Spring Cleaning

It’s time to take off the snow tires and wash the salt out of the fenders. Even if you don’t have to deal with such things, there are maintenance items that everyone should practice to get their car ready for summer.
If you live in an area of the country that gets cold and salt is used to keep the roads clear of ice, it is vitally important to ensure that no remnants of salt remain on your vehicle. Salt is highly corrosive and although manufacturers are using more man-made and galvanized parts, salt will cause any bare metal parts of your vehicle to rust away. Wash the car off from above and below. Many automated car washes offer an undercarriage wash which greatly helps to remove residual salt that may be trapped in nooks and crannies that would otherwise harbor the corrosive.
Protect the paint by applying a fresh coat of good quality wax. Wax helps to preserve the paint finish by providing a protective layer that keeps bugs, grime and dirt from sticking to the paint and also offers protection from the uv rays of the sun.
Get the oil changed, tires rotated and be sure to have the service agent check the coolant. Coolant is not just antifreeze – it also raises the boiling point of water it’s mixed with to keep your engine from overheating. Also, check the wiper blades since April showers also tend to bring work to the body shops.
Last, if your air conditioner has taken on a musty or moldy smell, ask you service agent about disinfecting the a/c system. There are several products available that work very well at killing the mold that often grows in the car’s ventilation unit.
As usual, make sure all the lights are working, the fluids are full and there’s air in the spare.