#Best car maintenance checklist install#

On a sunny warm day, go through everything and decide what you should throw out and what should go in the house. In the interim, stuff accumulates in the backseat and the trunk. Gut the Inside of Your Carįrigid winter temperatures and rainy days may make you less inclined to make a ton of trips to and from your car. Test it now so you have plenty of time for AC repairs if needed. So, don’t wait until June to check whether your car’s air conditioner is working. Mississippi spring weather can quickly switch from cold to warm to hot and summer-like within days. Change Air Filters Now for When You Use Your Air Conditioner Later Spring temperatures can sometimes fluctuate, so make sure to check tire pressure regularly. Tires lose 1 to 2 pounds of air pressure for every 10 degrees the temperature drops outside. If you haven’t changed out your cabin filter in a while, you could be breathing in extra pollen, dirt, and dust each time you hop in for a drive. This filter can prevent allergens from getting trapped in the car. Spring is prime allergy season, and the cabin filter could contribute to that sneezy and sniffly feeling. Like road salt and other debris, this damage can also corrode the paint, so don’t wait to fix any scratches if you find them. Do you see any scratches, chips or other damage? These are dangerous for the long-term health of the vehicle’s paint, not to mention resale value. Once your car’s exterior is grime-free, give it a thorough look. You should continue to wax every few weeks or so to keep your car safe. A good wax will protect your vehicle from spring weather that may loosen branches or pelt the car with rain. Just like cleaning your car, you should wax it for more than just that glimmering finish. Give the Car a Good WaxingĮveryone loves that shiny, picture-perfect look of a car after it’s freshly cleaned and buffed. Just like the exterior of the vehicle, the undercarriage can get a gunky accumulation of grime and road salt. While you’ve got your bucket, soap, and sponge handy, you should give your car’s undercarriage a good cleaning. Leaving road salt on your vehicle’s exterior for too long can deplete the color and corrode the metal.

If you’ve traveled through areas during the winter that used road salt, washing should be a priority. A good cleaning will reveal minor dings and chips in the paint, which are magnets for costly and all-consuming rust. It’s also about maintaining resale value. This critical auto care step is about more than just looking good for cruising in the spring. It can only do this for so long before it breaks down. Besides keeping the car running smoothly, oil also prevents contaminants from accumulating in the engine and helps draw heat away from the combustion chamber. Schedule an Oil ChangeĪ change of oil every time the season changes can extend a car’s life by thousands of miles, especially with an older engine. You can take a look at the parts yourself if you feel comfortable doing so otherwise, call us to do the job. The colder it gets, the more these components strain to keep the vehicle going. Your vehicle’s plugs and batteries can be depleted up to 60% faster than when the weather is warmer. “Keep in mind that your power steering, brake, and coolant systems are closed, so low fluid levels may indicate a leak,” they say. Our ASE certified experts suggest taking a look at coolant, transmission, brake, and power steering fluid levels. Never add plain water during winter as this can cause your reservoir and hoses to burst in extremely cold temperatures. If you run low, just pour some in the reservoir until full. Doing 70 on the highway with compromised visibility is not the time to discover you’re out of wiper fluid. Speaking of wipers, Mississippi winters often mean wet/dirty roads and you likely used your washer fluid to keep your windshield clear. Replace blades once in the fall and once in the spring.

Always test them before you get caught in the rain.

#Best car maintenance checklist install#

Measure the old blades and check the car’s manual for the correct size before removing the old ones to install new ones. Thawing, freezing, and scraping over icy windshields can cause wiper blades to warp, bend, and crack. Here are some specific spring car maintenance tips and tricks worth considering. With the weather warming up, early spring is ideal for getting your car prepared for road trips, more frequent driving or even that epic summer vacation that’s only a few months away. Routine, seasonal maintenance checks will help your car perform its very best, as you turn the corner from winter to spring. Springtime is often associated with house cleaning, but here at Car Care Clinic, we think it’s a great time to focus on your car as well.