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5 Tips to Prepare Your Vehicle for Spring

Before you know it, the snow will start to melt, the flowers will begin to bloom, and spring will be here. Along with nicer weather, this change in season also brings the need to prepare your car for a different set of challenges. To make sure you're ready, consider these important tips to get your vehicle all set for spring.

Check Your Wiper Blades

Although April showers will bring May flowers, they also bring difficult driving conditions. During winter, snow and ice can damage your wipers and cause them to leave streaks on your windshield. Since you depend on your windshield wipers to help you see during those spring rainstorms, it's important to check them and replace them if they show signs of wear and tear. This is also a good time to top off your windshield wiper fluid tank and apply a windshield treatment to repel water.

Inspect Your Tires

Between the cold air and potholes, your tires go through a lot during winter. If you swapped out your all-season tires for snow tires before winter started, you want to make sure change them back at the start of spring. If you didn't swap your tires, now is a good time to test the air pressure, inspect the tread, and check your alignment. Rough winter roads can also take a toll on your brakes, so spring is an ideal time to have your brakes checked if they're making unusual noises.

Wash off the Salt

You spring clean your house; now don't forget to spring clean your car as well! The salt from the road can severely damage your vehicle's paint and even cause rust and other damage to the underside of your vehicle. In the beginning of spring, make sure you wash your car to clean away all that salt and dirt. Don't forget to vacuum and wash the floor mats and upholstery inside your car, since salt can also damage them.

Check the Coolant Levels

Now that the weather is getting warm, it's a good idea to check your vehicle's coolant level to make sure your engine runs at the right temperature. Although every car is different, the coolant tank on most vehicles is a small, clear bottle near the engine. On the outside of the tank, you'll see marks indicating the maximum and minimum level of the coolant. If your coolant level is near or below the minimum line, you can take your vehicle to the service department at your dealership to have more added.

Test the Battery

Those cold morning starts during winter are not easy on your battery. Once spring rolls around, take your vehicle in for a battery check to see how strong it is. If the battery is weak, you can prevent being stranded because of a dead battery by getting it replaced now. Now that the cold days of winter are on their way out, make sure your vehicle is ready for spring by taking care of these important tasks.
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