When we start to see a little green in the yard, we know spring is FINALLY here! Except for planning your landscape, doing laundry for your winter clothes, and eating strawberries, it’s probably that time for your car to have a seasonal checkup.

After months of freezing temperatures, snow, ice and salty roads, chances are pretty good that something on your vehicle may need to be replaced, or at least cleaned thoroughly. As summer quickly approaches, which is the most exciting season, make sure you schedule a road-ready checkup before you put more miles on your vehicles. A little proactive auto maintenance at spring will not only keep you safer, but it can also help you to avoid fixing a potentially larger and more expensive problem down the road.

Here are some tips for your Spring car maintenance:

Get the studded tires off and the all-season ones back on, if you are using winter tires. A timely switch back will extend the lifetime of your winter tires because when temperatures are getting higher, the pliable winter tires will easily wear out than the all-season ones. 

Keep using the all-season tires, a tire inspection is also necessary. Tire pressure fluctuated through winter when extreme temperatures varies from time to time. Make sure he tire pressure in all four of your tires and spare parts are carefully inspected, and adjusted if necessary.

Check your fluid levels. 

Engine oil, power steering, brake fluids, transmission fluid, and windshield washer solvent, all require your attention after a cold and long winter. Though typically inexpensive and easy to change, the fluids are important for the reliability and functionality of a vehicle. Improper use of the fluid may lead to expensive repair costs and pose safety risks.

Have an inspection done on the mechanical parts on your car. That will help you to identify the damages placed by time, wear, water, dirt, and other road debris. Start with opening the hood and looking at the engine area. Little things such as leaves, pine needles or acorns, probably are hiding in your car, and they may be clogging vents, drainage holes, or rubber gaskets. Remove them carefully.

Then, you should check the hoses and belts, which may become cracked, frayed, loose or show signs of excessive wear after the winter. Those are critical to ensure the performance of your electrical systems, air conditioning, power steering and the cooling system.

Other maintenance required are replacing cracked wiper blades, checking the strength of your battery, washing & waxing the car body, spray-washing undercarriage, and so on. Over the snowy and icy winter, road sand and salt are everywhere and may stick to the vehicles. If those sticky little things are not washed off, they will begin to corrode whatever they have attached to.