Before you start spring with your vehicle, you should get it ready for it. From visiting the car wash to removing unnecessary winter ballast to changing tires – this is what you should do now.
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Car wash: The first squeaky clean effect
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The interior also needs to be cared for now
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Is the car technically ready to start?
Finally spring! The bad winter weather has put a lot of strain on your car’s paintwork with road salt and grit for a long time. The dirt in the footwell would have to be removed a long time ago anyway. And the torn windshield wipers only leave streaks. So it’s high time to get the car ready again for the start of the new year!
First: off to the car wash!
The first trip is to the car wash or to the washing station. Because even if it’s true that the winter dirt – an aggressive, salty lye – only promotes corrosion on a previously damaged paintwork: It’s just good Salt and dirt crust to finally wash it off the bodywork again this winter!
How you your Prepare car must, is usually written in large letters at the entrance gate. Not always noted, but a given: close the windows and sunroof, lock the tank cap and turn off the windshield wipers – especially the rain sensor! If the car has an automatically opening tailgate that is activated by moving your foot under the rear, this function must also be deactivated.
But it is very important prewash. This can be done either before entering the car wash using an extra arch or using a steam jet. It softens the stubborn dirt on the car paint and prevents dirt particles, sand and stones from acting like sandpaper on the paint during washing and causing scratches.
If you don’t want to drive to the car wash, you can also use your car wash yourself. But be careful – washing your car privately is not allowed in many places. You can find out what you should pay attention to and what the legal situation is in the instructions: Wash your car yourself.
Which washing programs are necessary?
As with washing your car in winter, the same applies to spring cleaning: In principle, cheap is good and sufficient – The main thing is that a machine or manual prewash is part of the washing program. Additional and expensive super programs with hot wax or underbody protection are not necessary from a vehicle technology perspective. But of course everyone can decide for themselves what they want to treat themselves and their vehicle to.
To protect against solar radiation and sticky pollen after cleaning Preservation of the paint sensible. This can easily be done in the car wash using an extra program, but then it only protects you for a good month. A seal with hard wax lasts around three to six months, and a professional seal from a professional vehicle detailer even lasts up to a year.
One Underbody washing could even lead to problems: In older cars, cleaning the underbody can cause moisture to penetrate into cavities in the vehicle floor. In modern cars, which are usually covered with plastic on the underbody, washing the underbody to protect against corrosion is simply unnecessary.
That’s why it’s more important Check by a specialist: After the winter season, damage to the underbody protection can be identified and repaired on the lifting platform – rust then has no chance.
Check: Does the paint have scratches?
If you put on the paint after washing Rock falls or minor damage such as scratch If you discover the chipped paint residue, you should carefully remove the chipped paint residue with a hard, pointed object, clean or degrease the damaged areas and then treat them with a touch-up pen – otherwise there is a risk of rust spots and expensive repairs.
Like you little Paint repairs You can easily do it yourself in the guide: Scratches in the car paint – what to do?
Clean windows and replace floor mats
All Glass surfaces or panes You should carefully clean the inside to remove the film of dirt, especially on the windshield. To get a good overview, check them Windshield wiper blades, because these can be cracked due to snow and ice. If the rubber is brittle or the blades are smearing, you should replace the windshield wipers.
Also don’t forget the footwell dry and clean thoroughly. Replace the rubber floor mats with summer mats.
The tips for thorough cleaning and care reveal how you can improve the condition of a car step by step using a do-it-yourself process with a little skill.
Video: changing windshield wipers
Dismantle roof boxes and ski racks
After the ski season ends, you should too Roof boxes and ski racks dismantle them because they increase consumption. Every kilo on board costs fuel; for every 100 kilograms there is up to 0.3 liters more fuel per 100 kilometers. Additional loads such as snow chains, grit, ice scrapers and brooms now have a summer break and can be removed from the car.
Check all fluids and lighting
You can see how your car’s technology survived the winter by taking a look under the hood. Since the electronics are sensitive, you should not immediately use a steam jet. Check the engine oil, coolant and windshield washer system and top up fluid if necessary. In the frost-free period you should have one Windshield cleaner additive use. But be careful: sometimes it cannot be mixed with the antifreeze additive! You should also check whether the… lighting is working and check the lights.
From Easter it is time to switch from winter to summer tires. Check before assembly Tread depth: If less than three millimeters, you should replace your old summer tires with new ones. Winter tires that you can still use next season must be stored clean, dry, dark and cool. The best way to clean light alloy wheels is with a special one Rim cleaner and then rinse them with clean water. After changing the tire, the wheel bolts must be tightened after about 100 to 200 kilometers.
