STEPS FOR SPRING MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR

The arrival of spring is the perfect occasion to have a full maintenance done on your vehicle. It’s important to take care of your car, especially after the difficulties it has endured during winter.

Your ToutesLesMarques.ca dealerships are here to show you the most important steps in spring maintenance. This handful of steps will allow you to enjoy your vehicle for a long time.

THE EFFECTS OF WINTER ON YOUR CAR

Quebec winters have no pity for your car. It even falls under the severe conditions of use category.

The cold season’s negative impact on your vehicle’s proper functioning should not be underestimated.

Several parts can be damaged during winter, like:

• Brakes

• Body

• Wheel alignment

• Battery, etc.

In fact, calcium, temperature differences, difficult road conditions as well as many other aspects of winter quickly wear out various components on your car.

Therefore, it’s very important to have car care done in the spring, to maintain your vehicle in a good condition for as long as possible.

TIRE CHANGE: JUST AS NECESSARY IN THE SPRING

It’s easy to understand the reasons why winter tires are necessary: the road conditions in winter are often very dangerous.

Yet, it’s just as important to make sure you remove your winter tires in time for summer. In fact, winter tires are not designed to be used in warmer temperatures.

NOT ONLY DO YOU RISK WEARING THEM DOWN USELESSLY, BUT IT CAN ALSO BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON WINTER TIRES IN THE SUMMER.

Winter tires don’t shed water as effectively as summer ones, which often translates to higher risks of aquaplaning and longer braking distances on wet road surfaces.

Good spring maintenance involves a tire change! Then, while you’re there, make the most of it and have some other checks performed on your vehicle.

DEEP CLEANING ENSURES A LONG-LASTING VEHICLE!

Your boots bring a lot of dirt and calcium inside your vehicle. It’s a good idea to do your car carpet cleaning at least once in the spring, to avoid all that grime from accumulating on your carpets and soiling them permanently.

While you’re doing the interior maintenance of your vehicle, it’s also a good idea to do your car seat cleaning. Dust and other particles build up on the seats over time. It’s important not to neglect them.

Of course, this is only two of the various elements inside the vehicle that it would wise to clean. It might be worthwhile to clean the dashboard and other surfaces that also accumulate dirt over time.

As for the outside of the vehicle, thoroughly cleaning the body and the undercarriage of the car is essential. During winter, calcium and the salt and sand used on the roads stick to your vehicle. They can lead to various problems, namely body and mechanical parts corrosion.

It’s very important to clean the undercarriage of your car. There are several ways to go about it:

• Go through a car wash

• Use a high-pressure hose

• Leave everything to a team of experts at a car detailing centre, etc.

Using high-end car care products will ensure that your car will remain as clean as on the first day.

DO A FLUID CHECK (WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID AND MOTOR OIL)

Your car runs thanks to various fluids. They have to be maintained at adequate levels and changed more or less frequently to ensure your car’s proper functioning.

MOTOR OIL AND WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID ARE THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT FLUIDS TO BE CHECKED WHEN SPRING ARRIVES.

First, the windshield washer fluid used during the winter is not as effective during the warmer seasons. It’s important to make sure you switch to a spring and summer one.

Then, spring is the perfect moment to get an oil change. Most manufacturers recommend you do this task at least once every six months.

As motor oil accomplishes its lubrication functions, it accumulates various particles. Eventually, the high concentration of these particles in the oil can become dangerous for your engine.

If you change your motor oil once before winter and once after, you will naturally enter a good annual maintenance cycle.

ToutesLesMarques.ca, it’s your dealerships in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Côte-Nord and Charlevoix region. With us, you’ll find the vehicle of your dreams, regardless of the brand.