BRAD BOYER
for The Reflector
The kids are still in school. Baseball is in full swing and it’s, of course, raining. It must be Spring in the Northwest.
Now is the best time to start spending some quality time and a little investment in one of your biggest investments, your car. April is officially National Car Care Month and here are some thoughts from the Car Care Council on how to pamper your car and make it last until next year.
- 1. Check all the fluids. Most of this motorists can do themselves but if necessary, break in to that book in the glovebox that may never have been opened … the owner’s manual. In it, you will find all the directions necessary to check the oil, transmission, brake and transmission fluid. Now is a great time to also keep an eye on the windshield washer level and antifreeze/coolant.
- 2. Check all hoses and belts to make sure they are not brittle, cracked or frayed. Most are pretty visible but if not, when getting an oil change, the technician should be checking as part of the process too.
- 3. Check the battery. This seems simple but the connectors can become loose causing a loss of connection. Also, check for buildup on the terminal posts. A toothbrush can work to clean out the connections and terminals if you don’t have a battery brush.
- 4. Time for a tune up and brake check. Now is the time to get all that deferred maintenance taken care of before it comes back to bite you. Simple things like checking the brakes and exhaust and getting a tune up gets forgotten. Find a reputable shop (ASE Certified shop). A number of them will perform a free or very inexpensive diagnosis.
- 5. Check the tires. By now the studded snow tires should be long off and those old ones are back on. Check not only to make sure the tire is inflated correctly but for uneven wear. This indicates a need for an alignment.
- 6. Do a walk around. Get a friend and do a full walk around on the car checking all the lights, turn signals, and back up lights.
- 7. Replace wiper blades. Wiper blades are a fairly inexpensive way to be safer on the road. Too many times a driver will suffer through with streaky and bad blades in the rain then forget about them when the good weather hits.
- 8. Wash or detail the car. According to Washougal’s Alan Daley from A Perfect Detail Mobile Car Wash, Spring is the perfect time to breathe new life into your car. He said you can have someone come out and do itl but a good wash in and out and a couple coats of wax go a long way to not only protecting the vehicle but enhancing a pride of ownership. He commented that he has seen it a number of times that someone selling a car gets it completely detailed then has second thoughts.
Daley also had some tips too on the do it yourself car cleaner.
- 1. It is great to have help from the kids but be aware of the help. They can often do more damage than good.
- 2. Use good quality car wash and not harsh dish soap.
- 3. Don’t water down and then soap up the entire vehicle before you wash it off. Soap and water can dry off before cleaning it of causing hard to get rid of spots.
- 4. Don’t clean the car with the same rags used to clean the wheels. If possible, do the car first then the wheels and wheel wells.
- 5. Clean off any rags or a wash mitt that hits the ground. They can and do pick up little pieces of the pavement or rocks and those do a lovely job scratching the paint.
- 6. Hand dry the car (then wheels) It’s amazing how much is missed on the first run and can be cleaned up during the drying. Also, use soft cloth towels or even cloth diapers to dry. Don’t use the harsh work towels.
- 7. If you don’t have the time or inclination to do a full hand wax yourself, a call to a good detailer works great. Not all details are created equally so check some legitimate review site and as with a good mechanic, ask friends for their suggestions.
For more information on proper car care, ask questions or even find a shop, go towww.carcare.org
Ridgefield resident Brad Boyer is owner of Carcierge and co-host of Test Miles radio KXL 101.1 FM in Portland. For more information, go to www.carcierge.net or www.bradthecarguy.com.
