What spring checks should you do on your car? [Infographic]
With spring on the horizon, you might think that the only thing you need to do is swap your winter tyres for their summer counterparts. However, there’s more to do to keep your car running safely throughout the warmer months of the year. Read on to find out what spring checks should you do on your car.
Essential spring checks for your car
Most people know the importance of preparing their car for winter weather. Checking the oil level and battery are essential tasks at this time of year. However, many are unaware that they also need to carry out checks on their vehicles in the spring. Preparing your car in March can help your car withstand the stresses that high temperatures can bring in the months ahead. Keep reading to learn what spring checks should you do on your car.
Operating fluids
Checking your car’s fluids is a vital task that can help you ensure everything is in good working order. Make sure the engine oil, coolant, and brake fluid are all at the correct levels. Whilst many modern cars have indicators that flash once the liquids go below the recommended levels, you shouldn’t wait until this happens to take action. After all, checking them is a quick and easy task that most people can do themselves. If you’re not confident checking your car’s fluids, don’t hesitate to book it into your local garage. At Wyatt’s, we can carry out an interim service where we will check and change the engine oil and top up the screen wash and coolant levels.
Battery
Summer heat is even tougher on a car’s battery than the winter chill. Higher temperatures can impact the power-generating chemistry inside this component, potentially leading to battery failure. For this reason, you need to ensure that the battery remains in good condition. A simple battery check during the spring months can help to prevent you from suffering a dead battery and finding yourself stranded. Since this can be challenging to do yourself, we recommend asking a garage to check it for you. They will let you know whether it needs recharging or replacing. At Wyatt’s, we can do this for you at any time.
Air conditioning
As the temperatures begin to rise in the spring months, you’ll start to rely on your car’s air conditioning to keep you cool. Therefore, the last thing you want is to realise that the system is faulty. To ensure that your air conditioning is working as it should ask your local garage to check it for leaks and functionality. At Wyatt’s, we can also clean it and then top up the refrigerant too if required. If you’ve not been using your air conditioning over winter, now is the time to identify any potential faults.
Tyres
If you’ve been driving around on your winter tyres for the last few months, now’s the time to change them. It’s not recommended to use winter tyres during the spring and summer months due to the way they’re designed. Winter tyres are designed to tackle the winter elements, with a deeper tread pattern giving them a better grip in the snow and icy conditions.
When changing to summer tyres in the spring, take the opportunity to check the pressure and tread depth in all the tyres, including the one on the spare wheel if you have one. In the UK, the legal limit for minimum tread depth is 1.6mm. If your tyres do not meet this minimum, you could land yourself penalty points as well as a hefty fine.
Windscreen wipers
Winter can put significant stress on your car’s windscreen wipers and washers. Wiping a frozen windscreen for months on end and constantly fluctuating temperatures can cause little cracks and adhesions to appear in the wiper blades, making them less efficient. Spring is a good time to check this important component of your car.
Brakes
Last but certainly not least, you should check your car’s brakes in the spring. Months spent driving on gritted roads can have an impact on your brakes, with the salt wreaking havoc on their effectiveness. Whilst road salt is important for melting snow and ice, it can in extreme cases cause brake failure. For this reason, it’s essential to check your car’s brakes once spring arrives. Making sure they’re in optimal condition can help you to drive safely and avoid accidents occurring.
Car servicing in Barnsley and Wombwell
Getting your car serviced in the spring can make sure it’s ready for the challenges that summer can bring. For car servicing in Barnsley or Wombwell, look no further than Wyatt Auto Services. Our experienced mechanics can service all makes and models of vehicles. We can even help if your car is under warranty, servicing it in accordance with the manufacturer’s schedule. We offer both interim and full services according to your needs, starting from £90 and £170 respectively.
An interim service is a smaller 28-point service that’s usually carried out every six months. It largely involves checking and topping up the car’s fluids as required. A full 50-point service is more in-depth and is generally carried out annually. We’ll strip and clean the brakes, check the tyre pressures and adjust the handbrake as required.
Contact us
Now that you know what spring checks should you do on your car, you may be looking to arrange a service at a local garage. For car servicing in Barnsley, contact Wyatt Auto Services in Wombwell. You’ll find us at unit 18/19 on Mitchells Industrial Park. Call us on 01226 979 087, or send us a message via the website to book your car in for a full or interim service.