The sun is out, the days are getting longer and suddenly that list of things you meant to do over winter doesn’t feel quite so impossible. Spring is the perfect time to get stuck into things that need doing: a spring clean, a bit of time in the garden, an afternoon in a beer garden.
Your car deserves some of that good spring treatment, too, so it’s time to emerge from hibernation and answer the call of the road.
Start with a good clean
A good spring clean isn’t just about making the car sparkle – although it is about that, too. It’s about getting rid of the grime that’s built up over a long winter and giving everything a fresh start.
Get the mud and road grime off the bodywork, give the wheels a good clean and have a look around while you’re at it. A clean car makes it much easier to spot anything that doesn’t look quite right.
And don’t forget the inside. If you’ve spent winter dragging half of your local footy oval or soccer pitch into the footwells, it might be time to give those a bit of attention, too.
Get that logbook service ticked off the list
If your car is due for a service, now is a good time to book it.
Regular servicing isn’t just about changing the oil and ticking a box in the logbook. It’s a chance to make sure everything is working as it should and to pick up on anything that might become a problem down the track.
It’s also much easier – and usually less expensive – to deal with a small problem before it turns into a big one.
So if that service reminder has been sitting there for a while, spring is a pretty good time to take care of it.
Check your tyres
Your tyres are the only part of your car actually touching the road, so they’re worth a little attention.
Check the pressures and have a look at the tread. Keep an eye out for cracks, bulges or anything else that doesn’t look quite right.
If the car has started pulling to one side, vibrating at certain speeds or feeling a bit different through the steering wheel, mention it when you bring it in. Uneven tyre wear can be a sign of alignment or suspension issues, so it’s worth getting it checked rather than hoping it sorts itself out.
Look at the little things
Spring is also a good opportunity to deal with the small things you’ve learned to live with.
Windscreen wipers that have seen better days. That strange rattle when the air con is cranked high. The loose USB port. The squeak that only happens when you turn left.
None of these things might seem urgent, but if you’ve noticed something that wasn’t there a few months ago, it’s worth mentioning. Believe me, our certified technicians have heard stranger things!
Think about where you’re going
Are you planning a road trip? Heading away for the school holidays? Doing more weekend driving? Taking the family further afield? Perhaps the car will be towing something or carrying more gear than usual.
If your driving is about to change, it’s worth making sure the car is ready for it.
A vehicle that’s perfectly happy doing a few kilometres around suburban Melbourne each week may have a very different job ahead of it once you’re heading up the highway for hours at a time.
Get it sorted before you need it
Spring is a good time to get the car sorted before the busy months ahead. If your car is due for a service, or you’ve noticed something that doesn’t seem quite right, now is the time to get it checked out.
It’s much nicer to deal with a small problem when it suits you than to discover it when you’re already halfway to your holiday destination.
So while you’re working your way through the spring to-do list, don’t forget the car. Give it a clean, check the basics and book that service you’ve been putting off.
Then you can get on with enjoying the warmer weather.
When you service your vehicle at Cox Auto, both you and your car will receive a premium service experience unmatched by dealerships. From our welcoming shopfront (complete with complimentary barista-made coffee and free WiFi) to the flexibility to prepay for easy pick-up, we are here to bring the human touch. We have a number of loan cars available and even a Mercedes Vito Van to keep businesses on the move, all free of charge.
Ready to get your car sorted for spring? Book your next service now.
