Get Your Car Ready for Spring

By the time spring rolls around in Idaho, it is usually welcomed with open arms by local residents. Even if you love the cold weather and look forward to winter each year, you are probably ready to thaw out a bit and see the world around you turn green once again. As spring arrives, it’s a good idea to think about taking some steps to get your car ready for what is likely to be a busier time of year.

With this post, we’d like to provide some quick tips on how you can get your car ready for the warmer weather to come. Of course, if you need any help with maintenance or repair projects, reach out to Taylor & Sons Chevrolet for assistance. We have a talented service staff ready to serve you, and we also offer a great inventory of new and used vehicles if you are ready to make a change in your driveway. We are excited to serve you!

Start with Your Tires
Living in such a harsh winter climate, many drivers in our area switch to winter tires for the cold part of the year. This might just mean something with an aggressive tread pattern and more flexible rubber compound, or it could mean tires with studs for additional traction. Either way, that set of tires will serve you well from roughly November through March or April, but soon enough you’ll need to switch back to the set of tires you use for warmer weather driving.
When you switch back, check on the condition of your summer tires to make sure they are ready for another year of use. If they have been stored properly through the winter, they should be in roughly the same condition as you left them – but it’s still smart to give them a quick review and look for any signs of trouble. After all, if they do need to be replaced, it would be more convenient to do that at the start of the season than to have them put back on and then make a change shortly thereafter.

How’s the Air Conditioning Working?
It’s easy enough to forget that your car even has air conditioning while living through an Idaho winter. As spring moves in and the temperatures creep up, however, you’ll find yourself reaching for that dial soon enough. Even if you don’t quite need it on a given day, get the air conditioning running and see how it works. If you don’t get as much cold air as you would expect after letting it run for a bit, consider having the system checked and topped off to make sure it can get the job done once the true heat of the summer arrives.

Have Your Battery Level Checked
The frigid nights that are typical during winter in this part of the world can take a toll on your car’s battery. This probably won’t be a big deal if your battery is relatively new, but an older battery might start to struggle to recharge while you are driving around. Spring is a perfect time to have the battery level checked to see if it should be replaced or if it has enough juice to serve you for another year. Given the relatively modest price of a car battery, this is one of those things that is better to get out ahead of than to have to scramble later on once the battery is completely wiped out.

New Wipers are a Quick Upgrade
The windshield wipers on your car can take a surprising beating during the winter months. This is because any bits of ice that are left on the windshield when you run the wipers will wreak havoc on the rubber blades, potentially taking out small chunks and leaving them unable to wipe the windshield cleanly when rain arrives. It’s best to try and not run the wipers over an icy windshield, but it’s bound to happen from time to time in this type of climate.

So, it makes sense to check out the condition of your wipers in the spring and think about replacing them. Wipers are very affordable and swapping them out is a job you can probably do on your own. As long as you know the make, model, and year of your vehicle, you can get the appropriate wipers from any auto parts store, or online. And, if you switch them out just as spring is arriving, you’ll know that you can count on a nice clear windshield to see through even in a heavy downpour.

A Detailed Wash
Lastly, spring is a great time to wash your vehicle thoroughly. Winter is hard on the exterior of a car or truck, as things like sand and deicing chemicals are applied to the roads in the winter and then wind up getting blasted up onto the sides of your vehicle. Since winter weather doesn’t particularly compel you to get outside and wash your vehicle with a hose, you probably just let it go throughout the cold months.

With those winter driving conditions in the past, give your car or truck a good wash and get it ready for nicer weather. You may choose to do this wash on your own, or you could head to a local car wash to have it done for you. Either way, this will be a good step toward protecting the condition of your vehicle over the long run, and it will help your vehicle look its best. Make it a point to wash it periodically throughout the coming spring, summer, and fall, so you can go into next winter with a clear car that is ready to take a beating once again.

You shouldn’t need to do a lot of work to get your car ready for spring but managing the simple points above will go a long way toward helping you have good experiences on the roads of northern Idaho and beyond. Thank you for stopping by and we wish you safe travels!

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