After a long winter of salt-sprinkled, slushy roads, it’s finally time to prepare your car for spring and summer. Here are our 6 top tips.
- Thoroughly wash your car’s exterior
Before you begin, make sure your car is in the shade and cooled down, so that the car care products you apply don’t immediately dry up or evaporate. In the worst case, this can damage the paintwork.
Start with an asphalt remover and let this work before applying car shampoo using a foam cannon attached to your pressure washer. Then rinse and apply a degreaser. Next, wash the car with a high quality sponge that you rinse in a bucket of car shampoo. For seasonal washing, it is also advisable to use a rust film remover. This removes metal particles that have gotten stuck in the paintwork. Then rinse well with water before drying the car with a clean microfibre towel. Finally, it is recommended to apply a top quality wax so that your car stays clean longer.
Remember to always wear personal protective equipment (such as goggles and disposable gloves) when working with chemical car care products. Always check the packaging for the mixing ratio of the products and guidance on how long to let them work.
- Check the window wipers
Throughout the winter, the windshield wipers have been under substantial stress due to wind and weather. The rubber on the windshield wipers may be worn down, and you may experience poorer visibility. Wipe the wipers with paper or a microfibre cloth to remove traffic film. Then they need to be tested. Pour a bucket of water over the windshield. If streaks form on the windshield when you run the windshield wipers, they must be replaced. Also, remember to replace the rear windshield wiper. It is particularly exposed to dirt, dust, ice and snow.
- Switch to summer tyres
Before putting on your summer tyres, make sure they are still up to standard. The most important thing is that the tread depth at least meets the legal minimum requirement of 1.6 millimetres, and that the tyres are not too old. The rule of thumb is that you should replace your tyres after four or five years – regardless of how much tread depth is left. If you need to buy new tyres, it is recommended to choose tyres with low rolling resistance. This helps you get the best possible range. Take this up with your tyre specialist. Another thing that affects the range is the air pressure in the tyres. Here we advise you to use the pressure recommended by the manufacturer for maximum loads. Check the tyre pressure every three weeks.
- Get your pollen filters and air conditioning checked
The fresh air and pollen filters on your car are exposed to a lot of pollution and moist air throughout the winter, and it is therefore advisable to have these checked and possibly replaced when spring comes. If the filters do not work properly, it can lead to unpleasant odours in the passenger compartment and cause the windows to fog up. It is also a good idea to have your air conditioning system serviced to make sure it works when the weather gets warmer.
- Time for servicing?
An electric car also has a chassis, brakes, suspension and other mechanical parts that need to be checked regularly, especially after extra wear and tear during the winter. Take a look in the service booklet and check if it is soon time to have your car serviced. Servicing should be carried out at least once per year or after every 30,000 km driven, whichever comes first.
- Check your charging cables and accessories
Charging cables, plugs and connectors should be checked regularly for visible damage, cracks and signs of overheating. If you are charging in a wall socket, pay particular attention to whether the plug becomes abnormally hot during use and if you see brown or black spots on the plastic on the plug or around the connector. If you discover any damage or discolouration, do not use the equipment. Cleaning the charging cable regularly makes it easier to spot damage to the cable. Not least, this will extend the life of your charging cable. Also look for any signs of small rodents that may have gnawed at cables and equipment.
Do you want a safe and secure charging solution instead of charging in a wall socket? Check out the Zaptec Go charger; in addition to being safe, it helps you charge when electricity prices are at their lowest
