This year winter has been especially harsh in many parts of the country. The freezing temperatures and huge snowfalls have caused the occasional scare or problem on the road network.
Now, with spring, many might think that the worst is over and you can relax… but not at all, since this time is treacherous in terms of weather. In fact, it is important that you perform a series of maintenance tasks to avoid more costly problems in the future.
In addition to the tips for driving in spring, under the premises of prevention and prudence, the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) offers a series of guidelines to keep the car ready at this time when the weather situation often changes unexpectedly. In this inspection, always in your trusted workshop, it will be necessary to verify:
1. Tire pressure and tread
Correct pressure is essential to drive the car well and prevent the tires from wearing out prematurely. If you notice that your car tends to pull to one side, then it may be that the tires do not have the proper pressure.
You should already know how to check tire pressure and be very careful if you notice:
- Pressure lower than recommended: It makes the tires warm up faster and wear out faster, and the car consumes more fuel. In addition, the risks of skidding or aquaplaning are much greater.
- Pressure higher than recommended: It can cause the tire to wear more in the central part of the tread and the suspensions to break down sooner, because the car tolerates the irregularities and potholes of the asphalt less well.
Be very careful, because the consequences of having circulated with insufficient pressure can remain even after having corrected them. For example, if internal damage has occurred to the structure due to overheating, or if the tread has worn unevenly.
Review the tread tire maintenance is something you should do several times a year. It is important to ensure that the wear is uniform and check the depth of the tread. For this, a trick What you can do is insert a 1 euro coin into the tread. If you can see the stars engraved on the face of the coin, it is advisable that you go to a workshop as soon as possible.
Also, you can opt for other more reliable methods such as wear indicators, which are small studs located in the grooves of the tread. When the tire tread reaches that indicator, it is a sign that the tire has reached the legal limit of use of 1.6 millimeters or depth gauges or depth gauges.There are different types, and they can be purchased in automobile workshops or specialized spare parts stores.
2. Change the pollen filter
Traffic raises an enormous amount of suspended particles of dust, pollen, remains of worn tires, dust from brake pads, mites, bugs… which accumulate over time in the anti-pollen filter (also known as cabin filter).
Hence the importance of changing it even if you are not allergic, since it not only prevents dust or other particles from entering the interior of the car, but also helps keep the air conditioning ducts clean and thus prevents the proliferation of mites and bacteria. It is key, above all, for those who suffer from allergies.
Furthermore, by changing the filters, you will be able to cope with the humidity that forms on the crystals, although this also depends on where you are and the temperature. The hotter it is, the greater its capacity to contain small droplets of water in suspension and vice versa.
Thus, for this reason, condensation always appears in areas where the air cools quickly, such as the windshield and windows. A first measure to mitigate humidity is to always keep these surfaces as clean as possible. Because? Dust particles act like absorbent paper: they attract water and make it easier for them to precipitate into larger and larger droplets.
He pollen filter traps inside particles down to one micron (including pollen, dust and the vast majority of bacteria). When saturated, this screen significantly reduces the ventilation and air renewal capacity of the air conditioning system.
If dirt builds up in the ducts, so does humidity and, with it, the cultures of fungi and bacteria. That's why in many cars it smells bad when the air conditioning is turned on. In this sense, this article on how to solve problems with air conditioning can help you.
3. Examine the battery status
The battery is one of the parts of the car that suffers the most during winter. Low temperatures can deteriorate it very quickly and, with this, cause the car to leave you stranded at any time.
If your car battery is more than four years old and you notice that from the moment you start the engine until it turns on takes a few seconds, you should think about changing it (especially in gasoline engines). Our tips for buying batteries can help you.
To make sure there are no problems It is recommended that the vehicle has been driving for at least one hour preferably by road and then rest for another thirty minutes.
4. Observe the coolant level
As temperatures rise, it is important to make sure your car's engine is running. properly refrigerated. If the warning light comes on or if the coolant level has simply not been checked in a while, it is a good idea to open the hood and check the fluid level. Most cars have an antifreeze fluid level gauge.
If it is finally necessary to add a little coolant, always do it when the car is cold and placed on a level surface. The opposite can be very dangerous.
5. Check windshield wiper blades and washer fluid
It is not a trivial matter. There are studies that indicate that the 7% of the time that your car passes in motion it will have the brushes in operation. If we take into account that 18% of fatal accidents occur when it rains, it is clear that we must not skimp on the wiper blades, which are key to correct visibility in case of rain.
Nowadays there are windshield wiper blades on the market with a wear indicator which indicates, without fear of being wrong, the moment when they should be replaced by others. If they don't have it, the time will vary depending on where you live, how much you use them, whether the car sleeps in the garage or, on the contrary, suffers inclement weather outside (the sun cracks them quickly). There are four clear symptoms to detect when wiper blades can put the driver's safety at risk:
- Tarnished.
- Stretch marks.
- Jumps and noises.
- There are areas left uncleaned.
It is also important that you review the windshield washer fluid level. It is a solution that can get us out of trouble, filling it with water, but the continued use of tap water With a lot of lime, it can clog the outlet injectors. There are those who fill with dish soap water, but these products usually attack the rubber and produce a lot of foam, even affecting the pumping system and thus the injection on the glass. Other products, such as certain glass cleaner for domestic use include ammonia in their formula, which is fatal to the life of the cleaners.
For this reason it is advisable to use specific products for windshield wipers. They usually contain antifreeze (some type of alcohol because the bottle indicates that it is flammable). This prevents it from freezing in winter.
6. Check the brakes
Before taking a trip it is important that you check the condition of the brakes. If you notice that the brake pedal is harder than normal, that the car takes longer to stop, or if the brake light has come on, there is a good chance that you need new pads or discs. You can find more information in our article how to detect brake problems.
Also check the brake fluid level, since it should not be higher or lower than the parameters established by the manufacturer.
7. Check the car lighting system
Your car lights are key to seeing… and being seen. First of all, check that all lighting and signaling functions are working correctly.
If necessary, you will have to change the lamps that do not do so.
- It is important to check the height and regulation of the lights. In this way, we will avoid dazzling anyone who passes us on the road at night and we will guarantee optimal visibility. You can do it “the old fashioned way”, against a wall, but the best option, without a doubt, is to do it in the workshop, where they will use a regloscope.
- Remember that it is recommended change car lamps in pairsto guarantee optimal operation of the system.
8. Exterior car cleaning
It is of little value to have perfect headlights if the lenses and headlights are later covered by a layer of dirt. Good car cleaning is key to ensuring you see well and be seen.
Put special effort in these areas that the DGT tells us: windows, headlights, fog lights, rear-view mirrors and reflectors. Not long ago we told you ten car cleaning tricks (inside and out).
9. Load with mandatory… and recommended elements
Don't forget to bring the necessary spare parts: spare wheel with the necessary pressure, a set of lights, two approved triangles and the reflective vest.
If the destination is a mountain area, an ice scraper does not hurt (even if it is spring it can still freeze), chains and gloves for installation. In this article we tell you everything you should carry in the car (both what is mandatory and other highly recommended items). And take advantage of the glove compartment to carry useful things.
