Because today’s vehicles are often driven further than 320,000 kilometres, regular maintenance is more important than ever, says a study commissioned by the Automotive Industries Association of Canada and compiled by DesRosiers Automotive Consultant.
Fortunately, according to another study conducted by DesRosiers, 85 per cent of Canadians are prioritizing vehicle servicing and repairs. Reasons for maintaining their vehicles included avoiding large repairs in the future, increasing family safety, enhancing the environmental performance of their vehicle and protecting resale value.
But the term “spring and winter tune ups” is redundant and has its roots in the generation of vehicles up to the early 1970s when non-electronic ignition systems and more frequent lubrication and engine electrical maintenance were required, hence spring and summer visits to a dealership or repair facility.
However, advances in technology have resulted in the average vehicle requiring substantially less maintenance than in the past and lowering the cost of ownership.
The current format for service is outlined in your scheduled maintenance book, which would have come in the glove box of your vehicle when new and is also available from the manufacturer online. It outlines all the specific maintenance requirements and intervals necessary to maintain your vehicle to factory specifications. If you follow these recommendations, trouble-free motoring will follow.
However if the maintenance of your vehicle has not been a priority in your life recently, then here are some of the important items to check in preparation for the spring/summer seasons.
Fluid levels
There are several fluids that require attention, including engine oil, power steering, brake and transmission fluids and windshield washer solvent. Fluids are typically inexpensive and easy to change, but without them, vehicle reliability and functions may be affected, which can lead to expensive repair costs and pose safety risks.
Filters
Changing the oil and the oil filter as recommended in your vehicle’s maintenance manual is one of the best ways to keep an engine running trouble-free.
Neglecting to replace engine oil can result in poor engine performance, higher fuel consumption and even severe engine damage.
Wiper blades
If they’re torn or cracked your wiper blades won’t do you much good in the middle of unrelenting spring showers when visibility is reduced.
Lighting
Check all exterior and interior lighting to identify any problems. When your vehicle’s lighting is defective, other motorists may not get the message that you intend to stop or turn. The end result could be disastrous.
Battery
Summer heat is just as hard on batteries as winter cold. For spring, clean and tighten the terminals, but also have it stress-tested to determine the health of the battery for the coming heatwaves.
Air conditioning
Today air conditioning is standard on more than 90 per cent of new car models — you could even say it’s a must-have. But how familiar are you with your air conditioner? Did you know most current vehicles have a replaceable “cabin filter,” which keeps dirt and debris from entering your vehicle?
Like any other vehicle system, your air conditioner requires routine maintenance to ensure it’s in good working order. Over the years, fluid is inevitably lost and needs to be replenished. Refer to your scheduled maintenance book for the service intervals required even if the system is working properly.
Tire pressure, including the spare
Yes, it’s the most obvious item on the list, but check your tire pressure before taking off on a longer trip. Inspecting, and properly inflating, your tires to their recommended pressures will not only prevent uneven wear patterns, but could help you catch a potential puncture on an under-inflated tire.
It’ll also improve fuel economy — for every five psi [pounds per square inch] below the recommended pressure, your mileage worsens by close to two percent. The correct tire pressures for your vehicle should be listed on a sticker on the driver’s side B-pillar or door jamb, and also in your owner’s manual.
Items to take on your trip:
- Jumper cables: We sometimes forget car batteries still conk out from time to time, usually from old age, benign neglect or from leaving the radio or lights on. When help finally arrives, it’s jumper cables to the rescue. Peace of mind demands you buy the best you can afford: bargain bin jumper cables seldom last long and can crack or break.
- Flashlight with back-up batteries: Batteries in the flashlight, and a few extras, ensure you’ve got light at night when you need it, but only if they’re fresh. Like other items in the kit, batteries will be exposed to extremes of heat and cold, so they should be changed once — preferably twice — a year. Cold temperatures can cut a battery’s power by nearly two-thirds, depending on the type.
- First-aid kit: You’ll more likely need a roadside safety kit for an accident than a breakdown. With the right tools, there’s plenty you can do to ease the pain of cuts, scrapes and other minor injuries. Ensure your first-aid kit contains basic health care items, including an assortment of bandages, instant ice and heat packs, scissors, aspirin, gauze, adhesive tape, antiseptic cream and first-aid instructions.
- Multi tool: Tool-wise, it doesn’t get much better than these handy little units, with several tools that fold out from either end of a common handle. Typically they include one or two screwdriver heads, tiny scissors, pliers, a knife blade or two, mini file and/or metal pick. It doesn’t hurt to also pack the following: a flat head screwdriver, pliers, vise grips, an adjustable wrench and a lug-nut wrench or tire iron.
- Working jack: How many times have you needed a working jack and not had one handy? Jacks can sit in the trunk, forgotten, underneath the (hopefully inflated) spare tire for years before being called on for duty. This makes them prone to rust and their screws prone to clogging with grime, so be sure to clean and inspect them periodically.
- Electrical tape and rags: After duct tape and dogs, electrical tape is perhaps a man’s best friend. Should you need to splice wires for any reason, electrical tape’s your ticket.
- Rag towels: Old towels cost practically nothing, but can be useful in sopping up spilled fluids or wiping fogged windows.
Laurence Malley is a retired automotive engineer with more than 35 years in the industry.
