Rid Your Car of the Winter Blues With Some Spring Cleaning
RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr. 16, 2009--
Is your car tired of the winter blues? With a little love and tender
care, your ride can be ready for spring in no time. CarMax, Inc.
(NYSE:KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, and its master
technicians, offer advice on how to spruce up your car for spring during
National Car Care month.
“Spring is one of the most critical times for vehicle maintenance,” said
Tom Damon
, ASE Master Technician for CarMax. “Harsh winter conditions
can adversely affect your car. Regular vehicle maintenance avoids
unexpected costly repairs.”
To help your car recover from the damaging effects of winter, CarMax
technicians suggest that drivers perform the following five tasks in the
spring:
-
Take your car to an automatic car wash that has an under-carriage
wash. This can help remove corrosive residues left behind by winter
road treatments used to melt ice and snow.
-
Wash and wax your car. The wax will protect the paint from damaging UV
rays.
-
Change the oil and filter every 3,000 miles or at the manufacture’s
recommendation and have the air filter and PCV valve checked and
replaced if needed. Winter temperatures can cause the formation of
harmful condensation and acids in the engine oil.
-
Have your vehicle diagnosed by an automotive professional. If the
engine is not running smoothly or any other conditions arise,
preventive measures can help extend the life of your vehicle and
improve gas mileage.
-
Have a qualified automotive technician check:
-
The condition of the engine coolant, belts, and hoses; hoses
deteriorate from the inside out and summer driving gives your cooling
system a workout.
-
All the lights and lenses for cracks; you should also replace wiper
blades each spring and fall to ensure optimum visibility in all
weather conditions.
-
The tires for any abnormalities (including the spare); the tire
pressure should also be set at the level specified for your vehicle.
-
All the wheels and inspect the brakes thoroughly for damage due to
corrosion since most states use salt, sand or other chemicals to melt
snow and ice on the roads. During this process, it is also a good idea
to have the tires rotated.
-
Your vehicle’s steering and suspension for loose, worn or damaged
components often caused by potholes and other road irregularities.
-
The car battery, since it works much harder in the summer months and
you’ll want to be prepared.
-
The air conditioner, so you can avoid the wait if you need to have it
repaired during the summer.
About CarMax
CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company and one of the FORTUNE 2009
“100 Best Companies to Work For,” is the nation’s largest retailer of
used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 100
used car superstores in 46 markets. The CarMax consumer offer provides
our customers the opportunity to shop for vehicles the way they shop for
items at other national retailers, and it is structured around four
customer benefits: low, no-haggle prices; a broad selection; high
quality vehicles; and customer-friendly service. During the twelve
months ended February 28, 2009, the company retailed 345,465 used
vehicles and sold 194,081 wholesale vehicles at its in-store auctions.
For more information, access the CarMax website at http://www.carmax.com.
Source: CarMax, Inc.
CarMax, Inc.
Trina H. Lee, Director, Public Relations
804-747-0422
ext. 4197
or
Elia C. Imler, Assistant Manager, Public Affairs
804-747-0422,
ext. 4029