Top 5 Spring Maintenance Tips for Your Vehicle
Newfoundland winters are hard on vehicles. Between the salt-laden air off the Atlantic, freeze-thaw cycles that tear up roads, and months of cold starts and short trips, your vehicle has been working harder than you might realize. While it’s exciting to get caught up in driving through the sweet Spring air, it’s also the most important maintenance window of the year. Here are the five most important things to take care of this spring, from the team at Terra Nova Buick GMC in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
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1. Swap Your Winter Tires
Once temperatures in St. John’s have stayed consistently above 7°C for seven days, it’s time to make the switch to all-season or summer tires. This is known as the 7/7 rule, and it exists for good reason. Winter tire rubber is engineered to stay soft in freezing temperatures, which means it wears down quickly and loses handling precision on warm pavement. Running winter tires through spring and summer also increases fuel consumption.
When you store your winter tires, give them a thorough wash to remove salt residue, and store them somewhere cool and dry. While you’re swapping tires, check the pressure on all four. Cold temperatures cause air pressure to drop, and your tires may need topping up to the recommended PSI shown on the sticker inside your driver’s door jamb.
2. Inspect Your Brakes
Spring brake inspections are all about checking for the months of what the salt, grit, and road brine have done to the hardware surrounding those pads. Calipers can seize, rotors can rust, and brake lines can corrode from the outside in.
Here are the warning signs to watch for:
| Symptom | Potential Cause |
|---|---|
| High-pitched squeal | Salt buildup or worn wear indicator tab |
| Grinding noise | Heavy rust or grit trapped in the assembly |
| Spongy pedal | Moisture in the brake fluid |
| Burning smell | Seized caliper keeping pads pressed against rotor |
The best time to have a professional brake service done is when you’re already swapping tires and the wheels are off. It adds minimal time and addresses the issue before it becomes a safety concern.
3. Check Your Fluids
Winter takes a toll on every fluid system in your vehicle. A spring check should cover all of the following:
- Engine oil: Change it as described above, regardless of mileage interval.
- Coolant: Check the level and condition. Murky or rust-coloured coolant has broken down and needs a flush, not just a top-up. A low level points to a potential leak.
- Brake fluid: Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, and cold weather accelerates that process. A soft or spongy pedal is the warning sign. Most manufacturers recommend a brake fluid flush every two to three years.
- Windshield washer fluid: Spring roads in Newfoundland are muddy and gritty. You’ll go through washer fluid quickly, so top up with a quality Canadian-rated formula and make sure your nozzles are clear.
- Transmission fluid and power steering fluid: Check the level and condition. Dark or burnt-smelling fluid in either system is a sign it’s overdue for service.
4. Test Your Battery
Winter is an endurance test for your battery, and spring is when the damage reveals itself. At -18°C, a battery produces roughly 40% less cranking power than it does at room temperature, yet cold engines demand double the effort to turn over. Running heated seats, defrosters, and the heater simultaneously on short trips means the alternator often can’t fully recharge the battery between starts, leading to a gradual buildup of sulfation on the battery plates that permanently reduces capacity.
Most batteries last three to five years. If yours is getting up there in age or your vehicle has been sluggish to start this winter, have it tested before the first hot day of summer. Heat accelerates internal corrosion and can finish off a battery that was already weakened by winter.
5. Wash the Undercarriage
A standard drive-through car wash doesn’t reach the undercarriage, where winter does its most persistent damage. Road salt, calcium chloride, sand, and gravel accumulate on the frame, suspension components, and brake lines, and rising spring temperatures accelerate the corrosive reaction between salt and metal.
A dedicated undercarriage wash uses pressurized, directional spray to flush out trapped contaminants from areas a regular hose can’t reach. If you’re living in a coastal area, salt exposure compounds road salt damage. After washing, check the small weep holes at the bottom of your doors and rocker panels. If they’re plugged with grit, water traps inside the metal and causes rust from the inside out. A pipe cleaner or zip-tie will clear them.
Finish with a fresh coat of wax or paint sealant to restore the protective barrier that winter has stripped away.
Book a Spring Service Appointment at Terra Nova Buick GMC
Not sure where to start? Let our service team take care of it. A spring inspection at Terra Nova Buick GMC covers all the essentials like fluids, tires, brakes, battery, filters, and more. You can then head into summer knowing your vehicle is ready. Book your appointment online or give us a call at 1-(800)-463-4130 today!