After months of cold starts, wet roads, and reduced visibility, spring is the ideal time to give your car some attention. Winter takes a toll on several key systems, and addressing them now prevents bigger problems in summer.
Wash the Winter Off
Give your car a thorough wash, paying special attention to the undercarriage. Road grime, salt from mountain trips, and mud trapped in wheel wells all accelerate corrosion. A good clean now protects your paintwork and chassis.
Check Your Tyres
Winter driving wears tyres differently. Check for uneven wear patterns that might indicate alignment issues developed from pothole impacts during winter. Adjust pressures as temperatures rise — warmer weather increases tyre pressure naturally.
Test the Air Conditioning
If you have not used the AC since autumn, run it for 15 minutes to circulate the refrigerant and lubricate the seals. If it does not cool properly, get it re-gassed before summer hits and every workshop is booked out.
Replace Cabin Filter
After running the heater all winter, your cabin filter has been working hard. A fresh filter improves air quality and AC efficiency. It is especially important if anyone in the car suffers from allergies — spring pollen is brutal in Melbourne.
Inspect Wiper Blades
Winter rain puts heavy wear on wiper blades. If they are streaking or chattering, replace them. Spring showers will test them, and you want clear vision.
Battery Check
Cold weather strains batteries. If your car was sluggish to start during winter, the battery may be on its last legs. Get it tested before warmer weather masks the symptoms and it fails on a hot day when the AC and fans are drawing extra power.
Fluid Check
Top up all fluids. After winter, coolant levels may have dropped, brake fluid may have absorbed moisture, and oil may be due for a change. A spring service covers all of this.
Shake off winter with a spring service at Heatherdale Automotive.