CarMax Technicians Provide Expert Advice for Spring Car Care

How to Help Your Car Shake the Winter Blues

RICHMOND, Va., April 24 -- Spring has sprung and it's time to help your car shake those winter blues. To help you out, CarMax, Inc. , the nation's largest retailer of used cars, has expert advice on how you can spruce up your car for spring.

"The low winter temperatures can put additional stress on your vehicle," said Juan Crespo and Todd Gartner, ASE Master Technician Trainers for CarMax. "Colder temperatures especially can adversely affect many different aspects of your car."

To help your car recover from the damaging effects of winter, perform the following 10 tasks in the spring:

  1.  Take your car to an automatic car wash that has an under-carriage
      wash. Rinsing the undercarriage can help remove damaging corrosive
      residues left behind by winter road treatments used to melt ice and
      snow.

  2.  Hand wash and wax your car.  This will remove salt and road grime from
      the wheels and painted surfaces.  The wax will protect the paint from
      the damaging UV rays in the summer sun.

  3.  Change the oil and filter every 3,000 miles, 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, especially if your commute is less than 10 miles.

  4.  If the engine is not running smoothly or idling properly, have it
      diagnosed by an automotive professional.  Preventive maintenance
      services can help extend the life of your vehicle and improve gas
      mileage.

  5.  Check the condition of the belts and hoses.  Hoses deteriorate from
      the inside out and summer driving gives your cooling system a workout.

  6.  Check all the lights and lenses for cracks, and run your fingers under
      the wiper blades to check for cracked or torn rubber.  You should
      replace wiper blades each spring and fall to ensure optimum visibility
      in all weather conditions.

  7.  Check the tires for abnormal wear, cuts, or bulges in the sidewalls.
      Plus, the tire pressure should be set at the level specified on the
      vehicle information label, usually found on the driver's doorjamb or
      in the glove box.

  8.  Have your automotive technician remove all the wheels and inspect the
      brakes thoroughly.  It is also a good idea to have the tires rotated
      during this inspection process.

  9.  Potholes can do great damage to steering and suspension parts under
      the car. So have your automotive technician also check the steering
      and suspension for loose, worn or damaged components while the brakes
      are being inspected.

  10. Have the air conditioner checked now so it works the first time you
      need it.  This can help you avoid the long wait to get it fixed in the
      heat of the summer.

"Prevention is the best medicine for our cars. Get your car checked now so you don't end up stranded in the summer heat," Crespo said.

About CarMax

CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company and one of the FORTUNE 2006 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 68 used car superstores in 32 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended February 28, 2006, the company sold 289,888 used cars, which is 93 percent of the total 310,789 vehicles the company retailed during that period. For more information, access the CarMax website at http://www.carmax.com/.