Your Spring maintenance check will cover any problems that may have started to develop during the tough winter months, and also prepare the car for the upcoming hot Summer. The following is a guideline to some of the items you should be getting checked.

• If it has been 3 months or 5,000 kms since the engine oil was changed, then you should do so now. You can replace the 5W30 with 10W30 if you wish.

• Heater and Radiator hoses:- check for bulges, heat cracks and hardness or extra soft areas. If any of these symptoms have developed, then change the hose. All hoses should be changed every 4 years - again, as a preventive measure. At the same time get the drive fan belts looked at.

• Antifreeze check:- If it has been 2 years or 50,000 kms then change it. Look for any possible minor leaks or tide marks which may point to a very minor leak, which should of course be rectified.

• Air Conditioning System:- Check it now for leakages before the real warm weather begins. If no leaks are found it may have Freon added, or a complete evacuation and refill may be performed.

• Front End and Wheel Alignment:- Remember, those potholes you hit through the Winter could well have caused some damage and wear under the vehicle, which you will not see until the car is on the hoist. Don't forget the tires too!

• Salt:- One of the major causes of rust is, of course, SALT. Make sure that you clean underneath the car thoroughly, and don't overlook the fender wells, under door drainage openings, and door sills. This can be accomplished by using a high-pressure nozzle on your garden hose. Finally, wash down the whole vehicle, dry and apply a good wax. This helps protect the car from rust, plus protecting the paint too.

NOTE: Service recommendations will vary according to makes and models. Use our information simply as a guideline, and consult your Owner's Manual for any specifics pertaining to your particular vehicle, which may differ slightly in mileage service times.