission, coolant, brake, and power steering fluid. These are items a professional can easily help you check and ensure are correct. Most likely, they’re fine. If they aren’t and you have a leak, you’ll be grateful you caught the damage before a larger issue arose.

Get Ready for the Warmer Months With Us

Spring in Vermont is a beautiful time of year, and we want to help you enjoy it to the fullest! Make an appointment with our service departments to schedule spring maintenance on your car and check that chore off your to-do list today! While you wait, check out our great selection of new and used cars for sale! Our goal is to help you enjoy life to the fullest with an excellent vehicle. Whether that’s simply helping you maintain your used car with spring maintenance or getting you into a fresh vehicle, we know we can help you enjoy all the great activities spring and summer afford us in this region.