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Apr 19, 2016

nutley kia's tips to national car care month

April is the National Car Care Month, which is supported by the Car Care Council annually to raise the public attention to the importance of automotive maintenance. While winter finally comes to the end around Newark, Belleville and Kearny, April is the time to get your car ready for driving in a warmer weather and for upcoming trips in summer. To help North Jersey car owners be more car care aware and make cars last longer, here are some commonly forgotten car care to-dos we’d like to remind you of.

#1 Tire Pressure

The cold weather in North Jersey winter can reduce the tire pressure. It decreases about 1 psi for every 10 degrees the air temperature drops. When spring comes, make sure all your tires (even the spare ones) are properly inflated. You can find out the recommended pressure level from the owner’s manual or checking the inside of your car door. When the TPMS (tire-pressure monitoring system) light comes on, don’t ignore it. Make sure the tires are balanced before you hit the road.

 

#2 Brake System

The entire brake system should be inspected completely every year, and spring is the ideal time to do it. Let the maintenance specialist take a close look at the brake pads, rotors, drums, calipers, and brake fluid. The brake fluid needs to be changed every 24,000-36,000 miles or as suggested in the manual.

 

#3 Air Conditioner

During winter, AC is neglected for a long time. It’s critical to make sure it is functioning properly and clean before the summer comes – unless you want to bake some delicious chocolate chip cookies while driving.

Photo courtesy of SnarkyVegan

If your AC smells funky, here’s a simple tutorial to cleaning it up.

  • Turn on your AC and leave the windows open. Make sure you turn off the recirculate.
  • Apply an odor cleaner to the intake vents that are usually located outside of the car, below the windshield. Wait for 10 minutes and turn off the AC.
  • Then apply the cleaner to the interior AC vents. Let it sit for another 10 minutes while the windows all rolled up.
  • Repeat the same process if there’s any remaining bad smell.
  • Use a car vent clip to add some fresh scent to your car if you’d like.

 

#4 Replace a Drive Belt If Necessary

A drive belt is made of a strong rubber-based material, and most cars have 1 or 2 belts. Let the vehicle machinist check the looseness and condition. Typical replacement is usually 40,000-80,000 miles, but the timing varies depending on cars, driving habits and other situations.

 

Check out our infographic to learn about the full list of to-dos for spring car maintenance: Getting Your Car Ready For Spring

Resources:

http://www.yankeeford.com/top-10-spring-car-care-tips/

http://blog.ny.aaa.com/spring-car-care-tips/

http://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/CarCareguide/index.php#/8

http://www.testingautos.com/drive-belt-replaced

 

Contact us if you plan to purchase/lease a car or have any questions about car maintenance!