Spring Cleaning? Don’t forget your Car

Written by: Joe McCann

SPRING HAS COME!!!….okay okay I know, I’ve got a feeling mother nature might have a couple surprises to throw at us before Winter can officially be considered done with. However with spring like conditions blanketing the area and the light at the end of the tunnel getting brighter and brighter with each passing day, I felt obligated to plant a few kernels of knowledge, so hopefully they’ll blossom into fruition by the time your vehicle is needed for that long family road. Although we have been blessed this year with a mild winter, the frigid conditions and tons of salt that are spread across the roadways can cause havoc on your automobile. From chipped paint to loose suspension, this information will hopefully keep your car rolling all the way through Labor Day.

• RUST. Other than basic maintenance and brake repairs, rusted out components are probably the number 1 repair we do this time of year. The most forgotten part of everyone’s vehicle is the underbelly. The underside of the car is where all the various fluid lines are routed, and they all have a potential to rust out and begin to leak. Having your vehicle’s brake lines, fuel lines, and transmission lines inspected should keep your vehicle rolling through the summer.
  
• SUSPENSION. As we all know this time of year the road -ways begin to show there age. Potholes are an inevitable part of living here in the northern states. Potholes and damage occurred from sliding into curbs and ditches can cause significant harm to the different suspension components on your vehicle. Not only do loose suspension parts cause a potential safety risk, they also cause premature wear on your tires. Having your ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, struts, and all of the other various parts checked and serviced is always a good idea to make sure you make it to that summer wedding safely.
• SPARE TIRE. This one might sound odd, but many of today’s vehicles, especially light trucks have their spare tire mounted in the rear, underneath the bed of the truck. What happens because of all the salt and sediment that gets kicked up throughout the winter, the mechanism that holds the spare tire in places becomes seized up and doesn’t allow you to lower it when you have a flat. Unfortunately if the tire hoist is seized up there’s not a whole lot you can do other than replace is, but if the spare tire does lower from the vehicle it’s always a good idea to shoot the metal rope up with some WD-40 to prevent it from seizing up in the future.

If you have found any of this information helpful, or any previous blog informative please let us know by either contacting us on our Facebook page or by leaving a Google Review. If you have any questions regarding this month’s blog or any other car related inquiries please give us a call at 752-8359. Thanks for reading.