Winter is almost over, which means spring is here soon. If you’re an Iowan, you probably have braved the cold and have seen the many piles of snow. So has your car! Freezing temperatures and salt from the Des Moines roads can really scruff up the paint job and crucial parts that keep your car moving. When it’s time for the yearly spring tune-up, follow this guide from the service team at Acura of Johnston on how to tune your car!
Spring Car Maintenance Tips
While you don’t have to wait until a certain season to care for your car, spring is a good time to check the basics and make sure everything is in order as winter in Waterloo and nearby areas can be extremely harsh. The following is a basic spring car maintenance checklist that we recommend you to follow though you can also do these steps if you notice any signs that your car needs a tune-up, such as your car hasn’t been performing as well or the quality of your drives seems to have dropped.
1. Wash Your Car
First up is spring clean your car! You should get an in-depth clean as there are probably splash marks from the snow or residues from the salt. If you go to a carwash, go for a premium wash, so you don’t miss anything. If you want to roll up your sleeves and do it yourself, add baking soda to the wash water to get rid of the strong salt buildup. This will help neutralize the salt and save your paint job.
2. Check Your Tires
The cold air and ice isn’t tough just on the appearance of your car, but also on components, such as the tires. Specifically, they will affect the air pressure in your tires, so during your spring tune-up, you should check if your tires are rotated on time and if they are filled up to the recommended air pressure by the manufacturer. Also, check if there’s any worn tread and be sure to get any necessary replacements. If you have winter tires on, it’s time to take those puppies out.
3. Replace Wiper Blades and Fluids
You’ve probably picked up the pattern by now, but if you haven’t, the cold climate can do a number on your car. The snow can damage and wear on your windshield wipers, so if your wipers are streaking, now would be a good time to replace them. The good news is that new wiper blades are affordable and easy enough to replace even if you do it yourself in your Cedar Rapids garage. Remember to top off your windshield wiper fluid and reapply any needed windshield treatments to repel water and rain, which we know is usual in the spring.
4. Check Your Battery
The cold climate may be rough for cars, but Acura vehicles have a strong electrical system that works hard to keep you going. By the end of winter, you should also check your battery to ensure it’s still performing properly. If your battery is getting weak, you can be proactive and prevent future problems by replacing it before it stops working.
5. Change Your Oil
As you can see, how to tune your car for spring involves basic car maintenance that you’ve probably heard about a million times. That’s no exception with the last spring car maintenance tip, which is to change your oil. Motor oil is essentially the lifeblood of your car, so be sure to change it regularly as well as the oil filter. You can schedule your visit at Acura of Johnston online. To make maintaining your car in tip-top condition even easier, we also have a lifetime oil and filter program that you can go for! Once you have it, you’re set for the rest of the time you own your car.
Spring Tune-Up FAQs
Q: How do you tune up your car?
A: While you should tune up your car by following the maintenance tips we offered, you can also tune it up by fixing any issues that are affecting the appearance. From scratches to even dents, our auto body shop at Acura of Johnston can get your car looking like-new!
Q: Can you protect the look of your car?
A: Absolutely! The best way to minimize how much you need to work on your car is by protecting it in the first place. For example, you can go for the appearance protection package near Johnston that will keep your car looking as new as possible even after going through harsh winters. You won’t have to spend as much time and money on your spring tune-up when you’re thinking a few steps ahead!
Q: Should you spring clean your car every year?
A: You should as the winter can be rough on your car. You want to make sure your car is still safe to drive. Plus, it never hurts to drive in a car that’s at least cleaned out once in a while!
Learn More from Acura of Johnston
Get ready for new adventures in the next season after you spring clean your car! If you have any questions about general signs your car needs a tune-up or about car maintenance, feel free to reach out to us, so we can help you enjoy your premium Acura vehicle for as long as possible.
