Vehicle Maintenance Guide
Cold starts, potholes, road salt — your vehicle took a beating this season. Here’s how to bring it back to fighting shape and keep it there all summer long.
Safety-Critical Checks
⚠ Critical Safety
Brakes
Your brakes are the single most important safety system on your vehicle — don’t skip this one. Winter driving puts extra strain on rotors, pads, and calipers.
Squeaking or grinding when you stop
Vibration felt through the pedal
Noticeably longer stopping distances
Brake pedal that feels soft or spongy
⚠ Critical Safety
Battery
Cold weather is brutal on batteries — it can reduce a battery’s capacity by up to 35%. If your car has been slow to start, or your battery is 3+ years old, get it tested now before warmer temps mask a weak cell. Many auto parts stores offer free battery testing – take only a few minutes to have your battery checked out.
Slow or sluggish engine cranking
Battery warning light
Corrosion visible on terminals
Battery older than 3–5 years
● High Priority
Tires
Potholes and temperature swings take a real toll. Tires in poor condition affect everything — fuel economy, handling, braking, and blowout risk.
Check tread depth (penny test: replace if Lincoln’s head is visible)
Inflate to door-sticker spec — pressure drops with cold then fluctuates in heat
Look for sidewall cracking or bubbles
Schedule a rotation to even out wear
● High Priority
Wipers & Visibility
Spring means rain. Winter wiper blades work hard scraping ice and snow, and they crack and streak faster than you’d think. Visibility isn’t a “nice to have.”
Replace blades if they streak, skip, or squeak
Top off windshield washer fluid
Clean the wiper edge with a microfiber cloth if blades look intact
Check all lights — headlights, brake lights, turn signals
Under the Hood
● High Priority
Oil & Engine Fluids
If it’s been a while, start here. Fresh oil protects your engine against wear and runs cleaner. Check all fluids — top them off and watch for leaks.
Engine oil (check color and level)
Coolant / antifreeze
Brake fluid
Power steering fluid
Transmission fluid
✓ Routine
Air Filter
A clogged air filter makes your engine work harder, hurts fuel economy, and can reduce performance. Easy to check, inexpensive to replace.
Replace engine air filter if visibly dirty or per manufacturer interval
Don’t forget the cabin air filter — it affects your A/C airflow and air quality inside
✓ Routine
Belts & Hoses
Extreme cold can cause belts to crack and hoses to become brittle. A failed belt can leave you stranded; a burst hose can overheat your engine fast.
Inspect belts for fraying or cracking along the edges
Squeeze hoses when cold — none should feel hard or brittle
Look for leaks around fittings
Exterior & Ride Quality
● High Priority
Alignment & Suspension
Potholes and frost heaves are alignment’s worst enemies. Driving on a misaligned car eats tires fast and wears out suspension parts prematurely.
Vehicle pulling to one side while driving straight
Steering wheel off-center on a straight road
Uneven or rapid tire wear
Excessive bouncing or swaying
✓ Routine
Wash, Wax & Undercarriage
Road salt is corrosive. Left to sit, it eats through paint, metal, and undercarriage components. A thorough spring wash — especially underneath — protects your vehicle’s long-term value.
Wash undercarriage, wheel wells, and rocker panels
Use salt-removing car wash soap
Apply a coat of wax as a UV and environmental barrier
Your Spring Checklist at a Glance
Run through these before the summer heat arrives and you’ll be in great shape — and far less likely to see a roadside breakdown.
Oil change & fluid check
Brake inspection
Battery test
Tire pressure & tread
Tire rotation
Wiper blade replacement
Belts & hoses inspection
Air filter check
Wheel alignment check
Suspension inspection
All lights working
Thorough wash & wax