Winter is rough on cars. Cold temperatures can cause rubber to harden and crack, snow and ice can get packed into rust-prone areas, and road salt can accelerate corrosion.
Even if you’re diligent with pre-winter preparation and perform winter car checks throughout the season, the effects of the frigid temps can still cause long-term complications.
The good news is that spring will arrive, and when the temperatures start rising, that’s the best time to do car care. Your car will look good and perform even better.
Post-Winter Seasonal Car Check
Prepare your vehicle for another year of reliable performance with the following simple car maintenance tips.
Check For Rust
While road salt is fantastic for improving traction in snowy and icy conditions, it’s also excellent at causing corrosion. Perform a rust inspection by looking for any places on your frame or body that are starting to oxidize, and take your car to a body shop to prevent rust from spreading.
Inspect Tires, Get Alignment
If you don’t use winter or snow tires, which are designed to stay flexible in freezing conditions, you may notice your tire rubber starting to form cracks. Also, temperature changes can cause tire pressure to vary. Ensure the pressure is at the manufacturer’s recommended PSI.
If you’re swapping back to all-season or summer tires, getting a tire alignment and balance is a good idea.
Scrutinize Suspension
Suspension damage can prevent proper alignment. Pay attention to creaking sounds over bumps, unusual wobbles or shimmies, and sagging shocks—these may be signs of worn suspension components.
Replace Wiper Blades
Check your windshield wipers, as you may need a wiper replacement. Not only can they harden and crack in the cold, but they can wear down quickly after scraping ice and snow.
To see if your wipers are still in good shape, wipe them with a wet paper towel and run them while spraying wiper fluid. If you see streaks or the wipers make squeaking noises, they must be changed.
Light Check
Clean your headlight casings to ensure your lights are as bright as they should be. They can get cloudy and scuffed but can be brought back to life with a headlight cleaning kit. Look for any burned-out bulbs in the front and rear and replace any that aren’t working.
Test Your Brakes
Winter driving can put strain on your brakes, leading to premature wear on pads and rotors. Watch for signs like squealing noises or the car pulling to one side when braking. Perform a visual check for any noticeable damage, and if you notice performance issues, have the brakes inspected and repaired as needed.
Do a Battery Test
Extreme temperatures are hard on car batteries. Have Van Wyk Auto inspect your battery to ensure it’s holding a charge and repair or replace it if needed. Check all connections and the battery posts to spot any corrosion. You may also need to change out the spark plugs if they’re more than two years old.
Refresh Your Emergency Kit
Some emergency kit items are evergreen, such as multitools, tow straps, gloves, moving blankets, 12V tire inflator, and warning triangles or cones.
Pay attention to the consumables and items that may expire. First aid kits especially need refreshing, as medicines can lose effectiveness over time. Replace or charge batteries in items such as flashlights and jump starters. If you have a fire extinguisher, make sure it’s still effective.
Turn to Van Wyk Auto for Top-Notch Sheboygan Car Care
If winter took a toll on your car, don’t worry—Van Wyk Auto has you covered! Our experts will handle fluid exchanges, oil changes, battery testing, tire alignments, and any other repairs your vehicle may need to get back on the road smoothly.
Your car will be ready for many winters to come! Contact Van Wyk Auto today and give your vehicle the care it deserves.