Winter dirt and grime builds up almost unnoticed during the cold months of the year, and needs to be removed as soon as warmer weather arrives.  But once the car is clean, you may find that more work is required – especially after the coldest winter in 30 years.

“Give your car a once-over to see if there is any obvious need for repair,” advises the director of industry trade body the Retail Motor Industry Federation, Sue Robinson.  “There may be chips and scratches under the layers of grime, and these should be attended to.’

The underside of the car may have suffered most of all.  Salt, snow, chemicals and grit can get lodged in the underside and wheel arches.  They also have a detrimental effect on rubber components such as drive shaft gaiters and shock absorbers.  To avoid corrosion, it is best to hose down the entire underside.

Check your tyres as well.  The legal requirement for tread depth is at least 1.6mm, although braking and cornering performance deteriorates significantly at less than 3mm.  If you have not thought to check them over the winter, you may be driving on illegal tyres without realising.

Make sure you have the recommended pressure in all your tyres (including the spare), by checking with a gauge.  Poorly inflated tyres cause uneven tread wear and can adversely affect the other tyre on the same axle.  An imbalance of tyre pressures will also affect handling and braking performance.

A number of other areas may also need attention:

·         Check battery terminals are not corroded and are tightly fitted.

·         Check the coolant level in the radiator, and top up according to the manufacturer’s recommendation – most vehicles now use anti-freeze all year round as it inhibits internal corrosion and premature failure of major components, but make sure your anti-freeze is less than two years old. To check cooling system performance, leave the engine running for a short period with the bonnet up, and wait for the (electric) fan to start up – never open the cooling system by removing the radiator cap when hot.

·         Lubricate hinges and door lock catches – lock barrels should only be lubricated with graphite powder, not oil or WD40.

·         Check that all lights are working, including brake lights and indicators.

·         Check wiper blades – in winter they will have operated over frozen windscreens contaminated by grit, which can cause grooves in the rubber.  Reduce the threat of streaking by replacing the blades and adding a proper screen washer solvent to the washer reservoir.

·         Check condition of exhaust system.

“Now is the perfect time for a bit of simple maintenance,” Sue Robinson concludes.  “With just a little work, your car will be ready for spring and beyond.”