Spring Car Care Tips

As we leave the cold days of winter behind and approach the warm days of spring, it’s the perfect time to  ensure your used car is in good shape while fixing any issues caused by slushy conditions and salty roads. Below are five suggestions for caring for your car this spring:

Squeaky Clean Inside and Out
After months of potentially harsh conditions, it’s time for a deep spring cleaning. If you prefer to leave the work to the professionals, you can hire a detailing service to come to your home or work, or you can head over to your local car wash. A hand wash and wax is typically the most thorough, but a drive-through wash and interior clean is also a good choice and can help you save money.

If you want to try detailing your car yourself, be sure to pick up all the tools you will need beforehand. A bucket, car-safe soap, a wash mitt, wheel and glass cleaner, microfiber towels, and a vacuum are a good place to start. Some additional items for an extra deep cleaning are car wax, small brushes, and fabric or leather cleaner to take care of the exterior, seats, floor mats and all those small crevices in your car. Once you’re ready, you can get to work at home or head to a do-it-yourself car wash to take advantage of the high-pressure hoses.

Inspect and Replace Wiper Blades
Cold and dry conditions, along with salty roads and icy windshields, can cause damage to your wiper blades, often causing them to warp or crack. Before you get caught in the rain with ineffective wipers, inspect the structure and run a paper towel over them to remove dirt and debris. Then, hop in the car and use your windshield wiper fluid to see if they are squeaking or leaving streaks behind. If so, it’s time to replace them.

Tire Pressure, Rotation and Alignment
Winter weather often causes damage to the roads which in turn can negatively affect your tires and car. Temperature changes can cause fluctuations in tire pressure, so check that your tires are in the correct range as the weather warms up. If you’ve gone over a few too many potholes, take your car in for a tire rotation and alignment to preserve the life of your tires and help ensure your car drives smoothly. You should also take your car to a mechanic to have your suspension checked, or be sure to ask about it during your next tune-up.

Check Under the Hood
Cold temperatures can cause belts and hoses to become brittle and wear faster, so check to make sure they are still in good condition. It’s also a good time to top off or replace fluids such as coolant, oil, brake fluid, and windshield wiper fluid. If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, your local mechanic can help and alert you to anything else that may need work under the hood.

Update Your Emergency Kit
Now that the snowy weather is coming to an end, you can remove winter-specific items like tire chains and extra jackets. Make sure to replenish your emergency water and food, check to make sure your jumper cables are still in good condition, replace old batteries in your flashlight and check that your spare tire pressure is adequate in case you get stranded. We never know when an emergency might happen, so keeping your items up-to-date can save you a lot of hassle down the road.

When in the market for a used car, stop by Carousel Preowned. Carousel Preowned serving Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, North Liberty, Marion, and Coralville, IA, is proud to be an automotive leader in our community. We do our best to ensure your complete satisfaction every time you step into our car dealership. This is why we offer the widest selection of used and pre-owned cars, trucks, and SUVs and provide true ease of purchase in Iowa.