How To: Spring Cleaning for Your Car - PartSource: Automotive, Truck Parts & Accessories

Spring Inspection Tips

Whether you’re in Vancouver or Toronto or anywhere in between, odds are your vehicle has been through a tough winter. Corrosive road salt, loose stones and road debris wreck havoc on your car’s body. Now that Canada is starting to thaw, PartSource is here to provide some easy but essential inspection tips to ensure that your car is ready for spring.

Remember, if you have any questions or if you're unsure of anything, feel free to contact the Parts Pros at your local PartSource. They’re always ready to help, no matter what the job is.

Let’s go!

A Few Things Before You Begin

In case you need them, you can always find free print outs of specific vehicle instructions and torque specifications from Mitchell on Demand at your local PartSource store.

Everything you need for this job can be found at your local PartSource store. Ask a Parts Pro about what you'll need for the job. It's better to have extra spare parts ready for anything that might need to be replaced. The last thing you want to do, is go shopping when you have the car up on the jack.

When taking parts apart, be organized. Keep similar parts together in a safe place where they won't get lost and layout parts in a way that will allow you to put them back in the same order.

Make Safety Your Top Priority

Every vehicle is different. When it comes to maintenance and repairs always follow the vehicle's owner's manual.

Make sure you have all of your tools and supplies before you begin – the last thing you want to do is go shopping when you have the car on the jack.

Safety should be your number one priority. Don't smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, or wear a necktie while working on the car. And watch out for hot objects, sharp instruments, hazardous materials and other potential safety hazards in and around your workspace. Always wear your safety glasses, a dust mask and latex gloves.

Don't work with a Philips when the job calls for a flat. Substituting tools can compromise your safety or your vehicle's performance.

Finally, when the fun turns to frustration or if the job requires specialized knowledge beyond your abilities, seek the assistance of a Parts Pro, professional mechanic or installer. The last thing we want is someone getting hurt.


It doesn’t hurt to start off with a thorough car wash. Check out our Clean Car DIY job for instructions on the best way to clean your car.

Look for Stone Chips, Sand Abrasions and Rust

Look over the body completely for stone chips, including smaller surface nicks and scratches from traction sand thrown up by trucks.
Repair them immediately with a touch-up kit (available at PartSource).
Make sure the spot is clean and dry, without any loose or sharp edges, and apply primer if bare metal is exposed.
IMPORTANT - If you have larger patches of rust, take your vehicle to the body shop. Check out How To: Body Repair 101 for instructions on how to fix any serious body damage.

Lubricate your Locks and Hinges

Consult with your owner's manual and use a graphite lubricant on your locks if recommended. Apply a small amount of petroleum-based lubricant (available at PartSource) to door and trunk hinges. This should help silence any creaking that started during winter.

Inspect your Weather-Stripping

If any of your weather-stripping looks like it has mildew, is cracked, or brittle, replace it right away with new weather-stripping. You can find it at PartSource.
Spraying weather-stripping with silicone spray will ensure that water from rain will bead away.

Inspect your Car's Underbody for Rust and Winter Damage

With your car up on jacks, carefully inspect the under carriage of the vehicle for any suspicious areas that should be attended to immediately. Pay special attention to brake components (sticky calipers, corroded brake lines), and exhaust components (rusted clamps, crumbling tailpipes, holes forming in muffler) that might have salt or slush damage. Suspension and steering pieces such as bushings, strut mounts, springs, and tie rods are also susceptible to winter damage. Check out other DIY jobs for the best way to replace these parts.
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