Spring is an excellent time for vehicle maintenance. Your automobile has survived winter, which can get pretty cold here in Poughkeepsie, New York, and it’s time to dust off the snow flurries and get ready for summer. Del Hatt Automotive recommends the following factory-scheduled services now to make sure that your automobile doesn’t give you any problems as we head further into the year.
Battery Test and Inspection
Cold winter weather can literally kill your car’s battery. Temperatures that hit is zero or below-zero can reduce your battery’s power percentage by 65 percent. That’s a lot of power to lose! If your battery is older, winter may have taken the last bit of life it has left. We will test your battery to make sure it is still holding the maximum voltage and we will replace it if we need to.
Brake Inspection
It’s always a good idea to have your brakes inspected annually or every 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. If it has been that long since you’ve had a brake inspection, let us inspect them now. You rely on your brakes every day to keep you safe behind the wheel. Taking chances with your brake system puts you and your passengers in danger.
Coolant Check
Because the summer weather is just around the corner, it’s a good idea for us to check your engine coolant. If it needs to be changed, which it does on average every 30,000 miles, we’ll flush the radiator and refill it so that you have fresh engine coolant to keep your engine’s temperature down all summer long.
Filter Check
We’ll also check all of your filters. We’ll check your engine air filter, the cabin air filter, the fuel filter, and the oil filter to make sure none of them need to be changed. If we are changing your oil, we will change the oil filter at that time. If any of the other filters need to be changed, we will do so.
Oil Change
It’s a good idea to get an oil change in the spring because your motor oil has likely frozen up just a little bit in the winter weather. An engine full of fresh motor oil will give your vehicle the protection it needs to operate smoothly throughout the summer. Motor oil also helps keep your engine cool. It’s a good idea to have it changed every 3,000 miles.
Tire Inspection
If you had snow tires put on your automobile, it’s time to have regular tires put on again. Even if you didn’t have snow tires for the winter weather, a tire inspection is in order to make sure that the road salt didn’t damage your tires, your suspension, or your undercarriage. If it’s been 6,000 miles since you’ve had your tires rotated, now is the perfect time to do so.
And, perhaps the most important spring service is your vehicle’s air conditioner. We’ll inspect it and make sure it’s ready for its summer job. We are Del Hatt Automotive, and we are the best auto service shop in Poughkeepsie, NY.
