Spring weather is just around the corner in the Twin Cities, and that means it’s time to start thinking about taking steps to prepare your vehicle for warmer weather! What should you do?
Here are six actions you should take to get your vehicle ready for spring.
1. Replace Windshield Wipers
Check your windshield wipers for wear and tear (ice can be really rough on the rubber), and if they’re in questionable shape, swap them out for new ones. You certainly don’t want to get caught driving in a spring rainstorm with wipers that don’t work as well as they should!
2. Remove Condensation From Your Fuel Tank
Did you know condensation can easily build up inside your fuel tank and diminish your vehicle’s gas mileage and overall performance? If you weren’t previously aware, now you are, and fortunately, you can easily fix the problem.
How? Head to your local auto parts supply store and pick up a bottle of fuel additive that’s designed to eliminate moisture from the tank. Fill up your fuel tank and dump the bottle of additive in, too, and you should be good to go.
3. Schedule Auto Glass Repairs
If your vehicle windows suffered any minor chips or cracks during the winter season, make sure you have the damage repaired as promptly as possible.
Driving with compromised auto glass puts your safety at risk and increases the chance that your passengers may suffer injuries in the event of a collision. You can schedule in-shop or mobile service, but keep in mind that precipitation can make mobile repairs unfeasible.
Spring tends to be pretty rainy in the Twin Cities, so don’t be surprised if you end up having to reschedule mobile service.
Before you schedule your repairs, be sure to check your auto insurance policy to see if your insurer might pay for the cost of service. If you’ve never filed a claim, here’s what you should know about using insurance to pay for auto glass repairs.
4. Remove Winter Tires
Certain types of winter tires (the kind with metal studs) cause excessive asphalt wear when they come into contact with dry roads. But road wear isn’t the only thing you should worry about if you have this type of tire.
Driving on dry roads with studded tires will cause your studs to wear down faster than they should, so you’ll end up needing to replace them sooner than you may want to if you don’t take off promptly when snow and ice are no longer present. If you had special winter tires, make sure you have them swapped out for summer or all-season tires by the state-mandated deadline.
For more information on Minnesota laws regarding winter tire removal, check out the 2022 Minnesota Statutes on transportation.
5. Get Your Brakes Checked
Winter weather and driving can be rough on your brakes, so it’s important that you get them checked when spring rolls around.
If you know how to do this yourself, great! But if you aren’t sure, take your vehicle to a mechanic who can examine your brake pads and rotors for excessive or uneven wear. And if necessary, have the pads and/or rotors replaced.
6. Perform a Thorough Cleaning
Last but certainly not least, clean your ride!
Give the body a thorough washing, and make doubly sure the undercarriage is totally clean. If you didn’t wash your vehicle regularly throughout winter, its undercarriage may have collected quite a bit of salt, which can cause significant corrosion if left to sit.
If you can, stop by an automatic car wash that has an undercarriage washing feature to ensure you get the job done thoroughly.
Get a Free Estimate for Auto Glass Repair in the Twin Cities
Got chips or cracks in your vehicle windows? Then get in touch with our team at Only 1 Auto Glass. Drop by one of our many Twin Cities locations to get a free estimate or give us a call today to learn about our services and how we work!
You can reach us at 651-789-1111 or feel free to request an estimate online, and we’ll reach out with more information.