Spring Car Maintenance: What to Check Before Summer

Why spring is the right time to check your car

Spring is the ideal time to give your car a thorough once-over. After the colder months, tyres, brakes, fluids, and battery can all show signs of strain. Catching small issues early prevents expensive repairs and keeps you safe through the busier summer driving season.

At The Car Guys in Bromsgrove, we see a spike in bookings every spring — drivers who ignored a minor noise or a slightly soft tyre over winter and now have a bigger problem on their hands. This guide walks through the key checks you should make before the warmer months.

Tyres: check pressure, depth, and condition

Tyre pressure fluctuates with temperature. Cold winter air causes pressure to drop, so spring is a good time to reset everything to the correct levels found on your door jamb or in the handbook.

Check tread depth across the full width of each tyre. The legal minimum is 1.6mm, but most safety experts recommend replacing at 3mm. Winter tyres fitted for the colder season should be swapped back to summer tyres as temperatures rise.

Tyre checks to do every spring:

• Reset pressures to manufacturer specification (cold)
• Check tread depth with a gauge — minimum 1.6mm, ideally 3mm
• Inspect for bulges, cracks, or uneven wear patterns
• Check spare tyre condition and pressure
• Swap winter tyres for summer tyres if applicable

Brakes: listen for changes after winter

Brakes can suffer in winter from surface corrosion if the car sat unused, from grit and road salt, and from cold-weather wear on pads and discs. After winter, any grinding, squealing, or pulling to one side when braking warrants a proper inspection.

Even if everything feels normal, a visual check of pad thickness and disc condition is worthwhile. We can carry this out as part of a service or a standalone check.

Fluids: top up or replace

Several fluids need attention in spring. Coolant should be checked for the correct antifreeze concentration and any contamination. Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time and should be tested if it has not been changed in the last two years. Windscreen washer fluid should be switched to a summer formula.

Fluid checks for spring:

• Coolant — correct level and antifreeze concentration
• Brake fluid — test for moisture content if over two years old
• Power steering fluid — level and condition
• Engine oil — level and colour on the dipstick
• Windscreen washer fluid — switch to summer formula

Air conditioning: regas before the heat arrives

Air conditioning systems lose roughly 10% of their refrigerant each year through normal use. If you did not use the system much over winter, you may not notice the drop until you need it in a heatwave.

Book an air con regas in spring before demand peaks and appointment slots fill up. We also recommend running the system for 10 minutes every couple of weeks throughout the year to keep seals lubricated and the compressor healthy.

Battery: cold weather takes a toll

Car batteries work harder in winter. If your battery is more than three years old, or if you noticed sluggish starts on cold mornings, get it tested before summer. A failing battery often gives warning signs — dimmer lights, slower cranking — before it lets you down completely.

Wiper blades and visibility

Winter weather wears wiper blades faster than any other season. If you see smearing or hear chattering, replace them now. Blades are inexpensive and poor visibility is a genuine safety risk.

Check your screen washer jets are clear and pointed correctly while you are at it.

Book a spring health check in Bromsgrove

If you want everything checked in one visit, book a spring health check with The Car Guys. We will look at tyres, brakes, fluids, lights, wiper blades, and battery condition and give you a written report with no obligation to have any work done.

Call us on 01527 336608 or book online to choose a time that suits you.