Why You and Your Car Both Need a Spring Tune-Up

On this 10th day of April in Ottawa it is -14C. I am broken but not yet defeated, because the weatherman tells me there are double digit temperatures just around the corner, which means….Spring Tune-up! 

With this glimmer of hope though comes a sad realization. My body is in pathetic shape. Winter pudge, unpainted toes, and dry, pasty white skin are the results of a hard winter. Then I think about my car, my dear and beloved car.  I think about how it got me everywhere I needed to be this winter. How it gently warmed my frozen posterior with it’s heated seats. How it faithfully started on even the coldest of days. Yup, my car and I are tight.  

When you think about what your car goes through in a winter, you might be surprised to find out it’s not too far off what you went through. 

• Think about the panic that sets in when road salt hits your favourite leather boots. That’s because we all know this stuff is highly corrosive and your car has been driving through it all winter. If it can eat away at shoes, imagine what it was doing to the undercarriage of your car for five months. 
• Driving right now is a little like maneuvering through a Mario Kart game, there are obstacles in the form of potholes everywhere. Your tires are taking a beating thanks to all the frost leaving the ground. 
• You’re probably slathering on the moisturizer right now because of how dry your skin is. Your car is screaming for the same. Winter grime has likely washed away any lubrication it had way back in the fall. 
• Just like you can’t wait to throw open the windows and breathe some fresh air in the spring, your car is the same. Engine filters are loaded with dirt and debris from winter roads and your cabin filter is likely dirty, spewing poor air into the car you’re planning to take on your summer road trip.
• Your wiper blades have been working all winter, pushing heavy snow out of the way and dealing with freezing rain. Just like you keep your eyeglass prescription up-to-date because you need to see when driving, having your wiper blades fail when you really need them can be a nightmare. According to Bill Gardiner, Canada’s Doctor of Cars, 90% of your driving decisions are based on what you see. 

Spring Tune-Ups 

There is no doubt I’m an expert at what nail polish looks best with my new sandals, and how to clean the salt off my boots but I haven’t got a clue if my wipers need replacing, or if my car battery is running low and I certainly can’t tell if my tires need replacing. And why would I want to?! Puh-leeze, I have a million other things to focus on in a day. Learning auto mechanics is definitely NOT on my to-do list.

That doesn’t mean I can afford to ignore my car either – it needs a spring tune-up. I put the loves of my life in my car everyday, ignoring regular maintenance puts us all at risk.  So while I’m busy booking myself in for new highlights and a pedicure to shake off the winter, I’m also booking my car in for a spring tune-up with the experts at Kal Tire. They will inspect every detail of my car and let me know what needs to be done to keep it running safely and efficiently. That gives me peace of mind, as well as time to check out that new spa down the street. Priorities people, priorities! 

On April 14th from 9am to 12pm PDT (12pm to 3pm EDT), Kal Tire is hosting a live Facebook Q&A with Canada’s Car Doctor, Bill Gardiner. Have you ever wondered…why you need to change or tune-up your wiper blades in the spring? Is it bad that your brakes squeak? Why does your steering wheel shake? Why does it take so long for your windshield to defrost? Why does my car pull to one side when I want to go straight? Join Kal Tire, Bill Gardiner and myself this Thursday and get the answers you need! 

I am in a hot and heavy, but strictly professional, ongoing relationship with Kal Tire and have been compensated for this post. All opinions are mine and I fully recommend them (and spring tune-ups!) to anyone who will listen. Check them out and find out why they’re the best.