• Check your brakes – After a Chicago winter its likely that you’ve used and abused your brakes without even trying to due to icy conditions and erratic snowfalls.  Warning signs of faulty brakes include squeaking, grinding, noticeably longer stop times or screeching.  Inspect the entire brake system, including lines, hoses and parking brake. Make sure the brake fluid is filled to its proper level. Have the brake linings/pads inspected and measured.
• Get your suspension checked - Chicago winters bring with them some pretty crummy roads.  Ice, salt, plows and rapid temperature changes can create potholes and rifts in our roads. Deep potholes certainly aren’t friendly to struts or shocks. An inspection to determine leaks or wear can alleviate bigger issues later on.
• Tires / Wheels – Cold weather can reduce tire pressure, so make sure all tires, including the spare, are properly inflated and wheels are properly aligned. Inflate tires to their recommended pressure. Also, rotating your tires extends their life and gives you better braking and handling.
• Battery Check – Test and replace old or weak batteries, especially those more than three years old.
• Oil Change – Definitely get your oil changed after the long winter.  Also, if you’ve been using thinner oil for the winter season then change back to 10W30 for the spring and summer.
• Check fluids – Double check and make sure that all of your cars necessary fluids are filled up and regulated.
• Wash Your Car – We all can get a little lazier over the winter months and neglect cleaning our car properly so be sure to take your car to the car wash and include underbody treatment as well to remove dirt and salt that could have built up over the winter months.

This has been another Auto Advice moment from your friends at Illinois Towing Service.  We provide expert car repair, auto towing and roadside assistance in neighborhoods along Chicago’s North Shore such as Northfield, Skokie, Winnetka, Park Ridge, Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, Deerfield, Northbrook and more.  Call us 24/7 for service at (847) 966-1920.

**By no means is this a comprehensive list as there are many factors and maintenance routines that go into making an automobile function properly.  Please consult your mechanic, tow service or dealership if you are experiencing automobile difficulties, vehicle troubles, or need assistance with car problems you cannot handle on your own.