Learn How to Get Cars Spring Ready in Auto Service Technician Courses
Canadian winters can be tough on vehicles. As a rule, drivers should take their car for a routine service once a year, or as recommended by the vehicle’s owner’s manual. A maintenance check is even more important when the season changes due to the added stress on cars and changes in driving conditions. Read our short guide to learn the tips and tricks that get cars ready for warmer weather after a long, cold winter.
Recommend a Deep Spring Clean After Auto Technology School
The first and most important step in getting a vehicle spring ready is the deep clean. After months of ice, snow, salt, and freezing temperatures, a customer’s car will probably be looking slightly battered. While this might not be noticeable in the dark winters when cars are covered in snow, these marks and dirt become a lot more noticeable as soon as the sun comes out.
Professional auto detailing can make a car look brand new again, which might be something you recommend to clients once spring rolls around. As an auto technician, you will want to make sure to check the undercarriage of the car as road salt can get trapped there, which can lead to corrosion over time. It’s also necessary to check for dents and scratches. These are often caused by hailstorms, ice, road salt, or even grit, and they can be treated with waxing or a referral to an auto body shop.
Tire Maintenance
Snow tires are a necessity from October to March. But as the weather starts warming up, drivers will be able to swap back in their all-season or performance tires. Whether it is fall or spring, before you change tires, it’s necessary to check the treads. Clients can use regular tires for up to six years, and as the tire treads wear down, the car’s fuel economy can be affected and driving can become less safe in general.
With an auto service technician course or two under your belt, you will be confident in checking tire pressure, and rotating and balancing tires, which are also recommended for routine seasonal maintenance.
Check if You Need to Replace Wipers and Wiper Fluid
Months of pushing away heavy snow can leave windshield wipers and wiper fluid depleted. Wiper blades work double-time throughout the winter to clear snow and ice so that drivers can see. The end of the snow season is the perfect time to check these, and encourage clients to invest in new wiper blades if necessary.
Pro-tip: if the wiper blades squeak when you test them, then that is a sign that they need to be replaced.
Change Engine Oil
A car’s engine oil should be checked after every 8,000 km travelled (more or less depending on the client’s driving habits). As an auto mechanic, you can top up the oil or replace it altogether when spring rolls around and customers come in for seasonal maintenance. As drivers get ready for spring, replacing the oil will result in a fresher, more effective lubricant that will last longer than a simple top-up. It’s also important to remember to check and change the oil filter before car owners drive away into sunnier days.
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