In every region of the country, vehicles take the brunt of winter - whether from torrential downpours, freezing rain, flooded streets, or snow, ice, and road salts.
Drivers who do not know much about spring car care can contact Sasha Auto in Galway for simple tips and instructions that every beginner should know.
The car experts at Sasha Auto recommend an end-of-winter vehicle maintenance check for safe, money-saving spring driving, and have made it easy with the following checklist:
Tyres - tend to tyres, even if driving on what the industry refers to as "all season" tyres. Rotate them seasonally to extend the life of the set.
Blades - wiper blades take a severe beating. Cold temperatures are hard on rubber compounds, and they also get bombarded with dirt–laden slush kicked up by traffic. Now is a good time to check and replace them. Also replenish windscreen fluid since there is a good chance winter dirt has exhausted the reservoir.
Fluids - check all automotive fluids and top up as necessary. Winter driving conditions require the engine to work harder and deplete fluid levels faster.
Brakes - examine brakes. Like wipers, brakes take on a bigger role during wintertime and should be checked to ensure they have survived.
Batteries - they work harder when it is cold, and winter can compromise their cranking performance up to 60 per cent. Test and replace old or weak batteries, especially those more than three years old. It can be cheaper than a tow and replacement on the road.
Belts and hoses - inspect and replace worn or cracked belts, as well as hoses that are blistered, brittle or too soft. Belts and hoses older than five years, even if they look intact, might need to be replaced.
Suspension - deep potholes are not friendly to shocks and struts. An inspection to determine wear or leaks can alleviate bigger issues down the road.
Air conditioning - turn on the cooler full blast and make sure it reaches that max chill in short order
Inspect the engine air filter and the cabin air filter, inspect steering components and steering linkage, and all the car's lights.
Mechanics in Sasha Auto on Tuam Road, Galway, will carefeully check all of these to ensure safety in the road. Spring check in Sasha Auto now at a special price of €39, including fluids top-up. Call for booking 091-762700.
