Lets face it, we all feel like we’ve been trapped inside the London, Ontario snow globe. Road salt, grime and those below zero temperatures have all been wreaking havoc on your car. Now that the snow is melting and the days are getting longer, it’s time to start thinking about getting your vehicle in better shape after enduring another winter. The spring car maintenance experts at Steel Horse Automotive are here to get your car in tip top shape for the spring season.
I get asked about (and witness) the damage winter can cause every spring – it ranges from rust and paint damage to cracked windshields and worn out suspension components. To avoid costly repairs, it’s a good idea to get your spring car maintenance completed after the long winter.
Winter driving combines fluctuating temperatures that can drop as low as minus 30 with the rough conditions our roads are usually in with the corrosive effect salt and other ice melting chemicals to wreak havoc on various systems in your vehicle. Spring car maintenance is a great idea to revitalize your vehicle for the upcoming warmer months.
Winter Damage Repairs
The temperature fluctuations we get from day to night can cause freeze-thaw cycles that drive water into all sorts of places that later freezes – remember that morning you tried to roll down your window in the drive-thru and it wouldn’t budge?
Or the morning you couldn’t even open the door to get into your car? Every year we repair things like broken door handles and window lifting mechanisms caused by people getting a little rough with them while they are frozen. A chip in your windshield that is exposed to freeze-thaw cycles can quickly spread into a crack as well.
Rough roads caused by frost heaving or potholes don’t do your vehicle any good; suspension & steering components such as ball joints, bushings and tie rods can be damaged both by the rough conditions and the corrosive effect salt used on roads can have – car washes with under car jets may seem like a good idea to rinse away salt, but they can also contribute to salty water washing into, and prematurely wearing out these suspension components.
Salt has to be one of the worst causes of winter damage we see – it not only attacks the structure of your vehicle, causing rust that let unchecked will cause everything from paint blisters to structural failure (we had a car in this week where the floor had rusted to the point the driver’s seat had broke through the floor pan), but it can work its way into the ever-growing number of electrical connectors and components in your vehicle, causing corrosion and various forms of electrical system failure.
Spring Car Maintenance Checklist
Ok, so now that winter is over, you might be asking what can be done about these kinds of winter damage?
- First of all, get your car washed to remove any remaining salt – the sooner it is removed, the less damage it will cause. A good wax job can seal any small chips in the paint and help maintain your vehicle’s finish in the upcoming warmer months. A second application of an oil based rustproofing (you did have the first one done in the fall, right?) will help slow down any rust that started this winter.
- Clean your vehicle’s interior to remove sand and salt – be careful with the shampooing idea – as good as you might think it is, be sure any dampness is removed from the carpet when done – washing salt deeper into the carpet and forcing it to where many wiring harnesses and electronics are mounted isn’t something you want to do.
- Lastly, a good spring oil change and maintenance check-up is recommended so that and damage caused to the undercarriage of your vehicle is discovered and repaired before it becomes something that could fail and be an inconvenience.
We can help with any of these services if you require a hand with your spring car maintenance. We’re always here with advice if you simply have some questions to ask about your vehicle and its maintenance. Contact us at Steel Horse Automotive today!