Tips to start the season - Make your Fiat 500, Fiat 126 and Fiat 600 ready for spring!

Finally, spring is approaching with big steps, the remaining snow along the roadsides is melting and the first birds chirping their merry song. So for the vintage car friend it's time to start preparing for the summer season and to make his Fiat 500, Fiat 126 and Fiat 600 ready for spring. Be aware: Classic cars are not new cars and therefore require much more attention and care after the long winter months than your every-day-car. So we would like to give a brief checklist at hand to help you to give your Fiat 500, Fiat 126 and Fiat 600 the appropriate care.

If you roll your Fiat 500, Fiat 126 and Fiat 600 out of the garage for the first time, check for dust on windows, mirrors and paint and clean if necessary. If the Fiat has been driven in the winter, a slight salt layer could have formed that should be removed with a suitable brush. Also check whether there is any moisture under the floor mats or carpet and dry everything carefully. Take care choosing the right cleaning agents, because household detergent often contains hazardous substances for chrome coatings and plastic - and rubber parts and can also damage the paint. The convertible top cover should be cleaned by hand.

Next, you should check that the fluid levels are still adequate and replenish motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, coolant (if your vehicle is water-cooled) and water for cleaning the windscreen, if necessary. If there is any oil, residual liquid or wet spots under your Fiat on the garage floor, lines and hoses should be checked for leaks.

Check for proper tire pressure, maybe a hose has lost some air. Also check the overall condition of the tires: Have they become porous? Are your tires too old? Sufficient tread depth for the season? Even more attention should be spent on the brakes. Check for rust on the brake drums or discs and also check the break hoses for leaks. If you are unsure about the condition of your brakes, a simple test-breaking on a private area can give clarity. Your life and the life of others depend on your brakes, so if there are any doubts, please see a professional garage.

If your battery was disconnected the over the winter, you should clean and grease the terminals before connecting. In order to avoid short circuits, first connect the positive terminal, then the negative lead. After cleaning the spark plugs and connectors, you can try to start the engine. If you encounter any problems with the engine running after two or three attempts look for reasons and do some troubleshooting. If necessary, ask for help from an experienced friend or a classic car workshop, or have a look at "technology, tips and tricks" on Axel Gerstl homepage. The problem should be solved quickly; otherwise you will find all the parts you need to repair your Fiat 500, Fiat 126 and Fiat 600 in our webshop.