Winter can take a toll on your vehicle, even in a place like Pasadena where it doesn’t slow. While many people do ‘spring cleaning’ around the house and garden, experts say that you should perform spring cleaning and maintenance on your vehicle as well.
With 100-degree-plus summers here, you should also check your vehicle’s air conditioning system before summer hits by running it through all of its positions and making sure that cold air is coming out of all of the vents. If not, you should have a professional examine your A/C system to look for any leaks and to refill the system with refrigerant.
Once the rain dies down, it is a good idea to go to a high quality car wash that washes your undercarriage as well, so that you can wash off the potentially corrosive rain deposits. This will prevent rust from forming on valuable components of a car’s mechanical system such as brake lines, fuel tanks, and exhaust systems. It is also a good idea to touch up any paint scratches exposing metal, which could lead to rust.
It is also important to check your vehicle’s cooling system. As the weather starts to get warmer, the cooling system will have to work harder to keep your engine from overheating. You should check the coolant level, as well as radiator and heater hoses for any cracked rubber, loose clamps, or leaks. You should also flush and refill your cooling system with fresh antifreeze every 1 – 3 years.
The end of winter is also a good time to perform any other tasks such as detailing and replacing wiper blades. These kinds of things should become almost automatic at the end of the winter season. If you are planning on taking any long road trips over spring break, or just want some peace of mind, bring your vehicle in to your Certified Auto Repair Specialist of Pasadena today for an inspection.
