Spring Maintenance Checklist

Spring maintenance specifically addresses winter damage: salt corrosion, cold-weather tire degradation, cooling system stress, and A/C preparation. Regular PM catches routine wear. Spring maintenance catches seasonal damage that standard PM intervals may miss between winter and summer extremes.

Untreated salt corrosion can destroy brake lines ($500-$1,500 to replace), corrode air line fittings ($200-$800), damage electrical connections ($300-$1,000), and in extreme cases compromise frame integrity ($5,000+). A $200 undercarriage wash and inspection prevents thousands in corrosion damage.

Check the A/C system in March or April, before you need it. A/C shops are less busy in spring, so you get faster service and better pricing. Waiting until a 95-degree day to discover the A/C does not work means sweating in line at the shop with every other driver who waited too long.