You have probably heard of Spring Cleaning, but have you heard of Spring Car Maintenance?

Spring is a perfect time to schedule your Car Maintenance Appointment and make sure that your car is in tip top shape for the Spring Season! Here is our Spring Car Maintenance Checklist.

  • Schedule an oil and oil filter change. 
  • Have your car battery tested and replaced, if necessary. 
  • Check tire pressure and tread. 
  • Replace your wiper blades and refill wiper fluid.
  • Deep clean your lights and replace the bulbs, if necessary.
  • Test your A/C
  • Change your cabin filter 
  • Get your car detailed
  • Fix any Paint Chips or Dents
  • Have your brakes checked

Schedule an Oil and Oil Filter Change

East End Body Shop Car Repairs

The first thing on our Spring Car Maintenance Checklist is an oil change. Why are oil changes so important? Regular oil changes help remove engine wear particles and sludge that build up over time and can cause corrosion and decrease the life of your engine. Regular oil changes also help improve your engine’s fuel efficiency, as poor engine lubrication leads to increased fuel consumption.

Your engine has greater demands placed on it during warmer weather, so make sure it’s ready to go by getting the oil and filter changed. 

Have Your Car Battery Tested and Replaced, if necessary

East End Body Shop Car Repairs

Cold weather wears out plugs and batteries faster than warmer weather. Check and replace your plugs as needed, and consider a voltage test on your battery to make sure it’s ready for all of your fun Spring plans.

There are a couple of indicators to look for that may mean you need to replace your battery:

  1. Slow engine crank
  2. Check engine light is on
  3. Low battery fluid level
  4. Swelling or bloating battery case
  5. There’s a stinky, rotten egg smell:

If you notice any of these, be sure to take your car in to have your engine serviced right away. Your car battery provides the energy that your car needs in order to start. That’s pretty important, I’d say! 

Check Tire Pressure and Tread

Car on Road East End Body Shop

The rule of thumb with replacing tires is to replace them every 6 years, or after 40,000 miles. While there is no way to tell exactly how long they will last, regular maintenance can lengthen the lifespan of your tires.

Driving in the winter means pressure fluctuates with the temperature. Check your tire pressure and tread, and swap out to all seasons if you had winter tires on. It’s also worth getting your alignment checked as potholes and icy roads may have impacted it.

Replace Your Wiper Blades and Refill Wiper Fluid

Windshield wipers moving east end body shop

April showers bring May flowers!

Spring means precipitation in a variety of forms.Thawing, freezing, and scraping over icy windshields can cause wiper blades to warp, bend, and crack. Replace blades once in the fall and once in the spring. Avoid driving with poor visibility during a spring shower or blizzard by ensuring your wipers are in the best shape possible. You should replace your wiper blades twice a year to keep them in top condition.

This is also a good time to top off your wiper fluid if necessary!

Deep Clean Your Lights and Replace the Bulbs, if necessary

guy checking head light bulbs east end body shop

Many drivers don’t realize that they have a light out until they get pulled over, and the police officer tells them that it is out. It can happen to anyone, but it is easily avoidable.

Winter’s frigid temperatures are a frequent contributor to burned out or dimmed head and tail lights. Ensure all your exterior lights are functioning at full brightness to keep yourself visible and safe during everything from thunderstorms to foggy mornings.

Test Your A/C

You probably haven’t been using your AC much over the winter season. Check to make sure air isn’t just dribbling out. If the AC is weak, it could mean a loose drive belt, a clogged condenser, or even a leak — but might be as simple as a lack of refrigerant. Blown AC can be a major, costly repair. But if it’s worth the price, do it before the summer swelter arrives. And while you’re checking the AC, note whether it’s emitting any funky odors

You may be able to get away without it for another month or two… but before too long, you are going to need your Air conditioning. So make sure your A/C is in tip-top shape before you really need it.

There isn’t much worse than setting off on a family road trip in the middle of the summer and realizing that you don’t have any air conditioning. 

Change Your cabin Filter 

Your car has a number of filters that are important to its longevity and should be replaced regularly. Check your engine air filter, your cabin air filter, and your fuel filter for damage or clogging and replace them if necessary.

Especially with those lovely Spring allergies, make sure your air filters and vents are clean and clear to keep dust and other allergens at bay while driving.

Get Your Car Detailed

East End Auto Body offers 3 different Auto Detailing Packages. 

Owen’s Auto Shine – $49.99 Includes:                                                                                                             Hand Wash & Dry

Wheels & Tire Shine

Vacuum Interior
Wipe & Shine Dashboards, Door Jambs, & Plastic
Interior Glass Cleaning

Owen’s Prime Shine – $99.99 Includes:

Hand Wash & Dry
Wheels & Tire Shine
Vacuum Interior & Spot Cleaning
Wipe & Shine Dashboards, Door Jambs, Plastic Vents,
Cracks & Cup Holders
Interior Glass Cleaning
Rain X applied to Windshield
Bug & Tar Removal
Engine Clean

Owen’s Deluxe Shine- $149.99 Includes:

Hand Wash & Dry
Wheels & Tire Shine
Vacuum Interior, Spot Cleaning,
Steam Clean Carpets & Seats
Wipe & Shine Dashboards, Door Jambs, Plastic Vents,
Cracks, & Cup Holders
Interior Glass Cleaning
Rain X applied to Windshield
Bug & Tar Removal
Engine Clean
Trunk Clean

Fix any Paint Chips or Dents

This is a perfect time to have any paint chips or dents fixed that may have occurred during the rough winter weather. 

East End Auto Body offers paintless dent repair and paint jobs to fix any of those spots that are causing your vehicle to look less than perfect! 

Have Your Brakes Checked

The last thing on our Spring Car Maintenance Checklist is to have your brakes checked. One of the first things to do when the season changes is make sure brake fluid is up to the appropriate levels. If the car has a clear reservoir, just look; if the reservoir is metal, remove the cover for a quick peek to see it’s at least half full. If the fluid is not clear and translucent, it may need a flush and change. Keep in mind that that low brake fluid could be a sign that new brakes are needed. 

Huntington, WV Auto Body Services

East End Body Shop services the needs of WV, Ohio and Kentucky. Ona, Milton, Huntington, Barboursville, Culloden, Catlettsburg, Hurricane / Teays Valley Ceredo, South Point, Kenova, Lavalette, Wayne, Proctorville, Chesapeake, Ironton and Ashland.

Here are just a few of the services we at east end body shop offer to the community:

  • Free walk-in estimates. No appointment necessary
  • Paintless Dent Repair
  • Online Vehicle Status
  • Windshield and Glass Replacement
  • Custom Paint
  • Auto Body Work
  • Paint Jobs
  • Collision Repair
  • Detailing

If you find yourself in need of car maintenance, or simply wanting to improve the appearance of your car, we hope you think of East End Body Shop in Huntington, WV.  Give us a call to set up an appointment (304) 525-5361