With summer having arrived, the Institute of Advanced Motorists is advising motorists on ways to prepare their cars for the summer driving season.
- Now is a good time to give your vehicle a spring clean. Salt is corrosive and will cause rusting if left on the bodywork.
- The pollen season can be pretty miserable for hay fever sufferers, so replacing the pollen filter annually is a vital investment. Keeping air-conditioning well maintained will help as well.
- Service your air-con. If there is a stale smell when you turn the heating on, it could well be a sign that mould is building up in the condenser.
- Flies will soon be out in force so be sure to refill your washer fluid. Habitually washing the windscreen and headlamps when you stop for fuel is also important as windscreen wipers will not get rid of all the fly debris.
- Old wiper blades are not only noisy, they can leave marks on the windscreen, so replace them regularly. Clean them regularly to avoid damaging the windscreen.
- After a pot-holed winter, check the wheel and tyre alignment. Misaligned tyres wear out more quickly.
- Anti-freeze contains corrosion inhibitors so keep your vehicle topped up all year round - going without could lead to expensive engine damage.