The changing of the seasons is often one of the best ways to time basic automobile maintenance. According to Edmunds.com, the dawn of spring is the perfect reminder for you to verify that your windshield wipers are still in good shape, your tires are holding air and your air filter is still clean enough to do its job properly. Spring is also a great time to rotate your tires, particularly if you live in a region where you don’t need to swap on a set of summer rubber once the winter is over.

Warmer weather makes it easier to take care of all the cleaning you may have put off during the winter months. It is often far too cold to regularly wipe down the interior or hose off the exterior of your automobile during the December to March period, which means that the dirt, dust and grime associated with regular use can really build up.

Of course, winter brings with it several additional cleaning concerns that should be taken care of once spring rolls around. First and foremost, for those who live in a region where road salt is a fact of life, it’s important to make sure all traces of this corrosive substance are removed from your vehicle, inside and out. Road salt is tenacious; it clings to every nook and cranny of your vehicle’s undercarriage. Be sure your carwash, whether you do it yourself by hand or visit a self-serve or automatic carwash, includes your automobile’s wheel wells and underside, which means that it is very important to make sure that whatever carwash you choose, offers the ability to liberally blast your chassis with strong jets of water. Since salt accumulation is one of the biggest contributors to rust, keeping it off your vehicle goes a long way toward protecting your investment.

Salt, snow and ice are also very easy to track into your vehicle over the course of the winter where they melt together on carpets and floor mats. It can be frustrating to try to remove salt and mud stains from carpeting using traditional shampoos; fortunately, there are special enzyme cleaning products that are specifically designed to handle road salt, breaking it down so it can be removed from fabric. Simply spray on, wait and then wipe to take care of even the most frustrating lumps of road salt in your vehicle’s interior.

Spring cleaning isn’t just for houses and garages – your car can also seriously benefit from some extra care and attention. Taking the time in the spring to handle the little things can make a big difference in your car’s appearance and performance, and lengthen its lifespan.

Of course, if you don’t have the time or the inclination for this kind of labor, 5 Points Automotive offers state-of-the art cleaning and detailing services specifically tailored to your make and model. Specialized cleaning products, tools and techniques can make short work of even the most neglected vehicles, rewarding you with what might look like a brand-new car.

The job of your automobile’s cooling system is to keep your vehicle’s engine operating within the temperature range specified by its manufacturer. Cooling systems are not highly complicated, but regular maintenance is needed to ensure their proper operation in all types of weather conditions.

 

There are a number of signs that could indicate that your vehicle’s cooling system might require professional attention. The first is if the temperature gauge or warning light on your dash indicates that your vehicle is overheating. Even slight overheating can have a negative effect on your car’s performance and the longevity of your engine. If your car is overheating, it’s important to shut it off immediately and contact your dealer’s service department to have the problem checked out as soon as possible. 

 

An engine that never fully heats up to standard operating temperatures (especially during the winter months) could also indicate a problem with your cooling system. Stuck thermostats and coolant loss – usually due to a leak – are two of the more frequent causes of both overheating and underheating issues. Signs that you could be leaking coolant or have a thermostat problem include dried green or yellow coolant spray in the engine bay, or the automobile’s heater blowing cool or cold air, no matter how long the vehicle has been running.

 

One of the best ways to keep your cooling system in top shape is to have it regularly inspected and maintained by the technicians at 5 Points Automotive. These individuals are specially trained to be able to detect any of the telltale signs that your car’s cooling system might require service.

 

What exactly do we look for when attempting to pinpoint a cooling system problem? According to the Automotive Service Association (ASA), there are a number of basic steps that can help diagnose any vehicle coolant issues. Technicians start with an engine’s coolant hoses, which can dry out and crack over time due to heat and vibration. The same can be said of an engine’s drive belts, which power important cooling system equipment like the water pump that circulates an antifreeze and water mixture throughout the motor. The thermostat needs to open and close properly, the vehicle’s fan blades need to spin freely without any bent or cracked blades and the fan clutch should not be loose, (which could indicate a worn bearing). An inspection of the radiator for any leaks when the system is pressurized is also usually performed.

 

In addition to these individual parts, the condition of the coolant fluid is critical to how a cooling system operates. As with most fluids, coolant can degrade over time and become less effective at regulating engine temperatures and inhibiting corrosion. It’s also critical to understand that all coolant isn’t created equal. Many manufacturers – especially those with diesel engines in their product mixes – require specific low-silicate glycol antifreeze that also requires the addition of specific additives. Nobody knows these requirements better than 5 Points Automotive Center. Rather than risking potentially catastrophic engine damage, visit us and have your coolant replaced with the correct formula and additives.

 

It is always a better idea to have your cooling system regularly inspected than to have to deal with unexpected component failures and other issues. Catching a problem before it causes equipment damage or failure is easy enough to do if you stick to the regular cooling system maintenance schedule as recommended in your vehicle’s owners manual.