Now’s the Time for Spring Car Maintenance

Now’s the Time for Spring Car Maintenance
Winter weather is particularly harsh on vehicles. In fact, icy roads and cold temperatures are
top facilitators of vehicle damage and wear and tear. Consistently harsh winters make this even
worse for Canadian car owners. To minimize damages and properly address wear and tear, your
vehicle should be inspected once the winter ends, or every spring. Early spring maintenance is
essential to ensuring your vehicle performs well throughout the spring and summer. This
maintenance includes an inspection of several vehicle components, such as: the filters, the
tires, the fluids, and the belts and hoses.
Inspect or Change the Filters
A vehicle has several filters that must be periodically inspected and replaced to heighten safety
and longevity. The most important filters to have checked and possibly replaced, include the
cabin air filter, engine air filter, fuel filter, and oil filter. Cabin air, engine air, and fuel filters
should be inspected for clogging and damage and replaced as necessary. The oil and oil filter
should be changed as recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer. Changing your oil and oil
filter at regular intervals will prevent engine problems and keep your vehicle’s fuel
consumption as low as possible.
Inspect the Tires
Tires are the only part of the car that have contact with the road. This makes them subject to
greater wear and tear than other vehicle components. Thus, tire maintenance is essential to
good vehicle health and performance. During the spring checkup, make sure your tires are
checked for optimal pressure, damage on the sidewalls and more, and uneven wear on the tire
tread. Damaged or worn tires should be replaced. On the other hand, normal wear tires should
simply be rotated.
Check the Fluids
Coolant and fluids in the brakes, power steering, windshield wipers, and transmission should be
checked as often as the oil and oil filter are checked. Low fluids should simply be topped off or
flushed and replaced. However, since brake, coolant, and power steering systems are closed,
low fluid levels may be caused by a leak. If you suspect one or more of these systems is leaking,
contact an auto repair shop like Computerized Auto Pro for trusted Edmonton and Sherwood
Park auto repair services. Also, don’t forget to have the wiper blades checked for tears and
cracks when the wiper fluid is checked. For safety, broken blades must be replaced.
Inspect the Belts and Hoses

A car’s belts and hoses are rubber, and unfortunately, the cold weather can damage and/or
harden rubber structures. On a vehicle, hardened rubber components can quickly soften,
creating more problems or masking winter freezing. So, in the spring, belts and hoses should be
checked for hardening and softening, as well as issues caused by this activity. Hardening can
cause your belts and/or hoses to blister or develop leaks or cracks. It can also cause your belts
to fray, loosen, or glaze. Damaged belts and/or hoses must be replaced along with their pulleys
and tensioner.
Book a spring maintenance checkup at Computerized AutoPro and address any damage done
by winter driving. Call us today!